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Calendar
March 4
Communion Sunday
Missions Board --
after worship
_____________________
March 11
Deacons --
after worship
Trustees --
after worship
March 18
Congregational Mtg -- reVision Program --
after worship
Potluck Lunch --
after mtg
_____________________
March 25
Palm Sunday
Church Council Meeting--
after worship
_________________
March 29
- Thursday
6:30 pm Soup Supper
(
bring bowls & spoons)
7:30 pm Service of Tenebrae
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April 1
Easter Day 10:30am
Easter Egg Hunt --
after worship
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Report from our Moderator
The Church Council met on Tuesday, February 20, at 7 p.m. Changing the responsibility of coffee hours from boards and committees to individual households was discussed. The Deacons had identified 40 coffee hours per year, since potlucks are excluded. Since it is difficult to know one's availability very far in advance, it was decided that sign-ups would be requested on a quarterly basis. A three-month trial will begin in March, and a sign-up sheet with more information will soon be distributed and posted in Whitaker Hall.
The Council is also exploring a new website platform with an updated landing page and the addition of a calendar on our website. The outside firm charges only $40 per hour, and the changes are expected to take no more than three hours total.
The reVision program was discussed and the Council voted to recommend participation in the program to the membership at a special meeting to be held after church on March 18. Timing will also be discussed, with a recommendation that the program, should it be approved, begin with group leader training in October-November followed by the small group meetings starting in January.
A suggestion was made that the church consider a retreat before the fall, and Stephen agreed to bring the suggestion to the Deacons for consideration.
The Council also voted to move the monthly Church Council meeting to the fourth Sunday of every month after church. The Council hopes this will make the meetings more convenient to attend.
The next Council meeting will be Sunday, March 25.
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Altar Flowers
Altar flowers add color and beauty to our contemplations during worship service. There are many openings for flowers for March and April. Please see the flower calendar in Whitaker Hall or click the link at the bottom of the page to select a Sunday to bring flowers.
pink camellia
brightens winter and heralds
the advent of spring.
-- haiku by John Heyes
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March Meeting
Tuesday, 3-13, 10:30-noon
at Whitaker Hall, Skyland Church
Business meeting will be followed by a presentation and discussion on
"Bad Girls of the Bible
and
What We Can Learn From Them"
April Women's Mini-Retreat
April 7, Saturday, 10 am to 2pm
at Skyland Church, cost $25
(Please sign-up early)
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Please invite women friends and neighbors to join the group for discussions that may interest them.
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Note from the Editors
Please take a moment to check out the
Quick Links at the bottom of the page. Explore the wider UCC news & events.
Thanks, Brian & Patricia Wood
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Minister's Column
Dear Skyland Friends,
March will be a busy month. Here is a quick guide to some highlights:
Lent continues to the end of the month with Easter falling this year on April first. During Lent I will be referencing John Sanford's book "
The Kingdom Within" in my sermons and will also encourage times for small groups to gather to discuss the book.
On March 18th we will have a special
congregational meeting after church to decide whether to adopt the
reVision program we have been talking about for the last few months.
Our
Holy Week schedule begins with our family
Palm Sunday service on March 25th. On Thursday the 29th we will meet in Whitaker Hall for our a simple soup supper followed at 7:30 by a service of
Tenebrae.
On
Easter Day we will have a family service at 10:30 followed by an
Easter Egg Hunt. We will also be taking our
One Great Hour of Sharing offering that day and
welcoming new members! If you have been attending our church for awhile and would like to become a member, please let me know so we can include you in the group.
Please join us for these and other opportunities to create the Kingdom of God together!
Blessings to all.
Stephen
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Treasurer's Report - February 2018
Pledge income for month of February met expectations, but Offering income continues far less than our financial plan, -$6,490 for our fiscal year to date. Our significantly reduced expenses result in a net of +$11,610 fiscal year to date. Even with some quarterly lumped expenses in March of about $9,500 we should end our fiscal year with small surplus in net operating finances.
Our Heifer Project Quarter Tube overflowed by 1 quarter, totaling $133.50 which has been sent for their mission work giving small animals (children chose a sheep) to families in rural areas that can use the milk, offspring, and other benefits.
Your Mission board voted to continue supporting the four international student education funding in India, Guatemala, Fiji, and Baobab Home in Africa. All the yearly support has been sent.
We are now able to accept credit card payments for pledge, general and special offerings if that is more convenient than check or cash. See either Jan Swayne or myself after service for these transactions.
Here is our operating finances as of February 25 for our 2017-18 fiscal year.
Summary of Operating Finances
February 2018 | Jun 1,2017 to Feb 25
Actual Planned | Actual Planned
Income
$ 9,332 $10,200 | $147,559 $150,757
Expenses
$ 9,890 $ 9,678 | $135,950 $144,408
Net
$ (-558) $ 522 | $ 11,610 $ 6,349
Gerald J. Alonzo, Treasurer
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MEDITATION MOMENT
To see a World in a Grain of Sand
And a Heaven in a Wild Flower
Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand
And Eternity in an hour.
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Missions Board Spotlight
The Missions Board is collecting blankets, sleeping bags and warm clothes for one more Sunday. Thanks to those of you who have helped out already. We will be meeting on Sunday, March 4th after church.
During March, we will be asking members to donate forks and razors (not plasticware) for Mental Health Client Action Network (MHCAN), 1051 Cayuga, Santa Cruz.
This group helps all of those in need and uses the forks for feeding its clients during the week.
The razors are for those working to transition back into the community and looking for jobs/support/etc.
"MHCAN is a clean and sober mental health community center that welcomes all people diagnosed with mental health issues like schizophrenia, bipolar disorder or major depression. We also have a strong contingent of people who define themselves as "psychiatric survivors". Some of us support MindFreedom, some support NAMI, some of us are on on medication, some off meds, some compliant and some are revolutionaries. We are a diverse bunch of folks and we welcome newcomers.
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