COUNCIL NEWSLETTER | AUGUST 2O2O
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PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
We are into our 5th month of the COVID-19 pandemic. Who would have believed we would still be social distancing, wearing masks and rock’n each day the best that we can. Someone recently shared, “Never thought I would be going to my bank wearing a mask and asking for money.” I have enjoyed seeing the creative humor that has come about in this "new normal" we are living in. On the other hand, foregoing handshakes, hugs and visiting friends and family have added to the challenges we are facing in our lives and in our church community.
However, our church community has stayed connected through it all and the ministry of King of Glory has continued. Our online worship services have been a blessing. It is exciting that more and more are watching on Sunday mornings — and not just from our area. Zoom® has been instrumental in helping us stay connected during the week. Many members are coming together for online education classes, small groups and Bible studies. Fellowship groups continue to catch up online and committees continue to meet, plan and support the ministries of KOG.
Your Council has continued to meet virtually for our regular monthly meetings in addition to a few special meetings thrown in here and there. This year, our Council retreat was delayed due to COVID-19 but we were able to come together virtually in May. Pastor Jim introduced us to Dr. Rick Armstrong, a Pastoral Counselor from Florida. Dr. Armstrong inspired us with, numerous takeaways to begin our thought process for: What does the next three years look like? How do we get there from here? How do we get our members engaged in this direction? Yes, I know what you're thinking — haven’t we been down this road before? You are correct! However, we are not creating a new mission; we are taking a look at this "new normal," our new surroundings and listening to God's direction. We ask for your prayers as we continue through this process. Stay tuned!
It was great that so many attended the King of Glory Virtual Town Hall. I hope that you found it informative and helpful. Who knows what the next few months will bring but we do know that King of Glory will continue its ministry. We may be socially distant but we will remain spiritually connected.
Do not be afraid… I am your shield. Your exceedingly great reward. Genesis 15:1
Michelle Hild
Council President
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THANK YOU, THANK YOU! YOU ARE A GENEROUS CONGREGATION
Through July, our offering totals $1,081,000 which is among the highest January-to-July total ever. We started the year with $176,000 in prepaid pledges and received $126,000 in January and $125,000 in February. Despite Covid (perhaps because of it), dozens of members paid their pledges and annual contributions in full, resulting in offerings of $135,000 in March and $182,000 in April. Giving was reduced in May, June and July to only $102,000, $118,000 and $117,000, respectively. I do not know what the rest of the year will bring, but your giving has positioned us well.
We continue to allocate 16 percent of offerings to benevolence (now at $173,000). From this, we give $5,400 each month to In the City for Good and $12,000 to our NTNL Synod. We also distributed over $40,000 to our other ministry partners in June.
At the onset of Covid, KOG made the decision to keep all staff employed with full benefits. Assistance with this came through the Payroll Protection Program (PPP) of the CARES Act. We acquired a PPP loan on May 5, which provided for two months of staff salaries and benefits, as well as some utilities.
Operating expenses have been reduced, some intentional and some related to Covid. Through July, we have spent $892,000 on operations compared to the $1,003,000 we had planned. We have a year-to-date operational surplus of $144,000, which includes a special gift of $69,000 received in June. Due to the faithful offerings, the June gift and the likely forgiveness of the PPP loan, our current financial position is especially good. With projected monthly deficits of $40,000 for the remainder of the year, we will use those reserves quickly. Your continued support will be all that much more important. Thank you again!
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We may have been staying away from our facility but David Cowart, our Director of Church Administration has been making sure all is well. There is a long list of repairs and updates — from plumbing to lawn irrigation— but we've listed a few of the more significant ones.
The old crash bars on each door of both buildings are gone, replaced with new, more sensitive and quiet pressure bars. The new bars are combined with new electronic locks, four new door keypads, and a new computer-based control system to significantly enhance our locking capabilities and security.
