THE EPISTLE

Volume 13 Issue 1 JANUARY 24, 2008

Heading
Congregation Invited to Send Confirmation Class
“A Message of Care”
In today’s youth culture, Valentine’s Day is almost exclusively reserved for “romantic” love. Is
it any wonder, then, that so many kids sit sadly on the sidelines at this time of year -- wishing
they had a “boyfriend” or “girlfriend” so that they, too, could enjoy all the wonderful senti-
ments delivered in greeting cards, gifts, candy and flowers?
Christians believe there are other forms of love, as well. There is agape love – the love that
Jesus showed for humankind. Last year, our congregation wrote hundreds of letters to our con-
Place your message here. For maximum impact, use two or three sentences.

firmation class letting them know that they are loved and cared for right here at First Church.
In 2008, we again invite all members of our congregation to participate in this project – di-
rected at our confirmation class students. These 14 young people are preparing to claim the
faith as their own when they are confirmed in May. Please take a few minutes to send them a
note encouraging them and telling them you care about them.
From now through Feb. 17, we’ll be collecting agape notes for the members of our confirma-
tion class: Dan Allen, Ed Gharzouzi, Kyle Goodrich, Peter Jackson, Megan Jones, Michael
Ledwin, Luke Meraw, Conrad Record, Brad Record, Sean Reid, Meghan Strong, Ryne
Veenema, Taylor Waldrop, and Jill Weidman. You, are invited to write a short note of caring
and affirmation to as many members of the class as you wish. Share your honest sentiments.
Let them know you notice them and are happy they are worshipping with us!
Place the letters in a sealed envelope with the person’s name on the front, and drop them in the
collection basket in Fellowship Hall. You may also place this sealed envelope inside another
envelope and mail it to the church. These letters will be completely confidential – to be read by
the recipient only.
Once collected, the letters will be sorted into individual packages and delivered to the confirma-
tion class.
With your help, we will ensure that EVERYONE receives a note. If you have any questions,
please contact Kelly Weidman at 223-8978 or kweidman-ucc@choiceonemail.com.
Thank you for1 participating!
 THE WORSHIP PAGE
February 10, 17, 24 March 2, 9, 16
Sunday Worship at 9:30 AM

Fellowship Time and Christian Education follow

February 10: First Sunday in Lent WORSHIP IN THE SPIRIT OF TAIZE-

Genesis 2:15-17 January 27 & February 24
Psalm 32
Romans 5:12-19 Taize is a simple candlelight service or prayer
Matthew 4:1-11 and meditation. The prayer is primarily ex-
“About Us or About God?” pressed through the repetition of several simple
musical lyrics based on biblical passages and
February 17: Second Sunday in Lent psalms. The repetition of these mantra-like mu-
Genesis 12:1-4a sical phrases is to assist the participants in cen-
Psalm 121 tering their thoughts on God and is interspersed
Romans 4:1-5, 13-17 with periods of silence.
John 3:1-17
“By Water and the Spirit” Christ is the center of the service and worship-
pers are invited to sing, hum, speak or pray si-
February 24: Third Sunday in Lent lently during the music. Young people world
Exodus 17:1-7 wide have been especially influenced by Taize
Psalm 95 as they seek a more intimate relationship with
Romans 5:1-11 the Lord Jesus.
John 4:5-42
“The Water of Life” Taize services will be held at 5:00 PM on Sun-
day January 27 and February 24. If you are
March 2: Fourth Sunday in Lent looking to calm your spirits and center your
I Samuel 16:1-13 hearts as we move through the season of Lent,
Psalm 23 this experience will be helpful. It would also be
Ephesians 5:8-14 a good opportunity to introduce non-churched
John 9:1-41 friends to this community of faith.
“Through Darkness to Light”

