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PA System Beinema Hall
John Wilcox installed an amplifier mixer to speakers we already owned. This will facilitate communication during events such as the Annual Meeting, forums, and the fair. MP3 music can be played through the mixer as well. If your ministry plans to use the PA system for an event, please contact John or Matthew for instructions.
Next Bean Supper - Saturday, March 20, 2010
5:00 - 6:30pm
Everyone is welcome.
Tickets at door: $7/adult and $3/child
Buildings
Please let us know if you see areas or items needing repair, improvement, or decorating updates. We are all stewards of our historic church, parish hall, parsonage and grounds.
Office
After lightning damage in October, several repairs were required for office computers. Steve Carter made a thorough review and installed upgrades to the current office technology system. Thank you, Steve.
Kitchen
After use, please leave the kitchen as clean or even cleaner than you found it. After an event, please launder soiled dishtowels, potholders, aprons or tablecloths. Keeping the sliding doors 'down' at pass through to Beinema Hall, helps reduce dust in the kitchen. Food left in refrigerator or freezer should be labeled with date and owner, ministry or event. Unidentified perishable food will be discarded. As a public food server, we must meet standards.
Also, Please have a look and take home your casserole dishes and pie plates from our bean suppers. This space is used by other groups and weekly by our church school classes. Thank you.
Annual Stewardship Pledge Campaign
~ THE GRACE OF RECEIVING IS FOUND IN GIVING;
THE GRACE OF GIVING RETURNS IN THE LOVE OF CHRIST IN OUR LIVES ~
“GIVE, AND IT WILL BE GIVEN TO YOU. A GOOD MEASURE, PRESSED DOWN, SHAKEN TOGETHER AND RUNNING OVER, WILL BE POURED INTO YOUR LAP. FOR WITH THE MEASURE YOU USE, IT WILL BE MEASURED TO YOU." Luke 6:38
Dear Members and Friends:
“We want to begin by saying, “Thank you.” Sometimes we miss the chance to express our gratitude to those who through their regular giving make the church possible. You consistently and generously support this church with your time and talents, as well as financial pledge or gifts.”
Most of you will recognize the above paragraph from this year’s annual stewardship campaign letter. It is hard to think of this annual effort as a campaign after just experiencing the campaigns of our last election this November. Our church has always in the recent past, sent out letters, listened to members of our church on Sunday mornings, and some years heard a sermon on giving. A better phrase for this annual effort would probably be the church’s “annual pledge drive” We do not have a “power hour” like the local public radio station to raise funds, but we do make a concentrated effort for 30 days in the Fall to ask everyone to consider what the church means to them, and to consider a level of financial support for the upcoming year.
This year we are also asking you to consider a special contribution –A one-time gift to reduce or even eliminate the churches $191,000 mortgage debt left over from the renovations in 2005. If you are able to make this special gift to the church, please consider doing so before December 31, 2009 as it would immediately lower interest costs in 2010 and help the church immensely to plan prudently and refine next year’s annual budget.
Asking for a financial pledge is never easy, but without your generous financial support, our church would not be the church is it today, a loving, caring church community for those in our community and around the world.
If you have already pledged, thank you. If not please take the time to fill out the pledge form and return it to the office attention, Cindy Talbot. The council will be working on the 2010 budget in the next 30 days and the majority of the budget is based on the success of the annual pledge drive. Thank you, again, for your many contributions that support the life of our church. Thank you, also, for prayerfully considering your annual pledge and special gift to retire the remaining debt - “For it is in giving that we receive” - The prayer of St. Francis of Assisi.
Yours in Giving and Receiving,
Ken Bowden Paul Davis
Stewardship Campaign Co-chairs 2009
Garden Ministry
Please contact Linda Gouws if you are interested in helping with the gardens at lgouws@maine.rr.com.
Requests
Please advise us if you notice any church or parsonage building concerns which need attention.
There is one opening available to serve on our Ministry. If you are interested or have any questions, please contact Chair, Jim Whiting at whitij@mmc.org.
Recycling
Go green and use the recycling bin in the kitchen for clean glass or plastic containers or cardboard. Recycled returnable bottles and cans are appreciated and were used last year to cover Sewing Ministry expenses.
Planned
Giving
Please take time to think about remembering Falmouth Congregational Church
United Church of Christ in your estate planning.
“… For
we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry
nothing out.”
1Timothy 6:7 KJV
Bequests
- Life Income Gifts - Gift Annuities - Trusts
Members
Jim Whiting, chair
Steve Carter
Karen Jones
Eunice Wilcox
John Wilcox
Andy Jones
Gary Scheuchzer
Robert Loranger