This Week, Not at Faith
You may have noticed that the voice of this newsletter hasn’t changed much, even though my last day as an employee of Faith was last week. That’s because I was fortunate enough to have a full month of training before I was on my own, but Eric only got four days! While he begins to make his mark on the other crucial aspects of the role of Office Administrator, I’ll keep writing the newsletter for the time being. That said, you’ll notice that there’s less news, so now Faith really needs your involvement to spread the news within our community. Remember, if you’ve got something fun to share with the community, you can submit a form here on our Share Your News page, or you can email it to Eric Brimhall, Office Administrator, (who will forward it to me)at info@faithalive.com.
Training Your New Admin
I am the most sorry that the newsletter did not go out last week, but Eric and I really got a lot done. We spent the week in routine activities, and also dealing with absolute calamities! Eric picked up super quickly on the bulletin process and the gears in his brain are already working toward a solution that produces less waste, and offers the same benefits that we value in our music, and our eyesight.
We also ran into our first calamity of the week while we began to print the bulletins. You see, I don’t think I properly anticipated just how much paper would go into Christmas season worship bulletins and we just ran right out of all of our white paper. Fortunately, a parent at the preschool donated about 30 reams of magazine-quality paper, in just the right size for our worship bulletins. I’m a little disappointed that you missed it, but there were about 7 bulletins in there that were printed entirely on glossy paper and they looked fabulous. I’m sorry you missed it.
Maybe we can convince Eric to make a game of it, and always print one bulletin on glossy paper. Whoever wins gets to host coffee time the following week!
I’m just kidding. Unless you like the idea, then let’s do it!
I’m also so impressed by all of the work that Eric has done so far. You should see his office, you guys. It’s a whole vibe, and he’s really made it his own. I’m so excited about the changes that his skillset will bring to our facility!
Property Matters
Remember that storm back in August that knocked over the fence at the preschool? It also took down a number of branches from the trees that are no longer there, and lifted more than a couple of roof tiles on both of our buildings. We are in the process of starting an insurance claim on this matter, so we definitely foresee a need for extra support in the coming year.
Please take this time during Epiphany to review your finances for the upcoming year and consider increasing your regular contributions to our faith community. If you gave 8% last year, maybe this year you’d like to try for 9%! Every dollar counts, and here at Faith, we need every last one of them!
Additionally, I popped by the campus yesterday to help Eric will some training we didn’t get to finish last week. I noticed a lot of trash in the front yard and parking lot, which I often used to pick up on my own before my day started. This, as I am sure you know, is not a responsibility that typically falls on a church’s administrator.
If you drive past Faith throughout your day, I ask and encourage you to peep the property as traffic allows, and consider turning in to throw away a few pieces of litter, or simply check on the property to find areas where the campus needs care. If you don’t have time for that, make note of what you see needs to be fixed the next time you’re in for worship. It definitely looks like a good time for a work day, if you know what I mean!
Additionally, if you’re a type who likes to get your hands dirty, likes to build things, tear things down, landscape, garden, trim trees, pick up trash, or vet out vendors who do these things, please consider joining the Property Committee. For more information, contact a member of church council.
Council Meetings This Month
Speaking of members of church council, I want to remind you that due to the budget meeting on January 30, our council meetings will take place one week later than they usually do. Our Executive Team Meeting is scheduled to take place next Tuesday, January 11. The full Council Meeting will be on Tuesday, January 18.
Exec Meetings typically take place on the first Tuesday of each month. Council Meetings typically meet on the second Tuesday.
If you would like to become a member of Faith’s leadership team, please contact a member of council, or a member of our Nominating Committee to express your interest in being a part of Faith’s Council.
Share Your News
Remember, though I am still writing and sending the newsletter, I’m no longer on campus every day to get the hot gossip for you (“hot goss,” as the youths say), so it’s your turn to get the news circulating. If you’ve got fun news, no matter how small it may seem, your congregation wants to know! Did you just finish knitting your first sweater? We want to see it! Did your nephew just have a baby that we can pray for? We want to know! This community has been forced to hide from one another for such a long time that no one knows what’s going on anymore!
Click here and fill out the form to share your news!
If you’re anything like me, an INFP, I often second guess whether the news I want to share is actually newsworthy. If you’re feeling that way, the answer is yes! Your faith community wants to know how you’re doing!
(If you’ve got news, but can’t fill out the form online, email it to info@faithalive.com, or call Eric Brimhall in the church office at 602-265-3394.)
