Last Sunday evening the Session met for its stated meeting in the midst of a power failure at the church. Since the meeting was scheduled to begin at 7:00 pm, the lack of lighting was a potential problem! However, with the aid of candles placed around our tables, backlit computer screens, and handy cell phone flashlights we were able to complete our work. The soft glow of the candles created a quiet, contemplative mood and a memorable meeting. That does not mean that candles in the dark will become our new tradition for Session meetings!
Meeting with candles in the dark was reminiscent of the way Christians met in the early centuries of the church – among the catacombs or in other dark spots away from the prying eyes of those who would do them harm. We take for granted our ability to worship freely, but it has not always been so, and is not guaranteed for the future. If worship was riskier, if meeting as the church was not so safe and secure, would you still do it? Or is your faith a fair-weather faith, something to which you are fully committed as long as there is no risk to you? In many parts of the world, it is in such risky conditions that the church thrives, while in other places where there is little or no danger, the church withers. What are you willing to risk for your faith? But I digress! Among the actions of the Session on Sunday evening was the distribution of the surplus from 2024. We were blessed with wonderful faithful giving last year in addition to good stewardship of our resources that led to a surplus of $66,017. What did we decide to do with those funds? We committed $17,000 to facilities projects to improve lighting, drainage, and landscaping around the church; $5,000 to support Crystal’s work in Nigeria with Decapolis and $6,500 for a Matthew 25 outreach project; $7,500 for staff bonuses; $6,000 to support youth at Montreat and Massanetta Springs conferences and $2,000 to bring in a speaker under the guidance of Christian Formation; $1,000 for books and training about grief; $10,000 to refresh and improve our website; $3,000 for improvements to sound for our livestream of worship; $5,000 toward an audit of our finances as we periodically do; $2,000 for sturdier trikes and bikes for the preschool; $1,000 for Fellowship to use toward activities, including a possible bus trip. In sum, the funds were allocated across the life of the church to enhance our ministries inside these walls and beyond. We are grateful for your faithfulness in stewardship, reflected not only in that surplus but also in increased pledges for 2025 to meet our increased budget as costs rise and programming opportunities grow. We are blessed to be God’s people in this place, and while we may work in the dark from time to time, we carry the light of Christ out into the world in wonderful ways! May Christ’s light continue to shine – through all of us!
— John Peterson