March 9: Fifth Sunday in Lent

Ezekiel 37:1-14 MEAGER MEAL
Psalm 130
Ash Wednesday is February 6th. Plan to at-
Romans 8:6-11
tend the meager meal and family worship to be
John 11:1-45
held in Fellowship Hall at 6:30 PM. A sign-up
“From Death to Life”
sheet is posted in Fellowship Hall. Plan to be-
gin the Lenten season in this meaningful way.
March 16: Passion/Palm Sunday
Blessing of the Palms Questions? Contact Chuck Hamill, 943-7920.
Choral Service
2
 THANK YOU
ONE AND ALL!
SENIOR
We want to thank you for your very generous
VALENTINE
Christmas gift to us. We appreciate more than
you can know not just the gift but the love
LUNCHEON
and good thoughts which go with it. As each
The Youth Groups
year passes our ties to this congregation and
would like to invite
this community are deeper and deeper. We are
all Seniors to attend the Senior Valentine
blessed to have ministered in, with and among
such a caring congregation. May God bless Luncheon on February 10 starting at 12
noon. Come enjoy a light lunch of deli-
each and every one of you as we continue our
cious soup, salad, and bread while enjoying
pilgrimage together.
the company of fellow Seniors. Please sign
Blessings and Love, up on the bulletin board in Fellowship
Hall. Hope to see you there!!

John and Jean

Habitat for Humanity

The Perinton Congregations Habitat for Humanity has collected enough money to start construction on
a new home. The home will be located in the Paetec Park/School 17 neighborhood in Rochester. The
construction will begin sometime in April and continue for about four months. There will be many op-
portunities for people to lend a hand in the construction of this home. The general schedule is that volun-
teers can help on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturdays. On each of these days only six volun-
teers are needed to help on the home. We would like to form a group that could go down on Tuesdays on
a regular basis to work. In addition, anyone can sign up to help on the other days. There will be a web-
site available to facilitate signups. More details will be available as we get closer to April.

If you would like to contribute financially to this effort, some money is still needed. There are “Buy a
Square Foot” forms on the Missions bulletin board.

For information, please see Joe Charles, Ted Avgerinos, or Jim Franzen.

REMEMBER IN YOUR PRAYERS:

Martha Bowman, St. John’s Home
Geraldine Stearns, Perinton Manor
Barbara Cobb, Fairport Baptist Home

3
 To all our Church friends,
I would like to thank all of you for the
prayers and support you’ve provided us dur-
ing my recent health diagnosis and surger-
ies. Your many examples of Christian love
helped me to deal more positively with this
situation. I look forward to being back to
100% in the near future.
Sincerely,
Nan Notar
Thank You
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK
We would like to thank everyone who helped
YOU
make our December Sunday Dinner Ministry a
Many thanks to all who donated
great success. We served and delivered over
food and money and who helped
ninety meals. Everyone enjoyed a delicious
to deliver the Christmas Baskets
dinner of cranberry juice, veggies with ranch
this year. Eight families enjoyed a
dip, meatloaf, cheesy potatoes, tossed salad
more cheerful Christmas because
with Italian dressing, green beans, crusty Italian
of your generous donations.
bread and butter, and cupcakes for dessert. Our
guests and our volunteers all had a good time.
It’s a great outreach to the community, and we
need a lot of help to make it happen. Thank
Pot Luck Supper a
you to all the cooks, helpers, and delivery peo- Great Success!!
ple!
The very first Pot Luck - Just For Fun was
There are four fifth Sundays in 2008 – held on Sunday, January 13th, and forty
people turned out to share a meal and en-
March, June, August, and November. Please joy each others' company. The food was
consider signing up to coordinate a dinner or at great (and plenty of it!), and the conversa-
least help out in some way. Our next Fifth tion was affable and happy. People com-
Sunday Dinner Ministry will be March 30th. mented that they especially enjoyed the
fact that there as no program or agenda
Watch for sign up sheets and more information that we all had to rush off to after we ate.
in March. Set-up and clean up was a breeze, and
Please feel free to contact us if you have any everyone was glad to have a night that
questions. they didn't have to cook supper.

The next dinner is scheduled for Sunday,

Thanks, March 2, 2008 at 5:00 PM - so mark
Peter and Melissa Tieslink your calendars!
4
 Easter is early this year, about the earliest that it can be and that being the
case Lent also begins early. Ash Wednesday is February 6. Once more
Pastoral we will gather to begin this holy season. Our traditional “Meager Meal”
will be at 6:30 PM in Fellowship Hall after which we will move to the
Perspective sanctuary to celebrate Holy Communion.

In the early church Lent was traditionally the time when candidates for
baptism at the Easter Vigil prepared for membership in the church. This
year we will look forward to receiving new members on Palm Sunday.

