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"A welcoming and safe place to worship, love and serve all." |
Liturgical Season - Pentecost
Color - Green
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Blessing of the Animals
St. Francis Feast Day
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Tails will wag and noses will bump when our priests bless the pets of our congregation on Sunday, October 3 in the 10 AM service as we acknowledge the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi (patron saint of animals). All pets are welcome to be blessed, but clergy can bless pictures of those pets who are happier at home.
No Sunday School tomorrow! Children will stay in the service with their families to enjoy the Blessing of the Animals. Special activitiy bags will be available in the rotunda.
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On Changing Seasons
I love this time of year. I love how the light is changing. I love how the colors of leaves are changing and preparing to fall. I love awakening to crisp air in the morning. Like many of you, I relish each of the seasons for different reasons, and I welcome the change of one season into the next.
It seems to me all of nature teaches us that change is a natural part of life. And yet I resist so many kinds of changes, including ones happening in our congregation. Most organizations won’t know the full impact of changes initiated by the pandemic for months, if not years. What we do know is that worship patterns have changed. We know that some beloved members have stepped away from particular leadership roles and others have left, for another spiritual community or to live in another area. And of course, some beloved members have also joined us.
It’s easier to rejoice over the comings than the goings, isn’t it? I wonder what it would be like to embrace both fully, in the same way I embrace the changing seasons? I trust in the cycle of nature, knowing that what appears like diminishment in fall and death in winter will lead to new life in spring and summer. Can I also trust in God? Can I trust in all the cycles of our lives, including our congregational life, that are beyond my control, but which bring about new life through death? Can I focus more on hope and curiosity than anxiety and control?
One of the changes Katrina and I are experiencing is the approach of death for our fabulous cat, Noodle. She is 15 and her body is shutting down due to illness. I will hugely miss my purring snuggle buddy. I breathe and open myself to her going forth when it is time. I feel myself begin to cling, and I breathe again, knowing that clinging increases suffering for everyone involved, human and kitty alike. When we trust in God, including the cycles of nature created by God, we can rejoice, and we can grieve without clinging. Or at least we can try. As we bless our beloved animals this Sunday, we bless their comings and goings and everything in between. And we know ourselves as blessed by their companionship.
Life, Death, Resurrection---these are the seasons of the Christian life. Some seasons are certainly easier and more pleasurable than others. But all seasons are important. All seasons are part of the whole. All seasons are part of what make us holy, whole-y.
Rev. Sonya Reichel
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Town Hall and Stewardship Update |
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Lex and Cam Burton share why it is important to be a steward of the church. |
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It is not too late to turn in a Stewardship pledge card. Pledge cards were mailed and are available in the rotunda. Pledges are for 2022, beginning in January and ending in December. You can also enter your pledge directly into Realm if preferred. Click here to view instructions.
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Sexton
Now that we are back to in-person worship and meetings, you may have seen our new sexton, Dean Haskell and his furry friend, Archie. Dean has extensive mechanical and maintenance experience and has been busy with many projects around the building and grounds since he was hired in May. Dean lives in Cameron Park and is a member of Faith Church. Be sure to introduce yourself, pet Archie and say "Hello" next time you see him!
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Sunday School Coordinator
Jennifer Caldera-Batkin joined the staff in early September as a part-time coordinator for our Sunday School Program. Jennifer is married to Matthew Batkin and they have five children: Noah, Hannah, Maya, Emma, and Ray. Jennifer and Matthew were married at Faith Episcopal church and worship here with their children. Jennifer has been a Sunday School teacher for many years and was previously a teaching assistant at a Montessori school.
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All Community Work Party
October 16
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Saturday, October 16, join in the fun when we freshen up the children's playground and construct a new play structure. Signup on Realm or email faithec@faithec.org. |
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Saturday, October 23, you are invited to join in a hands-on, global outreach event: packing food for Rise Against Hunger!
We'll have two meal packing times, 10 AM to Noon and 1 to 3 PM. Families with children are welcome to attend. Invite your friends and neighbors! This is an interfaith event and members of the following churches will join us: Folsom Mosque, Foothill Methodist, St. Stephen's Lutheran, Our Savior Placerville, and the Latter Day Saints of Cameron Park.
We need volunteers and donations to make this event a success. A group of 40-50 volunteers can package a full pallet of 14,256 meals in about 2 hours. One pallet of packaged meals requires about $5000 in supplies. The Missions Team has kick-started this project with a grant of $3000. The goal is to provide two pallets of meals and so an additional $7,000 in donations is needed!
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As the church treasurer, periodically I provide a community update on finances. Here is a summary of where we are nine months into 2021:
Operating Budget
Year-to-Date: -$27,000
On the Income side, we have brought in only 65% of what was budgeted based on the 2021 pledges. We are aware that some of our pledges will not be fulfilled and we often receive a larger amount of income in the last few months of the year as people "catch up" on their donations. The Expenses are lower than planned, at 72% of the budget. Our goal for this time of year is to be at 75% of budgeted expenses.
Capital Budget
Year-to-Date: +$10,500
At this time of the year, it is somewhat normal to be in the red for income. We have $40,000 from a PPP (Pay Check Protection) grant to use if needed.
We also received a grant of $13,247 from the diocese (totally unexpected and a nice surprise!) They granted each church in the diocese a 27% refund of the 2019 annual
apportionment paid (monies we pay the diocese every month). This will be used at
the end of the year to help balance our operating budget (approved by your vestry.)
Blessings,
Lynne Thomas
Treasurer
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Meetings and Events for the Week |
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Tuesday, October 5
Ministry Leaders Meeting 6:30 - 7:30 PM in-person & Zoom
This meeting is only for leaders who manage ministries that serve on Sundays.
Arrive at 6:00 PM for contemplative prayer in the sanctuary.
Women's Alcoholics Anonymous 6:00 - 7:30 PM
Wednesday, October 6
Grief Share Support Group 3:30 - 5:00 PM
Thursday, October 7
Community HUB food and diaper distribution, in our parking lot
10:30 AM to 12:30 PM
These are just a few of the meetings and groups. Please visit our web calendar for a full listing.
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Lectionary Readings, Prayer Requests, Etc. |
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Mailing Address
PO Box 966, Shingle Springs, CA 95682
We do not accept mail at our physical location!
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