EASTER SUNRISE BREAKFAST SIGN UP: We are having an Easter Sunrise Service/Breakfast, and we could not do this without the help and support of our church family. We need people to make food as well as people to help set up the day before and clean up afterwards. There is a sign-up sheet attached to this email if you would like to text Jenn Hurd to let her know what you will bring, or a printed copy is also available on the glass case in the back of the church for you to use to sign up. If there are duplicate sign-ups, you may be asked to bring something else. I thank you in advance for helping us to continue this tradition.
PATCHWORK PLUS SPRING MEETINGS: We extend our warmest invitation to join us on the 2nd and 4th
Thursdays of each month at 10:00 a.m. in the church lounge. Our scheduled meetings will be March 27, and April 10 & 24. Over the years we have sewn Prayer Quilts, donated quilts and sold the lovely quilts on display, with proceeds going to many of our church mission organizations. We love the fellowship and would enjoy your company. We express our deepest appreciation to our church members and wonderful visitors for supporting our activities. Bring a lunch, share stories with us and enjoy our devotional Quilt stories. If the weather and roads are bad, we will not meet.
ESTIMATED GIVING CARDS FOR 2025
We are over halfway there to our goal of 100% participation in our pledge campaign for 2025. Your commitment to our church’s ministry is much appreciated. For those of you who have not yet had a chance to fill out a card, we would be deeply grateful if you would consider doing so. It helps us to make estimates of what we can and/or cannot fund for 2025. Extra cards can be found on the glass cabinet in the lobby of the church’s sanctuary or by contacting the church office. You may mail them in or deposit them in the offering baskets on Sunday mornings. As of January 20, 2025, we have collected 36 cards
(representing 54% of our church’s family member units) totaling a commitment of $100,748 for the General Fund and $13,959 for the Mission Fund. We would be so very grateful for your help. Thank you!
MARCH SEARCH COMMITTEE UPDATE: January 2025
Things are progressing well as we continue to discern whom God has chosen as our next pastor. We appreciate your patience with this process and your prayers as well.
OUTREACH/MISSION
THE MEN’S OVERFLOW SHELTER, which we support, is in need of 400 hotel size lotions and 400 bar soaps. If you would like to contribute to the cost of these items, or would like to donate these items, please let our secretary know. Thank you so much!
CAN PULL TABS FOR RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE: GRC will once again be collecting can pull tabs for donation to the Ronald McDonald House. These tabs are recycled by the organization to raise funds for their work. Additional information can be found at: https://rmhcofalbany.org/getinvolved/pull-together/. The tabs may be placed in the basket on the glass cabinet in the narthex of the sanctuary.
DOORS OF HOPE FOOD PANTRY AND THRIFT STORE. They are now located at the 43 Mall, 12 Mall Way, West Sand Lake, NY 12176. Phone is 518-674-4048. We continue our collection of non-perishable food items for the food pantry. Items may be dropped off at the church (if no one is at the church you may leave the items on the covered steps next to the side door). Thank you!!
GRC 2024 MISSION FUND DISBURSEMENTS TOTAL $15,333: Concerns-U ($1,000); Camp Fowler ($1,000); New Brunswick Theological Seminary ($500); Joseph’s House and Shelter ($1,000); Doors of Hope ($1,000); Capital City Rescue Mission ($1,500); Sunshine Day Nursery Scholarship Fund ($500); Sunshine Day Nursery ($2,000); RCA Missionary Joshua Vis, Project Peace Missionary ($3,000); Eastern Door Counseling Center ($1,000); Mom Starts Here ($500); Nassau Resource Center ($500); Capital Area Council of Churches, Men’s Overflow Shelter ($500); Church World Services, Hurricane Relief ($500), Interfaith Partnership for the Homeless ($500), and Child Fund International ($333). (Above figures do not include scholarships provided to Camp Fowler participants and others, non-monetary donations made to Concerns U and Doors of Hope, and gifts provided to those in need from the Pastor’s Discretionary Fund.) THANK YOU FOR MAKING THESE DONATIONS POSSIBLE!
WELCOME TO WORSHIP
LARGE PRINT CHALICE HYMNALS ARE AVAILABLE IN THE NARTHEX OF THE SANCTUARY ON THE GLASS CABINET.
A SPECIAL THANK-YOU: A huge THANK YOU to all who have been placing your excess calendars in my mail slot. These ‘extras’ are a point of delight for many seniors in their Arts and Crafts programs. Your gifts continue to give joy long after the new year begins! Pastor Peggy
SANCTUARY FLOWERS – The cost is $40 for two arrangements. A sign-up sheet can be found on the glass cabinet in the narthex of the sanctuary, or you can contact the church to make arrangements. You are welcome to take them home with you following worship.
GRC NURSERY – We welcome young children (under 3 years of age) to use our nursery during worship. Every family who leaves a child in the nursery is required to take a pager in case of an emergency and/or they need to be contacted to tend to their child (such as for a diaper change).
CHILDREN’S PROGRAM – Please join us on Sundays for our Children & Worship (ages 3-7) and Godly Play (ages 8-12) programs after the children’s message during worship. This meets every Sunday except for communion Sundays.
THE NURTURE AND FELLOWSHIP: We need volunteers to provide snacks and juice for fellowship time following church (coffee is provided). Please sign up for a Sunday between now and May 2025 on the signup sheet in the church lounge. Snacks can be simple and store-bought!
FINANCE UPDATE & FUNDRAISING
DUE DATE TO REFILL HANNNAFORD GIFT CARDS is the first Sunday of each month. If you are planning to refill your Hannaford Gift Card, please place your order in the offering plate or mail to Greenbush Reformed Church, PO Box 460, East Greenbush, NY 12061. New gift cards are also available for purchase. Please contact the church for more information.
GRC GENERAL FUND AS OF January 31, 2025: ()-Indicates Deficit. General Fund Income=$35,888 General Fund, Expenses=$14,982; General Fund Net=$20,906; Budget estimate at this point=$8,047. Year-To-Date Average, Worship Attendance=XX. Thank you so very much for your ongoing support of our congregation and its ministry. Our financial health and ministry continue to remain strong throughout these difficult days.
ONLINE BILL PAY – Did you know you can make your weekly donation to the church online? Sometimes it’s difficult to keep track of our financial support of the church. Most banks today now offer a solution to this through an online bill pay option where you can schedule your donation to be paid automatically. Once set up, the bank will automatically cut a check and send it to the church according to the schedule you set. Not only will this be a help to you but it will also be a significant blessing to the church, especially during those times of the year when donations fall off such as during the summer months. For more information contact your bank or check your bank’s website.
CHURCH LEADERSHIP
PASTOR RETT WOULD WELCOME CONVERSATION with any and all GRC folk. He can be found at the large table in the Church Lounge each Monday and Tuesday from 9-11am. Other times and places are possible.
CONGREGATIONAL CARE MINISTER is Rev. Peggy Funderburke. Pastor Peggy takes Friday nights and Saturdays off. In case of an emergency please don’t hesitate to call. Thank you.
SUNSHINE DAY NURSERY NEWS
ALLERGY REQUEST FROM SUNSHINE DAY NURSERY-Two children now going to Sunshine Day Nursery have peanut/tree nut allergies. One child is severely allergic meaning that her allergy can be triggered simply by touching a common surface that has peanut/tree nut debris or oil (such as a toilet handle, door handle, or railing). To help prevent triggering a severe reaction in these children, please use caution in the Christian Ed Building including washing hands before entering building.