The theme which will center our thinking as we gather for worship each Sunday in Lent is that of baptism.
When we think of baptism we might think of three ways that we see water.

Sea: The water of baptism joins us to a very large community.

“The currents of the sea draw us out of our own insular identities, our little lives, and into a wider
world.”
“Sundays and Seasons”

In our prayer, we pray for the whole world. We fast for the whole world, living simply so that others may
simply live. Lent may be a good time to put into practice certain spiritual disciplines so that we might bet-
ter center our hearts on our relationship with God and reach out to others. Seeking to live simply as Diana
Wright in her adult education class taught us, is the Christian thing to do.

River: “like a river, Christ flows down and through the world.” “Sundays and Seasons”

In the story of the Samaritan woman at the well, we see Jesus at a low point: a woman and a Samaritan.
Here he was speaking to someone who was not seen as worthy. He was in that low place talking to the
lowest of persons. The river carries us into the low places. These low places are folks who usually escape
our attention. Perhaps it is as simple as the person at the edge of the coffee hour on Sunday or as compli-
cated as those who are ensnared in drugs, alcohol. This year our mission outreach work will include two
ministries which minister to the low: Bethany House and St. Joseph’s House of Hospitality. Our baptism
takes us into the low places with our lord.

Rain: When we imagine the waters of baptism as rain we see the presence of the Holy Spirit in all things.
Like rain it falls everywhere, surrounds everyone and everything.

This Lent my preaching will focus on the meaning of faith. As I said Lent was a time of preparation for
those who were going to be baptized at the Easter Vigil, so it was a time of preparation. As we move
through Lent, we look at the lessons in the context of the meaning of our baptism, the meaning of faith.

My prayer is that each and everyone will seek to deepen his or her faith as we gather together for worship,
education and mission.

Your pastor,

John
5
 Sunday Flower
Donations
The sign-up sheet for Sunday floral dona- Sympathy
tions has been posted on the moveable bulletin
Our Christian sympathy is extended to Flo
board in Fellowship Hall. The cost of the ar-
Kraai and her family on the recent death of
rangements will be $30.00 per week. Checks
her grandson, Andrew Dezio. He was a
should be made out to the First Congregational
sophomore at Penfield High School. A ser-
Church with the notation, “Sunday Flower Do-
vice was held for him January 14, 2008, at
nation”.
Browncroft Community Church, Pastor
Indicate on the sign-up sheet whether you
Cedarleaf officiating.
would like to take the flowers or donate them
to the church following worship. Donated
flowers will be delivered to shut-ins.

Special note for

Lent
Kittelberger’s has been Easter
asked to prepare ar- Flowers
rangements the same as By the end of the month, a
was done last year. The sign-up sheet will be posted
same arrangement will on the moveable bulletin
be used for the entirety board for those wishing to
of Lent. At the begin- donate flowers for Easter
ning of Lent, the arrangement will be sparse. Sunday at a cost of $8.00. Lilies, daffodils
Each week, Kittelberger’s will add to the exist- and hyacinths will be purchased. If the do-
ing arrangement. This means that arrangements nor wishes to take a plant home, it can be
cannot be taken or donated. Following the ser- picked up after the Easter Sunday Service.
vice, the arrangement will be taken to the Checks should be made out to the First
kitchen area to be picked up by Kittelberger’s Congregational Church with the notation,
and reused the following week. The cost of the “Easter Flowers”.
arrangements will still be $30.00 per week.

NEXT EPISTLE DEADLINE 3 PM FEBRUARY 21, 2008.

6
 MORNING CIRCLE
Morning Circle will meet in Fellowship Hall
on February 12 at 10 AM. Kathy Steblen
of Safe Journey, a local organization that
assists victims of abuse, will be our
speaker.

EVENING CIRCLE
The Evening circle will meet on February 11, 2008 in the Snow Room at 7:00 PM.
Holly Wolf will review a book that she feels would be of interest to us. The book is
Woodswoman by Anne Labastille. Please come to this fun event. All are welcome.
Call Judy Baxter or Beverly Gray for more information.

IS YOUR PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP

WITH THE LORD DOWN IN THE VALLEY?

