A Word with Our Pastor
Hello First Church,
What a full year it has been already, just days into January! This year we are returning to weekly newsletter notes from our pastoral staff. These will vary from scripture devotions to church updates to wonderings about spiritual life.
This week brings several updates: A weather and illness update, end of year finances, and a pastoral word on recent deaths in our congregation.
What a full year it has been already, just days into January! This year we are returning to weekly newsletter notes from our pastoral staff. These will vary from scripture devotions to church updates to wonderings about spiritual life.
This week brings several updates: A weather and illness update, end of year finances, and a pastoral word on recent deaths in our congregation.
Weather & Illness
One newscast described the many different weekend weather models as “frustrating.” I would agree! The Portland area could see anywhere from 1-8 inches of snow, or could have an uneventful chilly weekend if the weather hits farther south.
We have been monitoring this (a little too closely) all week. We will either follow:
- a normal Sunday schedule (all programs and services operating per usual)
- a simplified Sunday due to weather (programs and services moved online or postponed)
In the event of a simplified Sunday with all usual programming online, we will still host a simple chapel service at 10:30am for anyone in the neighborhood. All others can worship together via a YouTube broadcast at 10:30am.
We’ll send another email out by noon on Saturday with Sunday’s plans. Regardless, please do not come to church if you are concerned about roads in your area.
Then the other piece that cold weather brings: illness. Many of our clergy, staff, and congregation have come down with Covid this week. I encourage you to continue take care of yourselves, monitor any symptoms, and to mask when appropriate. Take it from someone who has now gotten Covid from work 3 years in a row! Well, don’t take my virus, but do consider the advice.
End Of Year Finance
There are several preliminary numbers I want to share. In December you raised:
- $16,222 for Path Home
- $57,957 for the End of Year Appeal
2% of pledges were not able to be fulfilled. 6% of pledges were overfulfilled, separate of the End of Year Appeal. This brings us to 104% pledge fulfillment for 2023. We have also already received over $140,000 in 2024 pledges, just days into the new year. This is incredible.
Our Business Office is still working on closing the books, but what we know today is that because of your commitment to your annual pledge, your generosity toward the End of Year Appeal, and other generosity toward the church, we will be able to apply some reserve funds toward the remaining deficit and end 2023 balanced. Despite spending down reserve funds, we will also be able to start 2024 with solid footing because of your early season generosity. Thank you.
More details will be shared through a full report in the coming weeks and much more celebration will take place with detail on how the money for Path Home will benefit families in the Portland community. Until then, I couldn’t resist sharing this good update with you and to thank you!
Our Business Office is still working on closing the books, but what we know today is that because of your commitment to your annual pledge, your generosity toward the End of Year Appeal, and other generosity toward the church, we will be able to apply some reserve funds toward the remaining deficit and end 2023 balanced. Despite spending down reserve funds, we will also be able to start 2024 with solid footing because of your early season generosity. Thank you.
More details will be shared through a full report in the coming weeks and much more celebration will take place with detail on how the money for Path Home will benefit families in the Portland community. Until then, I couldn’t resist sharing this good update with you and to thank you!
Recent Deaths
If you’ve been following our prayers lately, you might know that several names have been added to the Communion of Saints: Regina Pittaway, Ferol McClure, Corrine Paulson, Bishop Cal McConnell, Sam Talluto, Bob Meyers, Eleanor Crick. Each one of these had an impact on our community and the lives of those around them, and it has been a treasure to celebrate their lives.
I want to share with you that Rev. Ross Miller passed away on Tuesday, January 9. I had the gift of visiting Ross and Nancy in their home as well as in the hospital. I loved hearing accounts from their lives and ministry, especially from their time at First Church. Over the course of the last year I’ve also heard stories from many of you about Ross’s time here as Senior Pastor. As we prepare to celebrate Ross’s life, I encourage you to hold on to those stories – maybe even write them down – and to keep the Miller family in prayer.
For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:38-39)
Peace,
Karyn
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