Church News Friday December 27, 2024

Dear Friends,

This will be the last Friday Update for 2024. This has been an amazing year! At the first of the year, we set out a few goals we hoped to accomplish, primarily in the area of Discipleship. We surpassed those goals and more, creating five new classes on Sunday morning. This includes two new children’s classes, one new youth class, and a young adult class. This is truly strengthening the future of our church by strengthening our families. We have recently revitalized a monthly women’s groups and we have just started a young men’s devotional group. Our choir and our handbells have added new members and for the first time in a decade, we had a children’s choir add to our worship experience.

 

Dallas and Spencer McCullough have worked hard to develop our Youth program, even taking on the Children’s program during the pandemic. Dallas announced he will be stepping down from his position this spring and we are so grateful for the work he has done and the many families that have supported this program. We have begun the process of seeking new leadership for this position as Dallas takes on more responsibility in the Camden Fairview schools.

 

We continue to rebuild our Sue’s Table community with many from that community participating in our Bible studies and helping with our other ministries. Our Food Pantry has tripled its volume since I arrived as your new pastor in June of 2018. Our Director of Food Ministries, Tate Wunnenberg, was recognized by Church Women United as the 2024 recipient of their Humanitarian of the Year Award. We have successfully moved to a new format in the Food Pantry, allowing our neighbors to walk through our food selection and choose the items they want. This enables us to know what food items are most helpful so we do not purchase items that are not needed. We will be using a grant to get better shelving which will provide for an even better experience for our neighbors and volunteers.

 

Financially, the year started well but we have had fourteen deaths this year and numerous families have moved from Camden to be closer to relatives. In pulling the numbers from 2023, this has resulted in an income drop of around $30,000 in 2024. We have made up half of that through new and increased giving but with rising costs, we are showing a deficit as of today of close to $40,000 once apportionments are paid. If you have one more offertory give, please do so Sunday or Monday. There were checks in yesterday’s mail for the Food Pantry or it will end this year in the black.

 

We have taken in eight new members this year and are in the process of restoring another membership. The last year we had eight new members was in 2012. Each person adds so much to our fellowship. Every single person makes a difference! This is all the work of the Holy Spirit and I am looking forward to seeing what the Spirit does next! How about you?

 

Thank you to all who made our Advent and Christmas services so special! Make sure you check out our new online directory!

Grace and peace,

Beth