April 23, 2008

Thank you to all who responded to requests to turn in your plegde cards! Your loyalty, support and generosity (shown in your pledged commitments) will allow us to meet our modest increases as requested by boards for the 2008-2009 budget. The proposed budget was approved by Church Council on April 21^st and will be available for review by the congregation beginning Sunday, April 27^th. Please review the proposed budget in preparation for our Annual Meeting on May 18^th. If you have any questions or concerns regarding the general budget, please talk to a member of the Business Affairs Board: Jack Armstrong, Andrew Davidson, Paul Haffeman, Kurt Kessner, Buck O'Brien, Sherry Turner, Lois Wells, Gary Wyman or Nancy Zadick. For staff and salary questions or concerns, please talk to a member of the Personnel Committee: Jerry Butcher, Nick Cetto, Buck O'Brien, June Rovero or Sheree West.

Rev. Jim Petersen's Bible Study will meet on Wednesday, April 30 at 12:00 P.M. and on Sunday May 4 at 12:10 P.M. for Ch.11 in your study guide The Son of David and David's Lord (21:1-22:46). Please note Bible Study on Sunday April 27^th and May 4^th will begin at 12:10 P.M. in the parlor as Rev. Petersen will be attending the Confirmation and Graduation Breakfasts prior to worship on those days.

SUNDAY SCHOOL NEWS & ROOM PICK UP

This Sunday children begin in Sunday School for a Sunday Special with Susan Crocker and Sheree West. Confirmation Breakfast is from 9:30-10:15 A.M. in Fellowship Hall. We hope to see all Confirmands and their families for this special occasion!

Teachers are needed for the last rotation of Sunday School; Woman with the Alabaster Jar. If interested, please call Erica LaTray at 452-2153 or Bonnie Warren at 453-4316. Let us know, too, if you would like to help withVacation Bible School, summer Sunday Specials, or Nursery. Here are many chances for us to rejuvenate ourselves through our young people. They need you and you need them.

The Graduation Breakfast is Sunday May 4^th, 9:30-10:15 A.M. in Fellowship Hall. Please RSVP to Bonnie Warren or the church office at 453-4316 by April 30^th.

CONFERENCE ANNUAL MEETING

This year's Conference Annual Meeting is being held at the University of Great Falls May 8-11^th and is being shared with the Disciples of Christ. CAM/RA (Conference Annual Meeting/Regional Assembly) will commence with a light supper in our Fellowship Hall on Thursday May 8^th at 5:30 P.M. followed by 7:00 P.M. worship in our sanctuary with our chancel and handbell choirs. CAM/RA will conclude with 10:30 A.M. Sunday May 11^th worship at UGF, followed by a Mother's Day brunch. Visitors are welcome to attend, advanced registration is required for the brunch. Our delegates are: Brian & Stacy Hopkins, Denise Jackson, Janet Koostra, Carol Shipley and Barb Walters. Ray & Diane Young are attending as members of the Conference Board of Directors.

WE NEED a small army of volunteers to assist with our hospitality. To assist with any of the various tasks, please call the following people or as always, the church office:

Thursday supper, Jaybe Floyd 761-0503

Registration, Donalee LaBar 452-1141

Housing, Stacy Hopkins 453-9161

Set Up, Nick Cetto 761-0407

Refreshments, Syneva Heupel 453-7200

SPRING YOUTH RETREAT

In conjunction with the Conference Annual Meeting, ALL YOUTH are invited to attend the Spring Youth Retreat May 8-11^th. Registrations need to be in ASAP (Bertsche fund will pay). Please contact the church office if you wish to attend this joyful event at UGF.

THE NOMINATING COMMITTEE IS IN ACTION

Don't be left out! Boards are filling up but some spaces remain. To be a team player on Christian Ed, Christian Service, Church Growth or Fellowship please call Janet Koostra at 727-8443. We need you.

The annual Bigsky Handbell Festival is this weekend in Kalispell. We wish our Cantabell� Choir safe travels and a wonderful time.

Brochures are available detailing the 2009 Holy Land trip, hosted by Rev. Jim Petersen. If you are interested, please give Rev. Petersen a call.

The Safe Church Committee met on April 20^th and discussed materials they had received. A major area of discussion was how to provide a safe environment for church members and protect the church from any liability problems. The committee is still collecting information and will meet again on May 4^th at 9:30 A.M. in the conference room. We would appreciate your comments and suggestions. Anyone interested in attending the meeting is welcome to do so.

We thank our Greening Committee for organizing last Sunday's Integrity of Creation worship service. We joyfully received an energy audit report conducted by God's Fun Makers (3-5 grade youth group) and their teachers Janet Koostra, June Rovero and Cathrine Rigali, as directed by Beth Thomas, who showed a Power Point presentation. Timothy Seery had a powerful presentation on "Global Warming-the 10% Challenge" encouraging us to reduce our carbon footprint by 10%, and Marnie Bermingham handed out excellent resources, including cloth shopping bags. Thanks to all of you!

For an Urban Art project in the fall, Timothy Seery is collecting empty water bottles with lids. A collection box has been started in the office if you have any you would like to drop off or you may call Tim at 453-5615.