By Laws

Good morning,

On Sunday I gave a number of congregational updates during the Sunday School hour.  Unfortunately, our system “glitched” during it and we don’t have a recording of it.  I will have copies of my presentation notes available on Sunday for anyone who wasn’t at the meeting and would like them.

Copies of the proposed changes to the church By Laws are available in the lobby.  I would encourage you to look them over and talk to myself or an elder if you have any questions, concerns, or suggestions.

You will notice as you look over the By Laws that they currently state that the elders are able to review and update the By Laws as needed.  No vote is required to update the By Laws.  The elders just need to give two weeks notice until they go into effect.

While I appreciate the trust that the By Laws give to the elders to lead as they feel God is prompting, I feel that the congregation should have an opportunity to weigh in with these proposed changes.  The elders unanimously agreed with me.  So here is the plan:

We are asking that any questions, concerns or suggestions be communicated to one of us (email, text, in-person, carrier pigeon, smoke signal, pony express) by Sunday 2/1.

We will be making the “final draft” of the changes available on Sunday 2/8 and will have a vote of affirmation for them on Sunday 2/22.

A few other updates that I shared on Sunday:

1.       The church has a hearing scheduled for Wednesday 2/4 before the Colerain Township Zoning Board.  We hope to be given a variance to the Zoning Laws so that we can expand the church building.

2.     The church ended 2026 in a strong financial position.  Thank you to everyone who so generously gives to the work of the church!

3.     The church cemetery is in need of some work in 2026.  We are going to use some funds that were given as a bequest to the church to have the cemetery surveyed using ground-penetrating radar to make sure we know where all the vaults are buried underground.  If you are wondering why that is a concern just see me…its quite a story!  We are also going to see if we can have some of the older headstones repaired.  Some of them are in bad shape.

4.     I ended our time by sharing some goals that I will be working on for 2026:

a.      Building Expansion

b.     Property - Continue to create an outdoor worship space in the woods.

c.      By Laws – Review and update the sections on Membership and Congregational Voting.

d.     Ministry – Local Missions Week.

e.      Connection Ministries

f.       Elder Board – Adding an additional elder.

I also wanted to share that the vote to affirm the Annual Budget for 2026 was unanimously approved.  Thank you to everyone who was able to stay to vote.

As always, see me with any question you might have about what is happening at ABCF.  It is shaping up to be a very busy year of ministry in 2026!

Here’s what’s happening:

1.      SUNDAY – Sunday School fully returns with classes for all ages.  The children, youth and upstairs adult class are studying Jesus’ later ministry right now, while the Ladies class that meets downstairs is studying the book of Ecclesiastes.

2.     Thursday, 1/22 – Youth Group and Ladies Quilt Knotting at the church at 6:30.

3.     Sunday, 1/25 – The “junior” youth will be having lunch together after the worship service.

4.     Sunday, 2/8 – Fellowship Meal.  The youth group and the “senior” youth group are teaming up for a fellowship meal that is open to the congregation.  The youth will be having a chili cook off and the Double Nickels will be having a dessert bake off.  Rice and Cornbread will be provided, everyone else is invited to bring an additional side dish.

5.     We are in need of more help at the tech booth on Sunday mornings.  No experience necessary…see Bruce Fite if you are interested.

6.     The youth retreat at Black Rock is coming up quickly (February 20-22).  Parents, a survey for the church was sent out to you via email.

7.      A Marriage Weekend is coming up March 20-22.  See Elizabeth Barrett or Vernon Myers for details.

8.     Save-the Date – VBS Week is set for July 6-10, 2026.  Our plan is for VBS to be during the second week of July in the years to come.

The Gospels record many instances of Jesus healing people.  Most people who were healed were overjoyed and grateful!  The man by the Pool of Bethesda, however, had a different response to being healed.  On Sunday we will we look at John 5 and consider the true purpose for Jesus' miraculous healings.