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April 5 - 10:45 am
Palm Sunday
Morning worship with Coptic Cross
Processional
April 9 - 7:00 pm
Maundy Thursday
Middle Eastern Love Feast, Communion.
Foot Washing
in the Activity Center
April 10 - 7:00 pm
Good Friday Observance
Spoken and Sung Meditations & Reflections
on the Cross, in
the chapel
April 12
Easter Sunday
7:30 am Sunrise Service
8:00 am Breakfast
9:00 am Bible Study
10:45 am Worship-Pastor Walker
preaches
"Resurrection
Day; The Essential Jesus Challenge" with
ministry of the
Sanctuary Choir
Traditional Egg Hunt for the
children on the lawn following service . If you
would like to donate plastic eggs, candy, or
Christian novelties for the egg hunt, please
leave them in the box in the parlor
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Special
Congregational
Meeting
called for
April 19, 2009
after worship
Agenda: Report
from Renovation Committee
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Master's plan
The Renovation
Committee distributed copies of the Master's
plan at the Congregational Meeting on March
22nd. If you did not get one, copies are
available in the parlor. Please review this
plan and present any questions you have on the
comment/question cards (that are available in
the parlor) by April 17th or you can email
admin@whiterockchurch.
org with your questions. These
questions/comments will be addressed at the
Special Congregational Meeting on April 19th.
In reviewing this document, keep in mind that it
is a visioning report, not a final document.
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Order Sunday
Lilies in memory or honor
of a loved one may be ordered Sunday. Ask
ushers for an order form.
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APRIL
1 Suzy C
1 Rae-Rae R
5 Kaye L
8 Brent W
13 Arthur T
14 Lynn H
15 George H
15
Christopher H
16 Adam G
17 April L
21 Arthur C
25 Jim B
27 George H
27 Craig T
29 Bobby B
30 Phoenix R
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Prayer needs
can be left in the box in the parlor - you may
also pick up a current list of needs there. Our
committee and ministry prayer focus groups for
April are:
Drama
Policies and Procedures
Deacons
Floral
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EXPERIENCING GOD
Bible
Study Begins
April 22
Meets
Wednesday at 7:30 pm
Sign up in
parlor.
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The Gifts
of Service through Facilities and
Grounds
(A
reflecting moment of ministry)
Spring is
here. And as I take a moment to
reflect on how our people offer
their gifts of service in response
to welcoming the season of renewal I
look around to see how God has
blessed us with people who serve in
our Grounds and Facilities
Ministry. Our grounds have been
weeded, the trees have been pruned,
and they have sowed new plantings
with color. The rains came. The
roof leaked. They attended to the
water and they worked with a roofer
to make the repairs. They replaced
light bulbs, doors, and door locks.
They attended to our heating and air
conditioning systems. They led us in
teaching and equipping our people on
how to respond to an emergency.
They worked on final touches in
restoring our basement (it now seems
less like a basement and more like
our Music and Education
Department). They brought
hospitality to welcoming
Toastmasters in hosting their
competition. And, they are preparing
for the installation of the cross
donated by a dear member who has
moved on. They are a people who
express good works with good grace
in their ministry. To each of you,
I say "Thank you!" for you faithful
service, perseverance, and
commitment to our church home.
Indeed, we are blessed.
Shawn |
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Financial
Report
Total income received January 1
through February 28: $45,564,
versus Budgeted: $65,314.
Total tithes fell short of
budget for the first two months
of the year by $19, 750, or
30%. While these numbers may at
first glance appear
disappointing, the Finance
Committee quickly acted by
bringing this information to the
forefront of our pastors,
members of the Church Council,
Deacons, and our general
membership. In March a
stewardship letter was sent to
bring further attention to our
financial needs.
During the first three months of
2009, we have seen a steady
increase. This in addition to
the expense control that has
been exhibited by each of our
committees has helped prevent a
larger deficit. In addition,
the church received a generous
single donation provided funds
needed to continue our ministry
programs bringing us to normal
operations as set out in our
budget.
While the financial statements
are not complete for the first
quarter, the preliminary reports
reveal much promise and hope
because of your gifts and
tithes. Here is how it
appears as of March 31:
Income now stands at 93% of the
budgeted amount. Much of the
current short fall of our income
is in the timing of Friends
Ministry funds which is not
anticipated to be received until
the fall, as well as a
significant decrease in interest
income. The good news is our
Missions Ministry income is over
$800 more than was planned.
This can be attributed to the
Mission Ministry's active
pursuit of bringing awareness to
the need and seeking support
for the Angel Food Program.
As always, our ministries
continue to be ever mindful of
how your tithes are used in the
missions of our church and much
thanks needs to go to our
ministry committees who make
your tithes and offerings go a
long way.
Throughout the remainder of
2009, let us continue to
encourage each other to support
our church ministries through
cheerful giving. When we give
from our heart, God will bless
us by providing for our needs.
Let us be reminded of this
through the writings of Paul, "So
let each one give as he purposes
in his heart, not grudgingly or
of necessity; for God loves a
cheerful giver" (2
Corinthians 9:7)."
Rick Marshall, Treasurer
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Renewal and New Birth
.....Pastor Jim
As we enter into spring and
especially Holy Week, we are
constantly reminded of renewal and
new birth. Jesus says, "I am the
Resurrection and the Life!" We
celebrate the new life and renewal
of our faith we have in Christ this
month as a people of God as we
worship through Holy Week.
I also know that individuals and
committee ministries of our church
have also considered these themes of
renewal and new birth as they have
set spiritual and physical goals for
2009. I reflected upon both these
themes of renewal and new birth as I
spent time in formulating additional
and complimentary goals in mutual
ministry for this year as a church.
