Updates

Good morning,

Since the church is a part of the AMEC church network we have a relationship/partnership with Everence Financial Services.  Like the Bridge, Everence has Anabaptist roots.  It was founded in 1945 as Mennonite Mutual Aid.  Since then it has grown to become a full-service financial institution.

Although I do personally have a retirement account through Everence, I’m not writing about them to endorse them.  I just want to let you know about one way that the church benefits from our partnership with Everence, which comes through the church’s benevolence fund. 

Some benevolence projects qualify for Everence’s Mutual Aid program.  If a benevolence need arises, the church is often able to apply for matching funds (up to 50%) from Everence.  Not all benevolence giving qualifies for this program, but the church has certainly benefited from it over the years.  We definitely appreciate the help that Everence gives us in helping others!

Switching gears (but still talking about finances), I mentioned on Sunday that with the church getting the needed variance from Colerain Township our building project took a big step forward.  We still have a number of steps to go, but that was a big one.  Our variance came with no conditions attached to it.  That means that, although we still have to get the needed building permits, the township does not have any issues with our plans as they are.

All of that is to say that God is paving the way for the project to happen.  As I stated back in the fall when we proposed this project, we are not going to do an official capital campaign and no one is going to visit your house with a pledge sheet.  However, if you have been considering giving a special gift to the construction fund, now would be a great time to do that!  We continue to talk with potential builders and hope to do the project over the summer.  I’ll continue to pass along updates as I have them.

I am very thankful (and often astonished) at the generosity of the folks at the Bridge.  I would ask for continued prayers for our leadership team as we both seek to be good stewards of the resources that God brings to us and seek God’s guidance on how we can best participate in the harvest for the Kingdom.

Here’s what’s happening:

1.  TONIGHT - Youth Group and Quilt Knotting at 6:30 pm at the church.

2.  Updated copies of the proposed changes to the By Laws are by the mailboxes.  There are only a few minor additions, as we added the Focus on Marriage Committee to the Fellowship Team.  We will hold a congregational vote on the changes on 2/22.

3.  February 20-22 – Youth Retreat at Black Rock.

4.  Tuesday, 2/24 – We will be having our first Lenten Prayer service of the season!  Other nights will be 3/10 & 3/24.

5.  Thursday, 2/26 – Youth Group and Quilt Knotting at 6:30 pm at the church.

6.  Sunday, March 8 – Holy Communion

7.   Tuesday, March 10 – Solanco Meeting Canning – ABCF is asked to help in the late afternoon shift.

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

9.   A Marriage Retreat is coming up on March 20-22.  See Elizabeth Barrett or Vernon Myers for details.

In our church circles we often talk about how sheep aren’t very good at much.  They aren’t very intelligent, are prone to panicking, and have no way to defend themselves against predators.  On Sunday we will be looking at John 10, where Jesus proclaims that He is the Good Shepherd.   In that chapter Jesus mentions two things that sheep are quite good at.  We’ll look at what they are and why we need to be good at them as well!

Stay warm,

Scott