February 7, 2025 Newsletter

A WARM WELCOME TO GUEST PREACHER, DR. BRIAN WALSH

Dr. Brian Walsh has spent most of his life ministering to young adults in higher education. As a professor and campus minister he has been committed to the formation of disciples of Christ who have biblical depth and prophetic discernment. Now retired from full time ministry, Brian serves as the chair of the board of A Place Called Home and farms with his wife, Sylvia Keesmaat, at Russet House Farm in Cameron.

ANNUAL CONGREGATIONAL MEETING

LOOKING FOR MUSICIANS & SINGERS

If you are interested in being involved with music in our Sunday worship services, either singing or playing an instrument, please speak to Paul Mason after the service.

If you participate at home, please let Mary know for roll purposes.

FINANCIAL REPORT TO DECEMBER 31, 2024

Financially, we had a good year at St Andrew’s. During the year we received a one time donation to our General account of about $48,000.00, which helped us to realize an operating surplus of $58,832.09 for the year. It puts us on a sound financial footing to start 2025.

At our last Annual Congregational Meeting we agreed on a Presbyterians’ Sharing target amount at $15,000.00 for the year. We managed to raise $17,942.00. Well done St. Andrew’s.

Our outstanding mortgage balance to December31st stood at $246,466.72. As a comparison, in 2023 it was $320,901.30 and in 2022 it was $447,463.06. As you can see, we have made a significant dent in our mortgage over a very short period of time.

Our mortgage comes due in July of 2025 and at that point the mortgage will be $220,395.95.

The Finance Committee has recommended that a fundraiser be started to attempt to pay off or pay down as much as possible before the renewal. A letter will be mailed out with full details at a later date.

Keep an eye out for your 2024 tax receipt. Statements have been sent out by email to those who have it, and by regular mail to those who don’t. If you haven’t received your statement by Friday, February 14, please contact Mary during office hours.

UKRAINIAN DINNER

What An Exciting Night! A Sold Out Affair!

St. Andrew’s Hall was filled with laughter, the happy buzz of folks gathered together for an evening out,

and the smell of delicious authentic Ukrainian food wafting in from the kitchen.

We were gathered together to celebrate and show our support for Snizhanna, Ivona and Sasha, our “adopted” Ukrainian family.

So many hands and hearts came together to make this event such a success. In particular, I wish to express my deepest gratitude to Jane Avery, my cochair in organizing this event, and the planning committee, including Shelby Snider, Linda Rutherford and Sylvia Nesbitt. I must also say a huge thank you to those who peeled vegetables, ran the dishwasher, served the guests, cooked or heated up food and helped with clean up.

It was a wonderful event and Snizhanna and her family are very grateful.

Blessings to all who contributed to the success of

the evening.

Dianne Dalton, Outreach & Missions