State of the Church Address – Revised. Cristina’s script for June 14th service... in place of semi-annual mtg
Good Morning and hello, I’m Cristina Dolcino your church council president. I would like to share with you some financial highlights, which are especially significant during this time of worshipping online.
a. Linda Edwards, our treasurer, has reported that we were $4,000 ahead of our overall budget at the end of May. This is without receiving a Payroll Protection Plan loan through the stimulus bill. THANK YOU for your generosity. We also want to thank Barry Philbrick, Linda Edwards, and Dan Scammon, all of whom provide different services related to our financials.
b. We are grateful also that more members have shifted to online giving through the church’s Elexio site. This has been helpful for our counters during the pandemic.
c. In May, the “Serve the Load” committee initiated a campaign to raise additional funds to make up the difference between our 2019 and 2020 budget for social ministry. One role of the Social Ministry committee is to allocate funds to local and international organizations. During this campaign we achieved to date $13,464. This amazing amount of money is now being distributed to the Synod and Seacoast organizations. We are providing important support given the increased demands of these groups and the decrease of donations to non-profit because of COVID-19. Some of the local organizations we support include; Operation Blessing, Salvation Army, Crossroads, and Dover Friendly Kitchen. We also want to thank Ron Indorf for his years of service as chairperson and as a member of the Social Ministry Committee.
d. Mission Investment Endowment –
- This finishes our financials update and now I would like to tell you about our ministries.
Remarkably, we have continued most of our vital ministries while not being allowed to be in the building - (Cristina)
a. Pastor and Faith Bygd, our Faith Education director, are developing an online VBS program for families to enjoy together this summer. We hope many children will participate.
b. The number of members attending Wednesday Bible Study has increased along with Wednesday evening’s BYOB^2 (Bring Your Own Bible and Beverage) discussion.
c. In addition, Sunday School lessons and videos continue to be available on our website each week.
d. The chairperson of Serve the Lord, Cheryl Brigham, runs the Shepherds and Flock ministry. This important ministry makes phone calls regularly to members as a check-in, to see if they may need something, and to chat. Contact Cheryl if you would like to get involved.
e. If you’ve been able to attend Sunday service online, you have probably noticed new and more people than ever who are involved in assisting our worship. We are appreciative to all the people who have welcomed us to church, led us in prayers, and read the readings or gospel. We have also enjoyed the stories people have shared about their baptism, communion, what faith means to them, and what is special about Holy Trinity.
f. Our Virtual choir has been a joy to watch blossom this spring as new voices participate from far and wide to lead us singing different songs together.
g. Last Sunday we honored 10 high school and college graduates and awarded 3 scholarships for the Faith and Service Award. Congratulations to each one of them!
Thank you to Helen Goransson for her continued effort in organizing this special recognition.
h. Confirmation classes has suffered the most during the pandemic. Please accept our apologies and as restrictions change, classes will begin again.
Thank you for being pare of Holy Trinity as we grow and come together in new ways.
Pastor Tim will now continue with the State of the Church address.
- What the future holds – (Tim) a. We don’t know when we will resume worship indoors b. We are putting together plans for outdoor gatherings under the tent c. We are getting bids to improve the technology in the sanctuary. We know even when we return inside, we have many members who will not be able to join us. We want to add screens and video cameras to reduce bulletins and have a high-quality streaming option for people (more than an iPad on Facebook live). d. It will be good. The church is not dependent on a building, but on the gathered community. We will continue to gather