- New Altar Flower chart for signing up on... is in place and WIDE open for dates to dedicate flowers on Sundays. We typically sign up for two Sundays in a row (back to back) as we can usually keep the flowers fresh looking for that long so keep this in mind. The new chart is color coded so you can easily see the open dates.
- New coffee hour sign-up sheets and these too are very open!
- New annual statement of giving statements are in your boxes at church. Those not picked up will be mailed Jan 30th.
Basically what all this means is that we need volunteers for a whole bunch of jobs... Please prayerfully consider... The choir could also use some more voices... just saying...
2019 Hart Interdenominational Ministry [H.I.M.]
H.I.M. was incorporated in 2014 as a collaborative effort of Hart County Churches to pool resources and connect people in need with churches and other agencies to provide help, support and education to address the present need and to work toward preventing future repetition of the crisis. The ministry is staffed totally by volunteers, Board oversight and is directed by Christina Silpe.
Recipients of assistance must be Hart County residents and can receive up to $200 per year in assistance. All requests for assistance are carefully vetted and payment for assistance is made directly to the vendor such as the utility or bank. Budget education is available to persons interested in learning ways to manage their resources. H.I.M. has office space at First United Methodist Church and sees clients by appointment 3 days a week.
During 2019, 360 new clients were seen, 399 referrals made and assistance provided to 310 people. The greatest categories of need continue to be utilities [199 people] and rent/mortgage [74 people]. Other forms of assistance included emergency housing, food, medical care, transportation and repairs.
Funding for HIM comes from churches [$32,907], Individual contributions [$5031], fund-raisers [$3022] and grants [$5275]. St. Andrew's provides assistance in the form of a grant through our Outreach Committee. If you are looking for a worthy charity that has a direct impact on our community, consider HIM [H.I.M., PO Box 21, Hartwell, GA 30643]
It has been my honor to work with HIM as a volunteer and attendee of Board Meetings as a representative of St. Andrew's during the past year. I began my service as a Board Member starting in 2020. I am happy to talk with anyone who is interested in volunteer opportunities or learning more about H.I.M. in general.
Submitted by Betty Martin
Is there anyone interested in this ministry????
St. Andrew's parish is looking for one or more individuals willing to serve as parish nurses. If you have or had a nursing license, and if you would like to serve in the parish nurse ministry group, let Mother Pat know of your interest. What we hope this individual or team of nurses can do includes: checking AED weekly (takes one minute to verify and document that AED is functional); training interested members of the congregation in how to use the AED because a nurse or health professional may not be present when it is needed (there is a CD); writing short articles for the antiphon on health issues such as when to get flu vaccine, reminders about west Nile virus or Zika when those seasons come around; and perhaps offering a monthly blood pressure screening Sunday for those who would like to know what their blood pressure is. The role can be expanded as the ministry grows if those serving desire to attend pastoral care team meetings in order to help the Lay Eucharistic Visitors with questions about those they see in Care Centers or the Hospital. We really need someone who can help with this important ministry and if that individual is you, volunteer as part of the team.
Pledge Receipt Statements for 2019
The statements are in your mailboxes at church. Any that are still in the boxes will be sent our via the mail on Monday Feb.3rd. Thank you to all who gave and continue to do so! These statements are for monetary donations but I also want to say Thank you to all those who give of their time and talents in many "priceless" ways.
ALL ARE WELCOME! 