I shared these goals and plans with
those who attended our quarterly
congregational meeting this past
Sunday. I would like to share them
again for those who were unable to
attend:
As Senior Pastor, I
am designating Pastors Shaffer,
Davis, and Mundee as our pastoral
leadership team during my Sabbatical
to work together in direct
cooperation in their roles as
committee liaisons to committees and
with the Chairs of Deacons and
Church Council. Pastoral ministry
decisions will be made jointly.
Pastor Shaffer will facilitate the
weekly office functions as well as
be moderator of weekly staff
meetings and monthly Pastor
meetings. April 20- July 25, 2009.
Complete, furnish, and occupy the
new Education and Music Department.
Late Spring, 2009.
The acceptance of the Renovation
Master Plan (April 2009), and
initiate plans for the next phase of
the renovation. Fall, 2009
In cooperation with the Education
Committee seek out a volunteer
Sunday School Director to be in
place by late summer of 2009.
Assist and encourage the Outreach
Committee, Minister of Outreach,
Pastor Shaffer, and Pastor Davis to
develop and implement a
comprehensive follow-up program for
first time visitors and active
visitors with the goal of moving
them into active membership. Late
Summer, 2009
Completion of the approval of the
revisions of WRCC Constitution and
By-laws as well as the updating of
our P&Ps. Late Spring, 2009
Completion of a Comprehensive Staff
Handbook in cooperation with Staff,
Personnel, and Finance Committees,
and Church Council. Fall, 2009
The reorganization of existing
ministry committees by the
consolidation of committees, through
the recommendations of P&Ps, and
Nominating, with Church Council
input. This will lead to less
committees and a smaller more
efficient Church Council.
Mid-Summer, 2009.
Spiritual Gifts emphasis in August
2009 in conjunction with Worship,
and Nominating Committees in order
to increase committed involvement in
ministry. This would be done in a
Worship emphasis on Spiritual Gifts.
This would be coordinated with the
Nominating Committee to assist them
with their responsibility in the
volunteering process by assisting
members to choose service based upon
their spiritual gifts. This emphasis
would include a commitment worship
service, and then a commissioning
service after the quarterly
congregational meeting as new
committee members take office.
August, September 2009
Attend worship arts and church
growth workshops, hopefully in
conjunction with the worship and
outreach committees. Fall 2009
As you see, all of these goals and
plans are being made in conjunction
and cooperation with committee
ministries who are working for the
mission of our church. My prayer is
that as we move into the future,
these goals and all the goals that
committees and ministries have set
for themselves in this year will
lead and guide us as we are
empowered by the Holy Spirit to
"Point People to Jesus, through
Reaching, Teaching, Celebrating, and
Serving.
In that same congregational meeting,
I shared the following Church and
Personal Sabbatical plans:
Church Sabbatical Plan
Pulpit Preaching
Assignments
Pastor
Douglas Shaffer: April 19, May
31
Rev. Dean
Bishop: May 10, May 24
Pastor
Marianne Mundee: May 3, July 5
Rev. Kaye
Lee: April 26, May 17
Pastor Vivian Davis: June
7, June 28
Rev. Steve
Dolloff: June 21, July 12
Anniversary Sunday, June
14, Rev. Dr. Gary Kindley ,
Worship, Outreach,
and Special
Services, event planning.
Wednesday AM Bible Study: Steve
Dolloff
Wednesday PM Bible
Study: Cruz Fernandez
Pastor Committee Liaisons
Choir Council- Pastor
Shaffer Outreach-
Pastor Shaffer
Communications- Pastor
Shaffer Personnel-
Pastor Mundee
Couples- Pastor
Mundee Drama-Pastor
Davis
Policies &
Procedures- Pastor Shaffer
Prayer-Pastor Shaffer
Education- Pastor
Shaffer Singles- Pastor Shaffer
Facilities & Grounds- Pastor
Davis Ushers-Pastor Shaffer
Special Services-
Pastor
Davis Worship-Pastor
Shaffer
Finance- Pastor
Shaffer Floral- Pastor Mundee
Women's-
Pastors Mundee,
Davis Friends- Pastor
Shaffer
Library- Pastor
Mundee Deacons-
Pastor Shaffer
Nominating- Pastor
Shaffer Missions-
Pastor Shaffer
Pastor Walker
Sabbatical Plan
Completion of
knee rehabilitation.
Completion of series of visual
art work, ending in an art show
at the church, I not only see
this as a personal goal but the
beginning opportunity to contact
with the large art community
that is in our demographics for
outreach.
Visit other
churches to develop closer
relationships and experience
different worship. Greg and I
will also be worshipping at WRCC
occasionally during this time.
Travel to Atlanta to spend time
with my children and
grandchildren if health permits.
Complete and publish collection
of my late son Isaac's poetry.
Write an article of my journey
of hope, pain and faith that
shares my recovery from
metastatic melanoma.
Study trip to Israel for a week,
possibly at the end of June or
early July if my recovery and
finances allows.
Sabbatical Covenant
In that meeting, we as a church
also committed to the following
Sabbatical Covenant adapted from
the Sabbatical Covenant of the
United Church of Christ as an
affirmation of our continued
mutual ministry in Christ: "We
as members of White Rock
Community Church, covenant with
our Senior Pastor in his
sabbatical absence, to not use
this time to accomplish or
decide alone what we have not
agreed to or been willing to do
or able to do together. We will,
and we expect the Senior Pastor
will also, use this time to
reflect on our mutual ministry
in Christ and how we can live
more fully into our call as a
church of Jesus Christ. Upon the
Senior Pastor's return, we will
invite the Senior Pastor to
share with the church an
overview of activities and
reflections from the sabbatical.
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