Would you like to spend some time seeking the Lord and growing your personal rela-
tionship with him? Join me this upcoming Lenten Season, join us on each Wednes-
day at 11 AM, as we seek the Lord. The lessons will be lead by Glenn Harris.

We will begin February 13th, the week following Ash Wednesday, with “Who is God to
you?” The following weeks we will spend sometime in search of Jesus, “In the
Crowds,” “At the Garden,” “At the Cross,” and “At the Tomb.” We conclude the
Wednesday of Holy Week with “What does ‘He Was Crucified’ Mean and what does it
Mean to You?”

It will be a time of discussion and learning. We will take some time during Lent for

NEXT EPISTLE DEADLINE 3 PM FEBRUARY 21, 2008

7
 Save Your Bottles to Support the Youth
Mission Trip!
To raise money for our youth mission trip in July, we have
opened an account at EZ Bottle and Can Return, 1259 Fairport
Rd., Fairport. The congregation is invited to support our cause
by saving their NYS deposit beverage containers and delivering
them directly to EZ Bottle and Can Return OR bringing them to
church, where they’ll be gathered and delivered periodically.

To deliver directly to EZ Bottle and Can Return: Bring your

returnable containers to 1259 Fairport Rd. Tell the employee in
the office that you have containers from which the proceeds
should be designated to the “First Congregational UCC Mission Trip Fund.” Their workers
will take the bottles from your car and deposit them accordingly.

To deliver to the church: Bring your returnable containers in a plastic garbage bag. Leave
these in your trunk, while you locate Karen Hamill. (She is at church by 8:45 a.m. each Sunday
and mornings most weekdays.) She will store your containers and deliver them to EZ Bottle
and Can Return for you.

Questions? Call Karen Hamill at 425-1958.

Thanks for your ongoing support of our youth!

Help Our Senior High Starve Hunger

The Senior High youth group (SYF) will fast on Feb. 29 – Mar. 1, so that children around the world can
eat. For the first time, our youth will join with ten other churches in the area to participate in the 30
Hour Famine, sponsored by World Vision.

30 Hour Famine is an international youth movement to fight hunger. Youth get friends and family to
sponsor them while they fast. Over the last 16 years, Famine participants have raised more than $100
million to help fight hunger. Every $30 raised will help feed and care for one child for a month. And,
by fasting, youth learn for themselves what hunger really feels like.

During the fast, our SYF will gather with other youth groups for an opening ceremony (at our church!),
talks and reflections, praying and having fun. Our youth will spend the night at church and will devote
the following morning to volunteering their time helping at Saint’s Place, a refugee resettlement organi-
zation in Pittsford, and Bethany House, a women’s emergency shelter in the city.

You can help by sponsoring one or more of our youth during the fast. They will be signing up sponsors
during coffee hour on Feb. 10. Or, you can call Karen Hamill at 425-1958 to sponsor a youth. Thank
you for your support!!!
8
 To Help Us Etch Christ’s Character Into Our Own
This Lent, join our workout! Through small groups, we’ll study spiritual disciplines – celebra-
tion, slowing, prayer, servanthood, confession, receiving guidance from the Holy Spirit, practic-
ing secrecy, reflecting on Scripture, having a “well-ordered heart,” and experiencing suffering.
We’ll reflect on these disciplines from a 21st century perspective, realizing that God meets us
not in a monastery but on Main Street. Most importantly, we’ll begin to see that our daily life
has the potential to be lived as if Jesus himself were the one living it.
You are invited to join us again, as we embark on our Lenten journey beginning Sunday, Janu-
ary 27. The theme, this year, is Six Weeks of Spiritual Fitness. The goal of this Lenten program
is three-fold: First, it is designed to deepen the sense of community, fellowship and unity
within our church family. Second, it will help us to move closer to Jesus through our six-week
study on spiritual discipline. And finally, it will enable us to reach out to the community
around our church in a meaningful way.

Join A Small Group

We have five small groups meeting at various times and on various days. Please check the roll-
ing bulletin board in Fellowship Hall to see which day and time works best for you. Our small
groups will meet weekly for the six weeks of Lent (Feb. 3 – Mar. 23). These study and discus-
sion groups will use the curriculum, The Life You’ve Always Wanted, based on the best-selling
book (with the same title) by John Ortberg. Each class will include viewing a 15 minute video
and group discussion. Participants’ guides will be available for $8 at the first small group meet-
ings (or you can purchase one from Kelly Weidman).

