Hope & Expectation

We are entering a month full of activities, each of which calls upon our energy, expectations, and enthusiasm. We begin the month with the Thursday, May 2 Benefit Concert for Standing Together. George Carvill iscoordinating this event. Put this on your calendar! Come and support a critical cause and let George know if you can help in any way. You can contact me if you are able to provide refreshments for the evening.

Our Welcome Spring Fair is Saturday, May 4. We hope you have this on your calendar and have shared the date with family and friends. This fair provides wonderful spring items for personal and home cheer. You may have already been in touch with Kathy Squires, Marty Shaw, Kay Lewis or Becky Cameron about volunteering for the event, preparing a craft or baked good, helping with set up and clean up, and more. If you are helping, bravo! If you are unable to help, please come and shop or at least spread the word.

We follow up these events with our FY25 Budget Review meeting on Sunday, May 5 and our Annual Meeting and Stewardship Celebration on Sunday, May 19. Both meetings will be held after the Worship Service. You will have a chance to gather coffee and a hearty snack. The Annual Meeting is an important gathering of members to conduct the business of the church. We will receive the Annual Reports, vote for new Board Officers and Members-at-Large, Auditors and member of the Nominating Committee. We will adopt a budget for the upcoming fiscal year, July 1, 2024 – June 30, 2025. The budget that is being presented is our best expectation and understanding of income and expense for the coming year. The annual meeting is a time of appreciation and reflection on our shared ministry and the many wonderful activities of this past year.

Following our Annual Meeting, we will celebrate our Stewardship Campaign, which is essential to budget planning. Indeed, member/friend pledges and gifts are the core of our income. We have both a financial goal and a participation goal. Both goals are key to the health of our budget and the well-being of our community.This year our theme has been “Together in Faith.” The All Souls Church community is robust because we all make contributions — of energy, talents, ideas, interest, caring and compassion. And yes, we hope that in doing so, each of us will also make a financial contribution, towards the Stewardship Campaign. Wouldn’t it be great if 100% of our members choose to financially support this faith community? Understanding that we are in this together, supporting one another in our faith journeys? Financial support — at a level that works for each person/household — is essential to maintain the care of our building and ensure the ongoing services of our Minister and staff. If you are still contemplating your Stewardship commitment, or you think your gift is not needed or too small, never fear — it is not too late to make a commitment, of any size. Every gift is important and needed. Stewardship forms are available in the foyer and commitments can be made through the website.

Additional updates and appreciations:

• The Board has appointed Ross Gibson as a Member-at-Large for the remainder of this fiscal year.
• The Art Committee is hanging an exciting show from Inclusive Arts Vermont with works from more than two dozen artists. This show encourages us to look carefully at the accessibility features of All Souls Church.

• The Archives/History Committee is organizing digital file of historical documents, under the leadership of Linda Hay and with her generous donations of a scanner and computer to be used in this work.

• Many thanks to all who helped with Spring Clean-Up, coordinated by Ross Gibson and Carla Fogg of our new Building & Grounds Committee. It was great to spruce up for spring!

Together in Faith, Leslie