Our annual meeting for the congregation, a time of sharing the events of 2016, nominating members to our governing body and a review of the financial aspects of the congregation. Incorporated into the worship service, everyone is encouraged to attend.
Why is it we can never understand the word “church” outside of buildings and bills? Somehow we have lost the true meaning of “Church” which came from the Greek word “Ekklesia” meaning assembly or gathering. But somehow we have made it about structures rather than people. And when we do that it is easy to say “oh the work of the building and bills is someone else’s job”. But “Church” as a “gathering or assembly” now takes on flesh and bones, hopes and dreams, fears and joy. And that is the responsibility of each member. So this is why we have started to have our Annual General Meeting during our service. It is a chance to look back over the year and celebrate who we have been as the people of God, as the ones who gather and assemble as the Dunbarton-Fairport family.
And so on Feb 5th we will do so once again during our 10:30 a.m. service. We will come to look not only at how God was working in our midst in 2016 but to dare dream ahead as Church (not as a church). This year we will be faced with a major deficit due to many capital projects we need to look at that affect not only the church building, but our work as people of the gospel and of those who use our building for many wonderful events and important work. Our future as a church family needs to be discussed and we need to hear your voice.
And this is not the “responsibility of our Finance people or Trustees or the committees…but you and me together, young and old. For there are many ways to be engaged as Church. So please mark your calendars. Please don’t say “Oh I am not going because they are doing the AGM”. This is your congregation, your faith family and each one of us is needed to make our Church family a living vibrant gospel example of love. So please join us…we need you here.