Dear Friends,
Previously I wrote to you concerning the new program entitled “Welcome to Building a Culture of Generosity.” The first meeting is scheduled for August 14, from 9 am to 10 am. I will be in my office with my computer and tv on to pick up the Zoom meeting and invite the participants to join me. However, if this doesn’t work for you, you may pick up the Zoom feed at your home.
There are six programs to watch. I will lead the first one and Pastor Brian will lead the remaining five.
The good news is that the programs are being recorded, so if you miss any of the programs, you can watch them later.
We have four members who have agreed to participate. I would hope that we have a minimum of 6 attending. Will you consider signing up? This will be our first opportunity to work with Pastor Brian on a very important ministry program.
If you are interested, or would like to know more about the program, please call, email or text me by August 12.
Below are the instructions for enrolling in the class.
Peace,
PastorJohn
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We are excited to bring our next session of Beginning a Culture of Generosity (BCG) to you after a very successful first year. It seems we are once again entering another year of great uncertainty relating to the pandemic, so glad we can offer some support for your congregations at this time.
Here are the instructions for you: one to accomplish before Saturday, the 14th, and also the Zoom link for the actual gathering.
BCG has its own website https://bcg.gsbfundraising.com/ Each individual who intends to participate in any session, view videos or materials must sign up on this website for access. I will continue to send out Zoom links for each session by separate email. Before the next Zoom, I will retrieve the email addresses of all signed up and will copy each one with the links. Each session is one hour. Each session is recorded and will be made available later for those who are unable to attend in person.
Here is the link for the first session:
Topic: Beginning a Culture of Generosity Meeting #1
Time: Aug 14, 2021 10:00 AM Mountain Time (US and Canada) For AZ congregations, please adjust the start time for your time zone.
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 609 595 3112
Passcode: GSBFR
One tap mobile
+13462487799,,6095953112#,,,,*366010# US (Houston)
+16699006833,,6095953112#,,,,*366010# US (San Jose)
As always, feel free to email me with questions.
Blessings,
Deb
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Congregation Council Report
Each month, the congregation council evaluates the Covid protocols that were authorized by them over the past 15 months. At our council meeting on Sunday, the council approved several changes.
First, starting this coming Sunday, worshipers may enter either door of the narthex. You are no longer required to enter only through the Fellowship Hall door.
Second, the Welcome table will be in the narthex with the bulletins and the individual communion kits. You will no longer be required to sign in.
Third, the chairs will remain in their current locations awhile longer as will the offering plate that is located in the center aisle.
Fourth, fellowship events, with coffee and food, will now be allowed.
The council voted to have two fellowship opportunities in the month of August, on August 8th and 22nd. The weekly fellowship events will resume on September 5, the first Sunday with our newly called pastor (more on these two fellowship events in August will be shared in future Thursday E-Blasts).
Our custodial service has resigned. The property committee, lead by Terry Kahl, is working on a job description and reviewing our options. One option is to choose another custodial service and the other is to hire a member to do the work. The council will decide at the August council meeting.
In the mean time we welcome members to do one part of the custodial work: vacuuming carpets, especially in the office area; cleaning the restrooms; emptying the waste baskets, etc. If you can give an hour or so during the week, please contact Terry at 480-898-9196.
Pastor Brian Weinberger will be starting his ministry with us on Monday, August 30 and will lead worship for the first time on Sept. 5. His installation will be on Oct 10, 3 pm. Please place both of these dates in your calendar today.
During the next six weeks, our NT lessons will be from the letter of Ephesians. In my sermon Sunday I invited the members to read this letter during this time period. The first time read all six chapters in one setting. Then read Ephesians a verse at a time. Whenever a word or phrase strikes you as beautiful or special, take a few minutes to simply ponder the words. Also, keep a piece of paper in your Bible. Every time you see one of the many treasures in the letter, words that touch your heart and mind, write the words down on the sheet of paper. There are many treasures to discover in Ephesians.