It is difficult to believe that we are at the end of the year. It seems that 2022 went by so fast even though, at times, it seemed like it would never end. But, with God’s help, we made it through.
In review, we lost several folks in the past year. And they will be missed. But we have persevered in our mission to reach out into the community around us to make a difference for persons in need. Thank you for your continued support of the Common Grounds Free Store, the Rossville Elementary Food Box, the Storehouse Fund, and other methods of reaching out locally. And thank you for your support of the other ways that we have reached out through the Holston Annual Conference and the Global United Methodist Connexion to make a difference in our world.
The past couple of months have been a challenge for me as our Administrative Assistant, Darlene Hicks, has been out with severe Carpal Tunnel syndrome disability. The situation that we face drives home the idea that we need to establish a standard operating procedure manual with step by step procedures to get the job done efficiently. This will be an ongoing process in the coming year as I work with Darlene to make sure that all of our bases are covered going forward.
One of the items that has been pushed to the side in this last quarter has been our annual pledge drive. Your pledges help us to forecast our budgetary needs through the coming year. You can help us with this task by filling out this form about your giving to the general budget fund in 2023. You can also email or call the office with your pledge information. If you plan to pledge for 2023, please do so by 1/31/23.
After reviewing the cost of the consecutively numbered giving envelopes that we have been using for years, we have determined that we will be making a change this year. We will be purchasing some generic giving envelopes (at a significant cost savings) and making them available to regular givers along with a sheet of labels with your giving number that can be applied to the giving envelope. We can also make unused giving envelopes from past years available to you. Just mark through the envelope number and date and write your name and the amount you are giving to the various causes on the envelope. This will save us over $500 this year alone. Thanks for your co-operation.
Reminder: Any donations that you want to count toward your giving in 2023 need to be postmarked by December 31. You can also make a contribution online by clicking here and then clicking the Give Now button by December 31.
I spoke with Nora Cook this evening. Tommy had his hip replacement operation on December 19th. He is still at Park Ridge Hospital awaiting a move to a rehab facility or a release to go home with home health providing rehab service in the home. They have moved to live with Nora’s son at 4529 Sherry Ln, Hixson, TN 37343-4764.
Bishop Wallace-Padgett invites us to join with others throughout the Holston and North Alabama conferences with the Read Together plan to read through the Bible in 2023. You can find more information and sign up for the daily email here. Hopefully, you will find this to be a boost to your daily time in the scriptures.
Finally, I will be in the office and about the area through Wednesday, January 4. We are taking a few days of vacation in Maggie Valley, North Carolina Thursday, January 5 though January 8. I will return to the office on Monday, January 9. Mike Feely will fill in for me on Sunday, January 8.
As always, you make me proud to be your pastor. Eat some black eyed peas and greens as we head into the New Year!
Blessings,
Pastor Wayne