Mission Focus: Bethany House & St. Joseph’s

During the six weeks of Lent, our church family will assist Bethany House and St. Joseph’s
House of Hospitality with various projects. Unlike the large, fund-raising efforts of past
years, this year we will do a variety of smaller jobs to help these organizations. Both Catholic
Worker “Houses of Hospitality,” Bethany House serves homeless women and children, while
St. Joseph’s serves homeless men in the City of Rochester.

9
 Bethany House (cont.)
Bethany House, located at 169 St. Bridget’s Drive, shelters, feeds and clothes women who
come from experiences of eviction, rape, abuse, imprisonment, abandonment and/or illness of
both body and mind. Women and their children may live at Bethany House for approximately
45 days, while they search for a more permanent residence. During this time, Bethany House
staff and volunteers advocate for these women, putting them in touch with employment oppor-
tunities and social services in Rochester. Bethany House is able to provide emergency housing
for six women and their children. The organization also operates a clothing room, a drop-in
center and an emergency food cupboard for women and children.
Founded in 1941, St. Joseph’s House of Hospitality serves a noon meal for men and women six
days per week, operates a men's emergency shelter, gives out clean men's clothes, provides a
shower, offers clothes washing, and makes available a local phone. Transitional housing is
available for up to one year for men who need to build financial resources before acquiring
more permanent housing. A weekly ecumenical service is held here on Tuesdays. St. Joseph’s
advocates “for those who are homeless or on the brink of being there." It is located on 402
South Avenue.
Both Bethany House and St. Joseph's House of Hospitality are independent, non-profit organi-
zations, sustained solely by the donations and financial contribution of individuals, churches,
and charitable groups.
Program Kick-Off is January 27
On Sunday, January 27, everyone is invited to the inspirational worship service and official
kick-off for our Six Weeks of Spiritual Fitness Lenten program. During our morning worship
service, we will have speakers from both Bethany House and St. Joseph’s House of Hospitality
share their mission with us. A special coffee hour will follow.

Questions? Contact:
Pastor Cedarleaf 223-0224
Kelly Weidman 223-8978
Karen Hamill 425-1958
Jim Franzen 223-8074
Joe Charles 381-4744

10
 Family News
Preschoolers & Elementary Students To
Learn About the Prophets Elijah and
Elisha in February
Where are our heroes? Who should we model ourselves after? Cer-
tainly, Jesus is our role model, but there are others, too, whom we
can admirably emulate. Through our drama, storytelling, art and
movie classrooms, our preschoolers and elementary school students
will learn about the great prophets Elijah and Elisha in February.
They will learn how these prophets put their full trust in God. They
will also learn of their compassionate acts. Finally, they will learn
how our Christian actions can serve as a model to others who may
not know Jesus.

Junior High and Confirmation

Class To Study
The Lord’s Prayer
Our REALtime junior high and confirmation
class will continue with their 10 week study of
the Lord’s Prayer. They will study the prayer
itself, the context in which Jesus gave it to us,
and its impact on our lives today.
***REMINDER: The second Confirmation
Class “Breakfast With the Pastor” is resched-
uled for January 27 at 8:30 a.m. in the Snow
Room.***
Senior High Series Continues:
“Doubts, Struggles With Faith”
The Senior High class will
continue its video discussion
series examining questions and
doubts about their faith and
looking for practical and Bibli-
cal solutions. The class will
learn that everyone struggles
with their faith, and it is ok to
have questions.

11
 JYF & SYF

Don’t Miss “Answering the Cry at Your

Front Gate” on Feb. 2!

