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Text Box: Finance committee members include: Tom Wielunski, Randy Nowell, Bill Norman, Dorothy Ward, Ida Krall, and Charlie Klinkert. Interesting Finance Facts: Our Church has a monthly mortgage payment of $1,303 Our electric bill in August was $397 Our annual budget for 2004-2005 is $51,100 Our annual member canvass and pledge drive will

Text Box: begin in April for fiscal year 2005-2006 Our Church pays a monthly telephone bill of $48 We had building rental income of $400 in 2004 Our annual insurance premium is $1400 We have approved building plans for two more buildings on our Church property

Text Box: Having missed the deadline for the January Newsletter, I would like to tell you at this time how very much I appreciate the work of the Bylaw committee. Sandra, Terry, Darnell, Charlie, and Tom. I really appreciate all the members as well who stayed and endured the long process of amending. This way I hope everybody feels it is their own. Now, to continue our review of the 2002 articles concerning “The Caring Umbrella” Rationale for a Pastoral Care Team The Cultural Rationale In today’s world people do not stay in the hospital very long. Surgery is frequently done on an outpatient basis. People go home sooner and sicker. Chemotherapy and other treatments are done in the home. Doctor visits are shorter and more impersonal. People have to be more responsible for their own healthcare and therefore need to be more knowledgeable about their choices. They need support in navigating the healthcare and insurance systems. If they are alone and ill it is a daunting task. Even with relatively minor same day procedures, people are required to find someone to stay with them for a few hours. Also in this fast paced and mobile society, many

Text Box: people are without extended family or any immediate community of support. Older parents are left behind as grown children move to other parts of the country. Older people are left in homes where they raised children, now too large for them to manage, yet without the energy to pack up all their belongings and find an apartment or retirement community. In times of chronic illness, one spouse may be left to care for the other, not wishing to burden friends or family. Many find the problems of full time care giving, perhaps with little or no respite or support overwhelming. Young couples or singles, moving to the area often are also without community and extended family. Frequently both parents are working and supports are not in place if a child becomes seriously ill. The need for a caring community is great. A Pastoral Care Team who can be called upon quickly and can coordinate care within a caring supportive church community is a relief to many members, young and old; even those who do not utilize the services. There is a reduction in anxiety knowing the services are there if they should ever need them. Next month I’ll present the RATIONALE FOR THE CHURCH. - Barbara Kovach