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News & Activities |
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Upcoming activities and other news ...
GIVE US A SIGN! Each and every week, Christ Church has a chance to communicate via our front lawn sign. We can inspire, invite and inform - all in 140 characters or less. It's a bit like Twitter!! The Communications Team needs your help to keep the messages flowing. It could be an announcement, a witty slogan, publicity for an event, a bible passage, a message of hope or a thought-provoking phrase. Our sign speaks not only to our own congregation, but to our neighbours, White Oaks School and a host of community groups which use our building on a daily basis. Sometimes, all it takes is one eye-catching message to make people think about life and spirit. If you'd like to suggest some "words for consideration” for the front sign please contact Anne Moore in the church office or any member of the Communications Team: Heather McGillis, Laura Lucas, Peggy Forde, Marg Shaver, Al Hubbard or Bob Rollwagen.
ADVANCE NOTICE: Two weeks: July 9-13 & 16-20. Main program: 9 am to 4 pm.
Financial Position Christ Church as of Dec 31 2011 Dec 31 2011 Budget 2011 Dec 31 2010 Dec 31 2009 Identified Givings $ 363,889 $ 356,000 $357,180 $354,361 Extra Ordinary Income $ 1, 000 $ 9,800 $ 0 $ 9,550 We are happy to report that our major source of revenue, Identified Givings, amounted to $363,889 this year. This was above budget by $7,889. Due to your generosity a remarkable $49,610 of givings was received in the month of December alone. All Other Revenue includes income from our two fund raising events ($27,458 from Spring Thing and $5,703 from the Christmas Fair), rental income of $53,713, investment income, remittances for the Compass/White Gifts, M&S designated donations and funds from special projects & social events. On the expense side of our operations, we were close to budget on all line-items except for Property. The Property committee unfortunately had to deal with unexpected costs due to a change in our custodial service. The Ministry and Personnel committee also faced unexpected costs, related to Chris Orme’s sick leave. Had we received the expected reimbursement from the United Church’s benefit plan for a portion (85%) of his salary, our 2011 operating deficit would have been significantly reduced. M&P is still in negotiations to resolve this issue. All of our other very active, but extremely frugal, church committees kept spending close to their respective budgets, as did our office administrator. For the year 2011, $72,778 (20% of Identified Givings) was remitted to the M&S Fund together with $1,179 of “M&S designated donations”. Given the above, we are very pleased that the 2011 operating deficit of $24,655 was less than our projected deficit. However, the fact that we have incurred deficits three years running has had a significant impact on our overall financial position. We have spent the “nest egg” accumulated from prior years and have eroded our members’ equity to almost nil. Going forward, we will need to make prudent decisions regarding our expenditures and strive to live within our means. The safest way to accomplish this is to approve a “reasonably balanced-budget” for 2012. Capital Expenditures Dec 31 2011 Dec 31, 2010 Dana Bryant-Giguere, Treasurer
Women of Christ Church This year, 2012, the UCW celebrates its 50th anniversary as an organization. While women’s groups have always been prominent in the United Church, it became apparent in the early 1960s that there were very few opportunities available to women at the administrative level of the whole church. In the fall of 1960, the United Church General Council gave approval for the formation of a Board of Women and a new organization called the United Church Women (UCW). Their hope was that women would be represented in greater numbers on national church boards and they would work side by side with men for the total mission of the church. In 1962, the UCW officially came into being in the restructuring of all women’s groups under one organization with a common vision and a stronger voice. It is of interest to note that our Christ Church women were pioneers in this area, as they had already consolidated their groups under one executive body in the late 1950s. This merger was considered radical at the time and was the first such move in the history of the United Church. Other churches soon followed suit, however the national initiative to restructure came only five years later. Today, 50 years later, women play very prominent roles in all aspects of church life. Recently, however, there has been a decline in UCW membership with many churches not having a UCW at all. This, fortunately, is not the case at Christ Church, as the UCW is still very vibrant, with three active units meeting regularly. General meeting gatherings are held at least twice a year and are always well attended. UCW events are open to all women of Christ Church…please check the bulletin or the Happenings for the latest events. Upcoming 50th anniversary events
Bell Choir Mini Concert on February 26 In May of 2011 the Christ Church Bell Choir participated in the biennial festival of the Ontario Guild of English Handbell Ringers. The 420 ringers from throughout the province filled a triple gymnasium at McMaster University in Hamilton.
On February 26, following the morning worship service, the Bell Choir will give a 20-minute concert of selections from the Festival. Jason Locke and friends will join the choir for several numbers including the Festival theme song, “Good Vibrations”. An Invitation PRESBYTERY REPORT What takes place in The United Church beyond the local congregation is usually of little interest to most of us. Most of the time a congregation enjoys a state of peace and harmony, and life is good. When uncertainty occurs, a congregation looks for help from other sources. The most common example is when a minister decides to change her or his pastoral relationship and the congregation is faced with searching for new leadership. Presbytery has historically been the first point of contact for congregations. Many of us have some familiarity with the terms Joint Needs Assessment Committee and a Joint Search Committee; ‘Joint’ implying the congregation and the Presbytery. That is likely going to change. A report submitted to the General Council Executive in November includes recommendations that will shift responsibility for pastoral relations, for pastoral oversight and for discipline of ministry personnel away from the Presbytery to the Conference Office. If implemented, recommendations represent significant changes in church organization. This is just an FYI piece. For those with an interest see;
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