Have you ever desired something a little more radical when it comes to church and
being a Christian? Are you ready for a fresh look at following Jesus? Chris Lahr, aca-
demic director for Mission Year (a program for folks 18 – 29 years of age to serve in an
urban setting for a year), will talk about his journey and how being a follower of Jesus
has led him from the comforts of a well-to-do church in Indiana to the streets of Philly
and the slums of India. He will also explore what it means to follow Jesus in a world
filled with poverty and injustice, as well as stir our imaginations as to how we can more
effectively serve in our own area.
WHEN: Saturday, February 2
WHERE: Nazareth College, Linehan Chapel in the Golisano Academic Center
TIME: 1 – 3 p.m. (Anyone needing a ride may meet at our church at noon.)
COST: $5 (Beverages will be provided.)
Lahr has lived in Philadelphia with his wife and three daughters since 2000, working
with the simple way, Iglesia del Barrio, Covenant House, and Mission Year. He is cur-
rently the Academic Director and Regional Recruiter for Mission Year. He is a gradu-
ate of Asbury Seminary and Eastern University, and is still a student of the streets of
Philadelphia.
Tickets are available from Kelly Weidman or Karen Hamill. Sign up in Fellowship
Hall, if you need a ride. For more information, call Kelly Weidman (223-8978) or Karen
Hamill (425-1958).
12
 Help With the
JYF & SYF Senior Valentine Lunch- JYF & SYF

eon
Junior and Senior High students are in-
vited to help prepare and serve a special
luncheon to our church “seniors” on Sun-
day, Feb. 10. The lunch is at noon. All
preparations will take place during Chris-
tian education time. Please sign up on the

Senior High
Join the 30 Hour Famine and Help
Starve Hunger!

Come, be seen, be heard and be hungry! Join your fellow SY-

Fers and ten other youth groups in starving hunger by participat-
ing in the 30 Hour Famine.

DATE: Friday Feb. 29 – Saturday, Mar. 1

TIME: 5 p.m. Friday, meet at church. Pick up is Saturday night
at approx. 6:30 p.m.
SIGN UP IS REQUIRED. Mrs. Hamill has a packet of informa-
tion which includes parental consent forms, what to pack, and
the schedule of events. Sign up in Fellowship Hall, in Sunday
School class or call Mrs. Hamill at 425-1958.
JYF & SYF
This event will be great! We’re expecting 150 youth to attend the JYF & SYF
kickoff at our church on Friday night, followed by bowling at Clo-
ver Lanes. On Saturday, we’ll do service projects at Saint’s
Place, a refugee resettlement organization, and Bethany House,
a shelter for homeless women and children. The closing cere-
mony will be at Fairport United Methodist Church, and a meal
will be served.
You will never forget this experience!

13
 Elementary Students
NOTE: The Winter Carnival scheduled for Jan. 27 has been cancelled. Instead, we have
scheduled Family Bowling on Feb. 9.

Bring the Family Bowling on Feb. 9!

Come get out of the cold and enjoy some fun and fellowship with other First Church families!

DATE: Saturday, February 9

TIME: 1 – 3 p.m.
PRICE: $8.50/person
WHERE: Fairport AMF Bowling Lanes (Route 31F)
WHO: Families (including adults and siblings) of preschool and elementary school
students (Supervision for the children attending is requested)

The cost is $8.50/person and includes 2 games and shoe rental; a savings of $4.00/person from
the regular bowling price. We will have bumpers available for the smaller children (and anyone
else who needs them!).

Please sign up on the “Elementary Kid News” bulletin board in Fellowship Hall (to the left of
the restrooms) or email Felicia Johansen (fnjohansen7@hotmail.com) with the number of bowl-
ers you will be bringing.

Deadline to sign up is Sunday, Feb. 3. Payment is required in advance to hold your spot.
Checks may be made out to “First Congregational UCC” with “family bowling” written on
memo line. Checks may be dropped off at the church office or mailed to First Congregational
UCC, 26 E. Church St., Fairport, NY 14450.

ADVENT HOUSE FUNDRAISER

On Friday March 28th 2007 at 6:00 pm, Advent House will be holding its 14th annual Dinner
Dance and Auction at the beautiful Casa Larga Vineyards, 2287 Turk Hill Road, in Fairport.
Don Alhart will be the master of ceremonies and Carol Ritter Wright will be conducting
the live auction. There will also be hundreds of wonderful items to bid on in our silent
auction. Music will be provided by Bill Tiberio and the band, "Time Piece" for your
dancing pleasure. Tickets are $80.00 per person and can be obtained by calling Ad-
vent House at 223-6112. Don’t miss out on the social event of the season.

14
 Treasurer’s Report
The church finished the 2007 financial year with a small net loss of $232. As you may recall when the
2007 budget was presented to the congregation in December 2006, we anticipated that we would incur
a loss of $31,364 (shown in the budget as an income item “Transfer from Reserves”). Fortunately, giv-
ing was substantially above the budgeted amount, primarily due to pledges received after the budgeting
cutoff.

