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Council Meeting Highlights:
The Bishop's Advisory Council met Wednesday, December 19, 2007 at 7 P.M.
The Treasury Report advised the Council that our year end deficit will be $26,296.51 instead of $19,192.79 as originally thought. After the Proposed 2008 Budget was presented and adjustments made, anticipated expenses are $81,999. Anticipated income is $58,887 with an anticipated deficit of $23,112. The Budget was accepted.
The First Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony went very well with approximately 10 people from the community and 35 people from CHC in attendance. Refreshments and fellowship were enjoyed by all in McNeil Hall following the service.
Outreach is alive and well.
Bootsie Bigaj donated two Christmas food bask-ets 1e Community Concern in Derby. They were presented to two needy local families.
"Thank you" to all Council members for another year of service, and especially to all who have served for many years. The next Council meeting will be held on Wednesday, January 23, 2008 at 7 P.M.
The Annual Congregational Meeting will be January 20, 2008 following the 10 0' clock service. There will be a luncheon served after which annual reports will be . given and elections held. The position of Warden and one Council seat are to be elected.
Laura Steinke has agreed to run for a second consecutive term as warden, and Bob Steinke is running for a Council seat. Anyone interested in running for either position should contact R. Flynn, D. Davidovich, or B. Steinke.
Episcopal Church Women:
The Episcopal Church Woman held their monthly meeting Sunday, December 9, 2007 after the 10 0' clock service. After much serious thought and discussion, a motion was made, seconded, and carried to disband ECW as a formal group. Attendance has been failing and it has become difficult to function with so few attendees. All present agreed that we would be open to informal gatherings for fellowship, and would still work for the betterment of CHC but simply through a different venue.
Worship Committee: With the coming of Advent we began using the Revised Common Lectionary (RCL). This lectionary follows the same three-year pattern as the previous lectionary found in the Book of Common Prayer. There are very few changes as to the appointed gospel readings but more variation in the selections from the Old Testament and the Epistles.
As in the Prayer Book Lectionary, the RCL Year A begins on the first Sunday of Advent in years evenly divisible by three (ex. 2007, 2010, etc.). Our Psalms, which have been sung to a simplified version, will now be sung to a new chant, which is more "musical" and was written during the period, which gave us so much of our beautiful English church music.
Our Christmas services were well attended. The Blessing of the Creche was a heart warming way to begin the services. It was blessed with Holy Water at the beginning of the 5 o'clock service and with incense at the beginning of the 11 0 'clock service.
With the Feast of the Epiphany coming up on January 6th, Lent cannot be far away. Y our Worship Committee will be meeting soon to plan our Lenten season servIces.
Yours in Christ, Bob Steinke
Building Committee:
The Cross atop the church steeple has been removed and will be replaced with a new cross in spring. At the same time lights were draped on our "Christmas Tree" in the fron{ of the church. These lights are connected to a timer. A defective outdoor sign light sensor has been replaced with a timer.
Our snow plowing contract has been renewed and our two snow blowers are working well and ready to go.
It has been discovered our 12 year old hot water tank was installed incorrectly. We are looking into repairing or replacing it. Erie County Sewer Authority has inspected our disposal treatment of fats. Their finding will be available soon.
New carpeting is on order and will be installed soon in the Baptistry, thus completing the carpeting of the nave. The carillon is up and running again, chiming at 9 AM, 12 PM, and 6 PM. The church was decorated for Christmas during the week of Dec.16.
Respectfully, Bob Steinke
Grounds Committee: The Grounds Committee met on August 14th, and several very good suggestions were received, regarding the up-keep of the grounds. Discussion included the re-positioning of the outside water faucet, in order to simplify watering of plants and gardens; availability of garden tools for those who maintain the gardens. Suggestion was also made to change the name of the back walkway garden to honor our Founding Members.
Justin Drew, Chairperson
From our new Stewardship Chairperson: At the September Council meeting we discussed Stewardship Sunday (October 14th) and how to get our congregation to Increase their pledges for the future of the Church of the Holy Communion.
Recently, pledging was brought home to me in a rather unusual way-by doing a rather common thing-going out for dinner. Now in some restaurants, when you get your "tab", right at the bottom of the bill it says "for good service, 15% of the bill is -.-, for excellent service 20% of the bill is $-.-. When we ask for your pledge, we hope you wilt 'tithe' or give 10% of your income.
So-for service in a restaurant for a good meat and good service we give 15% - 20%. For good service in church for a really good meal with our Lord, and all of God's blessings, only 10% (15%20% to a waiter.... 1 0% to God). Kind of lopsided isn't it?
Please keep these figures in mind when you fill out your pledge card. I know that not aU of us can give 10%, but if you can, try to increase your pledge by a dollar or two per week. Anything extra that you can give will help keep the doors to our church home open.
Yours in Christ
Peg Flading
UNITED THANK OFFERING:
Are you putting coins in you little Blue Box?
I've been the UTO Chairperson for about 10 years fu'1d I sometimes think what can a few coins do-but- in 2007 the UTO gave 104 grants, totaling over 2.4 million dollars collected in 2006, to projects all over the world. Hard to believe isn't it?
The largest grant in the United States was $68,000 to build a new church in Alaska and the smallest was given to Canaan Ministries in Cheektowaga to purchase a new heating system for a residential facility for women who have been incarcerated. The majority of the residents have been victims of violence.
I've put a copy of all the grants in 2007 on the table in the church.
Please look it over, you will see what good your coins can do.
Thank you for helping,
Peg Flading, UTO Chairperson
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