FROM YOUR PASTOR'S DESK

 Dear Friends in Christ,

I thought I would try something different this month and get a newsletter out to our members and friends.  Actually it has become my New Year’s Resolution.

And with the start of Advent coming this coming Sunday following Thanksgiving Day, it is good time for such resolutions as we begin the new year of the church’s calendar.  And I would challenge you to make a similar resolution, particularly to resolve to set aside your Sunday mornings for worship through Advent and the coming year.

Every since this last summer when we found our daily lives uprooted by the rising water of the Missouri, we continue to experience lower than average attendance at worship on Sunday mornings.  Life has now returned to a more normal cycle, but for many that routine has yet to return to Sunday mornings.

Though it is secondary to the time we share in fellowship and praise to our God; our financial support has wavered with lower church attendance.  We have been turning the financial health of the church around these last few weeks and your continued support is greatly appreciated.

What has been particularly remarkable has been the congregation’s response and financial support of the capital improvement drive to finance the installation of new furnaces for our sanctuary and fellowship.  The old ones have served us well for over 40 years, but I guess every one would prefer to keep warm when we gather for worship and fellowship.  It looks that the new furnaces will be fully installed by the first Sunday in Advent.  And we have already received in gifts and pledges about three-fourths of the total cost of the project.  Thanks again for your generous support.

One last financial matter is that I would encourage you, if you haven’t already done so, to return your pledge card for your support of the 2012 budget of your church.  Mail it to the church office, or better yet drop it in the offering plate on Sunday worship.  The elders of the session will be personally following up on all members who have not returned their pledge cards by our December 14th meeting.  Your help in returning your pledge card will make it much easier to finish this year’s stewardship drive.

As you live into this Advent and Christmas season, may you walk in peace, journey in hope, serve in love; but always with the Lord.

Yours in Christ,

 Steve

For the Month of October, 2011

• Offerings             $  7,876.70
• Bills Payable       $  7,320.98

Year to Date Thru October, 2011

• Offerings             $  70,418.46
• (Includes $5000 from Manse Fund)
• Expenses             $  75,431.84
• Balance             - $    5,013.38

Building Fund Reports

Furnace Replacement

• Donations             $    7,450.00
• Memorials             $    1,680.00
• Total Received     $     9,130.00
• Cost                     $  12,940.54
• Balance              - $    3,810.54

 $ Stewardship Drive $

To date quite a few of your pledge cards have been returned to the church office, indicating your intentions in supporting the 2012 budget of the First Presbyterian Church of South Sioux City. Our church’s 2012 total budget is $106,258.65.

If you have put off for tomorrow or simply overlooked returning your 2012 pledge card for your support of the work and ministry of your church, we strongly urge to do so today.  Those who have not returned their pledges by December 14th will be individually contacted by an elder of the session in the next following weeks.  It would be a great help if you could place your pledge card in Sunday’s offering, mail your card to the church, or contact the church to convey your intentions in supporting your church.

$ Per Capita $

Based upon our reported membership our church is assessed a yearly per member fee called Per Capita.  These funds are used on the Presbytery, Synod and General Assembly levels of the church to conduct the mission work of the PC(USA) on the local, regional and national levels.  The per capita for 2012 is $23.33.

If you wish to make a separate contribution to the church to cover your per capita costs please mark your gift accordingly.  This is  an opportunity for each of us to make a one time gift that will greatly aid our church in meeting it’s total budget for the coming year.