A summary of the 2007 Income Statement, including the 2008 budget, is shown below. Please note that
“flow through” items, or gifts/payments intended for outside organizations such as Veterans of the
Cross and One Great Hour of Sharing are excluded from this summary.

First Congregational Church

Income Statement

2007
2007 B/(W) * 2008
Actual Budget Budget

Income
Giving, including plate collections $ 238,793 15,958 $ 253,000
Previous Year Giving 7,360 7,360 -
Rent 9,725 - 9,910
Interest 3,516 1,016 4,500
Fund Raising / Antique Sale 7,574 2,574 15,000
Flower Donations 1,632 (318) 1,950
Room Rental & Other Donations 1,565 865 700
Fry Donation 11,160 (840) -
Columbarium 1,000 1,000 -
Transfer from Reserves - (31,634) 12,467

Total Income 282,325 (4,019) 297,527

Expenses
Salaries and Related Benefits 188,007 2,104 199,156
Church Utilities & Supplies 13,674 2,326 14,000
Church Maintenance 21,690 (3,690) 20,000
Insurance 8,976 108 9,165
Office Expenses 11,259 (658) 11,200
Boards & Committees 12,524 3,361 15,606
Genesee Valley Assoc. Dues 2,231 (131) 2,300
Missions Donations 22,349 151 24,000
Flowers 1,782 131 1,950
Other Miscellaneous 65 85 150

Total Expenses 282,557 3,787 297,527

Net Income $ (232) $ (232) $ -

* B/(W) = Better or Worse than

For 2007, the church is facing another challenging year. Pledges (and giving in total) have been declining
since 2004. Our budget for 2008 is $14,200 higher than the giving was in 2007.

As chart B below depicts, 2007 was the lowest year for giving in several years. While some 2007 pledges
remained partially unpaid at December 31, 2007, even if the pledges were fully paid we would not reach
the 2005 and 2006 giving levels. So, the challenge before us is to increase pledging and find new ways to
raise money to fund church expenses.

Look for regular financial reports in the Epistle throughout the coming year.
15 Nancy Keith, Treasurer
 Treasurer’s Report Chart B
First Congrgational Church
Giving

265
260
255
$ Thousands

250
245
240
235
230
225
2003 2004 2005 2006 2007

Advent House Help

Wanted
Director of Development

Advent House has a salaried, part time position

open, for a motivated individual to initiate and
oversee all fundraising. Flexibility is impera-
tive. Applicants must be comfortable in a hos-
pice-like environment, as well as working with
volunteers. Send resumes to Advent House,
Attention: Glenda Hastings, 1010 Moseley
Road, Fairport, NY 14450. Please no phone
calls.

2007 PLEDGE STATEMENTS AVAILABLE

Pledge/giving statements for 2007 are now available in Fellowship Hall ready for you to
pick up. If you are unable to come into church to pick up your statement, please call
the church office at 223-0224, and your statement will be mailed to you.

16
The Epistle is printed once a month
By the First Congregational United
Church of Christ, 26 East Church St.,
Fairport, New York 14450

Office Phone: 585-223-0224

Fax: 585- 223-4264
Pastor’s Phone 585-223-8172
E-mail: church1@choicemail.com
Webpage: fairportucc.org
Office Hours: M-F 9:00-3:30

Church Service 9:30AM

Sunday School: 10:50AM

Pastor: Rev. Dr. John Cedarleaf

Christian Ed. & Family Ministries:
Kelly Weidman & Karen Hamill
Admin. Asst: Cathy Kinton
Church Moderator: Hank Ralston
Organist: Beatrice Benedict
Choir Director: James C. Jefferis
Business Administrator: Sue Brooks
Epistle Editor: Bill Lindsay
Wedding Coordinator: Sue Bickel

NEXT EPISTLE DEADLINE 3 PM FEBRUARY 21, 2008

First Congregational United Church of Christ NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION

26 East Church Street
U.S. POSTAGE
Fairport NY 14450
PAID
FAIRPORT N.Y.
PERMIT NO. 61
Address Service Requested

Dated Material

17