Pastor's Piece:
Dear Friends…
Whether it is your blood pressure, the temperature outside, or your checkbook, most of us have to pay attention to numbers. Even in our Christian lives, numbers can hold us accountable. We count the number of hours of community service, Sundays in worship, and financial giving to the church. Numbers, of course, don’t tell us everything but they can help us see where we are and where we need to go. Included in this month’s Messenger, are two graphics showing two aspects of our current financial giving. The first, “Capital Campaign” shows where we are with six months left in our three-year campaign. The second page, “Congregational Pledges” shows where we are halfway through 2021. This graph does not show all contributions to the church, only those received as part of individual pledges for this year.
Stone Church is blessed with generous givers, givers of time, talent, prayers, and resources. Giving to the Capital Campaign has allowed us to make significant necessary repairs and improvements to the building, most notably the roof. Through your ongoing financial giving, pledged and non-pledged, you support staff, programming, and care of the building.
Over the next six months, we will be updating these graphs. I invite you to keep these color copies on your desk, or even on your refrigerator, and update the numbers as they come in. I look forward to celebrating with you when our goals are met. God is at work within us and through us.
Thanks be to God for this incredible gift! Pastor Sarah
July Worship Calendar
Please continue to worship with the people of Stone UMC each Sunday morning at 9 am in person, on Armstrong Cable channels 23 and 100, on our website and Facebook page, stoneumc.org.
For those worshipping in person, mask wearing during worship is voluntary for those who have been vaccinated, social distancing in seating is encouraged and soft singing is allowed. In all things, be mindful of your health and that of others. July 4th July 11th July 18th July 25th
Beginning July 4th, Pastor Sarah will also be preaching at Bethany UMC (Wadsworth Ave Meadville) each Sunday morning at 10:30 AM
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!
A heartfelt thanks to… Erin Lindsay-Means for the great graphics for our financial commitment reports…Cyndi Bland for organizing Outdoor game night, our first in person family event of the summer…The monthly Second Harvest delivery crew of Patty Brown, Garald Stockton, Cindy and John Karns, Matt McElhaney and Jim Schlosser…All the bakers and buyers for the Father’s Day bake sale…Anne Finney for leading the Staff-Parish committee through the spring review process…Patty Brown for going the extra mile…Jane Ellen Nickell for the beautiful piano piece… All who continue to work through and pray through the changes at Stone United Methodist Church…
A big Thank You and much appreciation to Garald Stockton for all the dedication and help he has given to the Senior Food Box program over the years! Enjoy your “retirement” from the program!
Many thanks to the bakers and buyers for a successful bake sale! We raised almost $400 for Sotcho Dio, our sponsor child from Bangladesh. Sotcho is 12 years old and in 6th grade. He enjoys music, art, and games with friends and at home he helps take care of his family animals, cleans and carries water. Thank you for supporting Sotcho and Compassion International. If anyone is interested in writing to Sotcho, contact Cyndi Bland for more information at cyf@stoneumc.org
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!
Congratulations!!
Anne and Bob Finney are delighted to announce the engagement of daughter, Jessica, to Cruz Dragosavac.
Congratulations to Tina Taylor on the birth of her grandson Levi Mac Learn, born May 25th. Levi is the son of Kevin and Page Learn, baby brother of Andi.
Sympathies:
Sympathies to Laura Reeck and family on the death of her father, Gerald Reeck, on July 1st.
Sympathies to Debbie Knapp and family on the passing of her brother-in-law, Vincent Knapp, on June 3rd.
Condolences to Pat Loutzenhiser and family on the passing of Pat’s mom, Lucille McCormick, on June 14th.
Sympathies to Jim Turnbull and family on the passing of his sister-in-law, Julia Turnbull, on June 22nd.
July Counter Schedule
5th Patty Brown & Aundra Zack
11th Anne Finney & Lisa Foust
18th Barb Baker & Lisa Clayton
25th Patty Brown & Aundra Zack
