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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 802-228-4211 or Rev. Harpster at 802-875-8895. His email is [email protected].
Upcoming Meetings Women’s Group-Every Wednesday at 10:00 A.M. Executive Committee – Wednesday, January 28 at 7:00 P.M. Weekly Offerings Offerings and other cash receipts for January 18 were $1,487.00. The cost for each week is $1,385.00 (derived by dividing the annual budget by 52 weeks). Altar Guild Brenda Dansingburg will be the Altar Guild person during the month of January. Coffee Hour A time of fellowship following the service of worship is held in the social hall. Coffee, juice and refreshments will be served. Ushers for the month of January and February This is a reminder for those of you who have signed up and a notice of those Sundays that are open. Ushers Communion January 25 Ginny & Bob February 1 Laura Brenda & Dick February 8 Anne & Andy February 15 **Open February 22 Anne & Andy VALENTINE’S DAY DINNER 2015 For many years, we have enjoyed a Valentines Dinner at the Landgrove Inn. Reservations have been confirmed by the Landgrove Inn – cash bar at 6:00 PM and dinner at 7:00 PM on Friday, February 13th. About 20 people have signed up so far and there is room for more. Friends are invited – guests don’t have to be affiliated with our Church (yet). Please contact David Almond (228-2414 or [email protected]) if you have questions or would like to join the party. Each couple would pay for their dinner with a credit card – approximately $25 per person before tip. 2015 Lenten Bible Study The general question will deal with the many and varied fears all of us have as we live out our lives on this earth. To provide a context for our discussions, we will be using Megan McKenna’s book, The Hour of the Tiger: Facing our Fears. She is an internationally known author, lecturer, retreat leader and spiritual director. Your pastor had the pleasure of hearing her speak at the Awakenings Conference in Holyoke, Massachusetts this past spring. The six sessions will meet on Tuesday evenings at 7:00 P.M. in the Ladies Parlor on February 10, February 17, February 24, March 10, March 17, and March 24. See Bill Kneebone if you would like to order the book at the cost of $15. All are welcome to attend in what should prove to be some meaningful discussions. Malayaka House Update Amy Carst, US representative of MH, emailed early in January that 2015 has started out “unbelievably well – including financials, business development, the kids, and the overall well-being of everyone at MH”. She just wired $80,000 to Uganda - $30,000 installment from Ludlow Rotary for the solar energy project, $20,000 associated with the American military personnel described below and intended for a host of other improvements, and $30,000 of other donations to be used for day-to-day operations (annual operations budget is about $110,000). The host of other improvements includes a water collection system, water pump, aunties’ appliances, new beds for children and school supplies. A Dubai supermodel has selected MH as her cause and her organization, Monyati Initiative, initially will provide $25,000 this spring to improve the kitchen facilities for the MH baking and pizza business and to develop a full-service culinary business. The Monyati Initiative/MH partnership is intended to be long-term in nature. Some American military personnel were introduced to MH through the Pizza Nights and decided to get involved. On New Year’s Eve, the mother of one of these Americans donated $20,000 to MH online. She is a philanthropist and MH expects to hear from her on a continuing basis. A new British supporter of MH began making quarterly donations of $4,000 in January. The Baxter Trust (Houston) has agreed to provide $75,000 this January to help MH build a permaculture farm on the Lake Victoria shore property donated to MH a few years ago. Another donor invested $50,000 in infrastructure improvements at this property in 2014 with additional improvements expected in 2015. Eventually, this property is expected to provide a substantial amount of the food consumed at MH and new sources of income for MH. With the help of a friend from Spain, MH is in process of forming a dental clinic that is expected to open for business this summer. The Bobo’s Coffee business is now providing funding for MH at the rate of $10,000 per year. The two newest MH family members, Baby Georgie and Arnold-EE, are thriving and happy. With Georgie just starting to walk, the aunties are in heaven. More babies will be welcomed this year. Amy Carst is planning additional fund-raising events here in Vermont and elsewhere in the US. Perhaps the United Church should reach out to help with some of these efforts. MH is a 501(c)(3) organization and, accordingly, US donations are deductible for income tax purposes. MH’s US address is Malayaka House, PO Box 9352, South Burlington, VT 05407. For more information, see David Almond or go to www.MalayakaHouse.com Comments are closed.
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