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A warm welcome to all visitors. If the Pastor or any member of the congregation may be of service to you, please contact the church office at 802-228-4211or Rev. Harpster at 802-875-8895. His email is [email protected]. Please be sure to sign the guestbook located at the entrance to the church. Upcoming Meetings Women’s Group-Every Wednesday at 10:00 A.M. Executive Committee, Wednesday, August 26 at 7:00 P.M. Weekly Offerings Offerings and other cash receipts for the week of August 16 were $1,172.00. The costs for each week are $1,385.00. (derived by dividing the annual budget by 52 weeks). Altar Guild Jean Eggleston and Brenda Dansingburg will share the Altar Guild duties for the month of August and September. Enjoy the beautiful flowers which are given by Laura Caravatt. Coffee Hour A time of fellowship following the service of worship is held in the social hall. Coffee, juice and refreshments will be served. Springfield Chorus Concert The Springfield Community Chorus will be performing at the United Church of Ludlow on Saturday, August 29th at 7:00 P.M. The concert will showcase Broadway tunes and more. For more information contact Lisha Klaiber at 802-226-7445. Ed Boadway is to be the accompanist for a hymn sing at the Estey Organ Museum, Birge Street, Brattleboro, Vt., at 3:00 p.m., Saturday, August 29th. The program will feature several old instruments and refreshments. A donation at the door would be appreciated. Estey produced a world-famous product from 1846 to 1960, and was the best-known Vermont industry in the 19th century. If you plan to attend, Ed can provide travel directions. Ushers for the month of August and September This is a reminder for those of you who have signed up and a notice of those Sundays that are open. Thank you for your service. Ushers Communion August 23 Anne & Andy August 30 **Open September 6 Laura Sandy & Jim September 13 **Open September 20 **Open September 27 **Open MALAYAKA HOUSE UPDATE – AUGUST 2015 Malayaka House (“MH”), the Entebbe Uganda orphanage we support through our Outreach program, has just issued an upbeat and inspiring newsletter. Unfortunately, the newsletter is too lengthy to include here but a black-and-white copy is posted on the social hall bulletin board. David Almond gladly will email a full color copy to anyone that requests it ([email protected]). The newest children of the 40 at MH are Alex (2) and Dave (8 months) – both brought to MH by the local police this past May. Alex was malnourished and barely speaking. Due to intensive care by the “aunties”, Alex now is “just one of the kids”, playing with the other children, laughing, talking and healthy. Dave arrived in good health. He had been living with his “mentally ill” mother on the Entebbe streets. Due to the dangerous and unhealthy living conditions, the police intervened. Dave’s sweet smiles and giggles now are filling MH with joy. MH is making great progress pursuant to its 2013 plan to become financially self-sufficient by 2023, with the children involved in all aspects of the plan. Much of the progress is due to ten new or improved “businesses” and farming projects that provide cash, nutritious food, and vocational training. You can contribute to Malayaka House at PO Box 9352, South Burlington, VT 05407. MH is a 501(c)(3) organization and, accordingly, all US donations are deductible for income tax purposes. MH’s website is www.MalayakaHouse.com. Community Solar Net Metering Opportunity for Those Receiving Power from the Ludlow Electric Light Department (Including some homes in Proctorsville) Ginny and I are buying into a community solar farm to be located on Rod and Gun Club Road on the property of Tesha Buss. Our motivation is primarily to “husband” the earth within the Biblical invocation in Genesis by reducing our carbon footprint. In addition, there are financial incentives including a 30% federal tax credit. We want to make this opportunity known to the church community because we see it as a way of acting on a world problem within our faith tradition. Basically, by buying into this “farm,” you own photovoltaic panels equal to your electrical use as calculated by using your electrical bills over the past several years. The object is to replace the power you use by the power generated by your panels. Doing so erases your electric bill. The math is more complicated, of course, but that is the basic issue. The duration of the contract is 30 years and includes the cost of installation, maintenance and repair. The panels you own may be sold either separately or as part of a property sale or donated to a nonprofit organization like the church or library should you move. Buying into a community farm eliminates the need to have solar panels on your roof, and the cost of the infrastructure (frames, panels, inverter, etc.) is reduced by economy of scale. The farm will not be sited where it can be seen from a major highway. You may participate only if you receive power form Ludlow. We know Tesha Buss through the FOLA Follies, which she directs; she is active in other Ludlow civic groups. If you are interested in learning more, we will answer questions we are able to answer and will share our actual contract as an example (with all the math and details). Tesha may be contacted at: [email protected]. Let her know that you are related to the United Church. Businesses as well as private homes are eligible to be members of the community farm. The decision time is not immediate, but the goal to start building the structure is not far away. Bob and Ginny Comments are closed.
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