Changes
First, I need to emphasize the new times:
Christmas Eve Service at 5pm
For Christmas Day and New Years Day—
Worship at 10:30 am—NO Sunday School
Starting January 8—
Sunday School 9:30 am
Worship at 10:30 am.
Second, We need to finish the year well financially to keep up with our bills for the winter. We have controlled spending pretty well so far this year, but the giving has been down. We have spent about $7000 more than we took in this year. The general fund is still in good condition, but we can’t continue our current level of ministry unless we get a bit more income.
Third, the leadership team has approved a change in the church’s fiscal year. We have been on a fiscal year from April 1 to March 31. If we change that to August 1 to July 31 we can better budget for our ministry year. So at the annual meeting this year (April) we will have to approve a few small changes to our policies and procedures along with a 4 month budget. Then we will have another annual meeting around the end of August.
We will probably see about 40 new people each Sunday starting with the Christmas services. It may take us a while to recognize the faces of the Genesis people. With the change in time and the larger congregation, we hope to gain some momentum. We have been known as a very friendly and welcoming congregation. Let’s keep up the good work, in this more challenging situation.
We are starting to develop plans for a lunch after church on January 8, to welcome the Genesis congregation and so we can get to know a few more people. Continue to pray for God’s hand in this unusual cooperation between two churches.