Happy St. Nicholas Day!
For more info about St. Nicholas, you can go here
Update on Clara R.
On Sunday I went to see Clara at St. Vincent in Toledo. On Tuesday she was transferred to Stein Hospice inpatient care at Firelands South Campus. She is being kept comfortable -- I visited today and will continue to stay in touch with her and the family in the coming days. Keep her and the family in your prayers.
Giving by text message activated
We have made known the opportunity and method for giving to St. John's using the online giving portal that is available through Breeze, our church management system. Another way to give online that is available through Breeze is by texting with your smartphone. I activited this feature this week, and received from Breeze a phone number to text. Simply text the word “give” to 4197578467 using your smartphone. You will receive a return message with a link to the online portal. The first time you use the service, you will enter your name, email address, and credit card or bank info. This will associate your phone number with Breeze, so that the next time you text to give, all you need to do to give $10 is text "10" to the giving by text number, and you're done. The contribution will automatically be added to your giving record. Keep in mind that you can also give online through your computer's web browser, which you can see by clicking here. You can find a complete list of giving by text commands in Breeze here.
How 2017 Tax Bill has affected charitable giving
St. John's did not receive the usual end of December bump in giving last year, they we were not alone. Churches and many other non-profits report similar results in their end of year giving receipts. At least part of the culprit seems to be the 2017 Tax Bill which raised the standard deduction to $24,000 married couples filing jointly, and $12,000 for single filers. In the past when the standard deduction less than half those amounts, many taxpayers were able to itemize deductions and thus benefit from making end of year contributions. For more info on this phenomenon, go here.
Call Committee does mock interview
I was informed that the Call Committee met on Tuesday evening, and conducted a mock interview with Pastor Scott as the guinea pig. I have done several of these myself, and the response has always been positive, as it gives the Committee at least a bit of practice in conducting a thorough and effective interview. Thanks, Pastor Scott for your continued service to St. John's!
Bishop Daniel's weekly messagge
You can read it here.
Visits
Trying to get to as many of our shut-ins as I can before Christmas with Holy Communion. Bellevue Care and Orchard Grove last week, Tom L. at Providence Commons and Sandy W. at The Meadows at Osborn Park in Sandusky on Thursday. Will do group Holy Communion at The Meadows on Monday for Pr. Katie, so will see the Meadows group then.
Advent Midweek service
We have two more Advent midweek services, on Wednesdays, December 11 and 18 at 7:00 pm in the chapel. We will focus on Old Testament texts from our Sundays in Advent as the basis for our messages. Wednesday night, confirmation youth presented a skit which served as the introduction to the sermon, "Is It Time Yet?"
Lots of very nice silent auction items!
Don't forget to take a look at the dozens of gift baskets that are on display in the preschool hallways, and available for your bid. A great opportunity to do some of your holiday gift shopping without going to the mall, and support St. John's Christian Preschool in the process!
January Newsletter items due soon!
Yes, it's still early in December, but getting your January newsletter items to Kristen sooner rather than letter will make it easier for her to complete her many projects, including Christmas Eve bulletins in a timely manner.
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