Dear friends,
Effective communication is key to the success of any organization. The United Church of Christ, with its main setting in Cleveland, Ohio, is dependent on all of our state offices to communicate, in turn, with each regional minister, and then to each local church. Each local church, as a member of our denomination, is asked to contribute to five mission funds each year, with the upcoming one being the “Strengthen the Church” fund.
As a nationally recognized turnaround church, also known as a “new and renewing congregation”, we are recipients of a significant grant from the “Strengthen the Church” fund, which our state conference has matched. Spread out over the twelve months, the other four national mission fundraisers are “One Great Hour of Sharing”; “Neighbors in Need”; “Our Church’s Wider Mission”; and the “Christmas Fund”.
You will be happy to know that for this year’s “Strengthen the Church” offering, our own church and our turnaround story is being highlighted as one of only three churches around the country as a renewing congregations. Ours is such a hopeful story that is an inspiration for congregations in need of renewal. Enclosed you will find a flyer, produced by our national staff, announcing this offering along with a story about us! Many of you will recall the photographer who came to capture our Sunday school children preparing for the Christmas pageant last December. It was a good thing she came to the dress rehearsal, because you will also remember that we got snowed in on Christmas Sunday and didn’t actually hold the pageant until the first Sunday in January!
Many photos were taken of the children. The one you see on the flyer was selected by one of our national staff, Ms. Doris Powell, who felt that this photo captured the essence our who we are as a congregation today.
As your pastor, I am pleased to share this honor with you. What better day to take up this offering than Pentecost, the day on which we celebrate the Holy Spirit! We will take up our offering for the “Strengthen the Church” fund on Sunday, May 23rd during our 10:00am worship service.
Over a period of four years, our church has received $120,000.00 from the combined UCC’s “Strengthen the Church” national fund, and the matching grant from our conference’s Evangelism and Church Vitality’s Turnaround Church fund. All of this money has been used to strengthen our church as we build a new financial foundation for the future of our church.
Do you remember the story when Jesus healed the ten lepers, and only one came back to Jesus to say thank you and to praise God? Let us be the one who gives back in the “Strengthen the Church” offering to say thank you to Jesus and to praise God, too! The slogan for this year’s offering is “Share the Love!” Let us always be ready to share ours!
Peace in all things.
Rev. Dr. Mary Louise Gifford