Wonderfully motivated volunteers combined to replace the fences surrounding five air conditioners and an electric transformer at the east (Hillcrest) end of the building. Their efforts saved the church thousands of dollars by replacing what had been deferred to the point of collapse. They also repaired damage in the fence around our two trash bins.
One millimeter was all that was keeping a drain plug in place and stopping water from gushing into the basement at 70 pounds per square inch. (A fire hose is normally 100 psi.) Replacing that drain plug and the 200 pound piece of equipment that housed it saved Room LL-17, the Columbarium, the elevator, the Fellowship Hall and many of our new classrooms from getting flooded.
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KING OF GLORY SUMMER MINISTRIES |
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69 kids participated in a five-week Virtual VBS. The new format this year was a blessing in that it allowed kids from Arizona, California, New York, Maryland, and Austin Texas to participate.
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Our Young Adult Group has remained active over the summer. Picnics in the park, hiking and weekly Zoom meetings are just a few of the ways they have been able to remain connected.
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Summer Adult Education has seen its largest audience with over 90 registered participants. The class continues through August 30 so there is still time to join.
You can click the link below to find out more or to watch videos of past classes.
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KOG and its members contributed over $13,000 and donated more than 570 backpacks this year once again surpassing our goal. Dobie Pre-Kindergarten School and all students and teachers received all the supplies and backpacks needed. The additional 70 backpacks were donated to Upbring: Foster in Texas.
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Amazing presence of God in our community.
In the first half of 2020, in spite of a pandemic, KOG has continued to be a serving congregation. You have rolled up your sleeves and held a food drive, made masks and put together hygiene kits, donated backpacks and supplies for 500 preschoolers and socks for older children.
Your contributions have supported our ministry partners with grants through Church in Society. Those organizations operate on the front lines to help with needs like food shortages and affordable housing.
Two examples of that impact are:
In the City for Good:
- King of Glory members participated in the Martin Luther King Community Center Juneteenth event and distributed 600 masks (many made by KOG members) and 600 hygiene kits
- You are also invited to participate in the Martin Luther King Community Center Back to School event on August 14. We will distribute school backpacks, socks, and hygiene kits (contact the church for more details if you wish to participate.)
Network of Community Ministries
- Has provided over 1,200 weekend food boxes to RISD families each week.
- Distributed 1.1 million pounds of foods between mid-March and July.
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KOG’s ONLINE PRESENCE/ MINISTRY
As you know, because of the pandemic and continuing social distancing, we need to minimize in-person gatherings. We are blessed at KOG (like many other congregations across our nation) that much of our ministry can be done online. We are reaching more people than ever before through our online presence!
- We live-stream our worship on both our KOG webpage and our Facebook Live page. More and more online worshippers join our “sacred space” every week!
- Youth and Young Adults have online get-togethers,
- We stay connected through weekly Wednesday devotions and Friday email updates.
- There are 14 Open Small Groups that gather throughout each month via Zoom. If you are interested in participating in one of these, you can go to kingofglory.com/small-groups for a list of descriptions.
Despite the pandemic, we want to welcome and include everyone, not only those who are computer savvy. During social distancing, that might be difficult to do if someone doesn’t have computer access. Please let your Neighborhood Connection Group Leader know if there is any King of Glory member who does not have computer access. We don’t want to leave them out!
The church leaders and staff appreciate your flexibility and understanding. Thank you for the many ways you’ve embraced KOG’s online ministry!
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NEIGHBORHOOD CONNECTION GROUPS ARE ACTIVE
We held our first virtual leader meeting the first part of August and had the opportunity to meet each other and share ideas on staying connected in our “new normal.” Our leaders continue to keep in contact monthly by phone and email with more regular contact with those who may live alone and those who may need a little extra care. Members are praying for each other within their neighborhood connections groups, and to date, members seem to be handling their own needs. We have members, on their own, who enjoy the pleasure of sending cards to their neighborhood members as well as others. We thank everyone for your efforts, compassion in caring for others and bringing joy to someone a little at a time. You are all, indeed, a blessing!
We are here to help you!
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