NEWS AND EVENTS

From The Desk Of The Rector

Fund Raising vs. Stewardship

With many churches these days facing tight budgets, many have become "fund raising mills." Though there are great ideas out there and some events generate a large amount of financial support, some of this activity comes at the expense of Good Stewardship. Some annual events take months of planning and and require an enormous amount of time and talent. Having an annual event that generates a large amount of money can be a great way to bring the congregation together and a way to promote the ministries of the church. This can happen if there is a plan.

Other churches have multiple events throughout the year that generate hundreds or a couple thousand dollars and also take a lot of work. In some churches by the time one event has been completed the next one is taking place with a rushed anxiousness.

In one church the leadership determined that all the events throughout the year were generating a profit, but with the cost of each event the members were paying a large ticket price. So they change their whole plan. They held a breakfast at the church each Palm Sunday and determined what the total profit for the year was of all the fund raising events and asked them to make a donation for the breakfast for their share of the profits. If they raised $15,000 profit for the year and they had 100 households they asked each household for $150. The result was that they raised the same money without all the events and the cost to the members of the church was less than buying a ticket for each of the the previous events in total.

Peter C. Saros, M. Div., Parish Development & Stewardship Consultant

P.O. Box 960, Hampton Bays, NY 11946

Directions To St. Monica's

For driving directions to St. Monica's, 3575 Main Street, Hartford CLICK HERE

Upcoming Events

Homecoming:

1. Saturday, September 8, 2012 (9:30 a.m. -6 p.m.). Pancake Breakfast: Board Games Adult/Youth Discussion.

Afternoon Activities: Lunch on Your Own. Music on the Lawn: Matthew Burry Guitarist.

Movie One Night with the King (Ester [Hadassah] saves the Jewish Race)

Youth Basketball/Soccer Tournament

2. Sunday, September 9, 2012 Church Service 9 a.m. Financial Discussion.

108th Anniversary

In celebration of our 108th Anniversary, a Dinner and Recognition Presentation will be held at the Bradley Hotel and Banquet Hall in Windsor Locks. Join us as we salute and recognize our members who have served St. Monica's and its ministries faithfully and selflessly. Tickets are $65 per adult and $35 per child. See Gloria Marsele, Doreen Radway, Cynthia Timoll, Olive James or Terry Brown for tickets.

St. Monica's Sunday School Volunteers

Volunteers are needed for St. Monica's Sunday School. Please call or email Carol Anderson.

Food Pantry

Please continue to donate to the Ruth Small Food Pantry. Suggested items are canned or instant potatoes, canned meats (tuna, salmon, chicken(, canned sweet potatoes, soup, peanut butter,jelly and individual fruit cups. Thank you for your continued support.

Rescheduling Meetings

Fr. Davidson needs our cooperation if we wish to reschedule a meeting on Monday or Wednesday between 5:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. Fr. Davidson schedules interviews and pastoral counseling either before or after Prayer Meetings on Monday. He may also schedule interviews and pastoral counseling on Wednesday. He schedules events when there is no Bible Study. As a courtesy, please call Fr. Davidson to verify if he has anything schedule.

Activity Calendar

Weekly: 1) Mondays-Prayer meeting at 6:30 p.m. 2)Wednesday-Bible Study at 6:30 p.m.

Special Days (Weekly): 1) Wednesdays and Fridays-Food Pantry opens 10:00 a.m. to noon.

2) Every other thursday-Pro's and Con's task Force at 6:30 p.m.

Special Says (Monthly): First Thursday-Stewardship committee at 6:30 p.m. 2) Second Thursday-Vestry Meeting 6:30 p.m. 3) Third Tuesday- Women of Valier 4) Third and fourth Saturday opens at 12:00 noon to 1:00 p.m. 5) First Saturday-Episcopal Church women (ECW) at 12:00 noon.

Birthdays And Anniversaries in September

Happy Birthday to: Ashley Cohen and Elaine Stewart 3rd; Dorothy Archer 5th; Elizabeth Martin and Ceceline Morson 6th; Bjorn Hume 9th; Jordan Rice and Maya Tuning 9th; Cheris Lea Branch and Vina Morgan 10, Wentworth Lawrence and Kerry-Ann Stewart 13th; Marva Brito 14th; Iman Devonish 16th; Varon Webb 17th; Pauline Scott 19th; Peter Marsele 22nd; Leslie Hanlan 23rd; Rochelle Holder 25th; Irene Linton and Felecia Mikell 26th; Earline Bradshaw 28th.

In Memory for September

In Memory of: Clifford Haywood 1st; Jennie Weaver 2nd; Annie Warren 3rd; Philip Goode 4th; Kathryn Blade 8th; Dwight Weeler 11th; Geneva Willis and John Craig, Sr. 12th; Audley Watson 14th; Vanessa Price 15th; Milton Ross 16th; Lois Martin, Dudley Nevers and Cecelia Taylor 17th; Ernest Thornton 18th; Luther Smith 20th; Clement Pearl 21st; Kenneth Walker 21st; Easton Holmes and Leslie Jackson 24th; Jacinta Davis 28th.

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