Tellers Count, Can You?

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Martha Liska, Head Teller

We would like to add one or two new folks to the tellering ministry.  Tellers count, tally and deposit the church's incoming funds.  The tellers work in teams of two and do their work following the 10:30AM Sunday service.  The tellering task takes about 90 minutes and each teller is scheduled to work about 14 times a year.  Training will be provided.  We say, "tellers count," so can we count on you?  Contact, Martha Liska, head teller with questions or to volunteer for this vital church ministry.  Best way to reach Marthe is in person or via email:   mlisk@comcast.net

St. Benedict Outreach: Faith in Action

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Last month, Vestry approved a motion to take a 3-month hiatus on Social Justice donations to redevelop the outreach program. Subsequently, a subcommittee drafted a “Faith in Action Ministry Policy” which was proposed to Vestry on March 27th.  

The policy's purpose is to ensure that funds granted to organizations by SBEC are in line with our mission, while controlling the best use of available funds. This policy will serve to guide Vestry in the outreach decision-making process. Vestry will deliberate over the draft and anticipate accepting and approving a final policy next month. During the time a SBEC policy is being crafted, Vestry may approve specific donations.  

Our commitment to outreach remains unwavering. Feel free to reach out to a Vestry Member with your questions. Also, anticipate a forthcoming SBEC survey on the topic to further shape the outreach ministry. 

Adult Education Update: Giving Up Church for Lent

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—Rev. Dr. Beth Echols

Church, do we really need it?  The numbers in America are staggering
Key Statistics:

  • 20% of Americans attend church every week (Gallup)

  • 41% of Americans are in monthly church attendance or more (Gallup)

  • 57% of Americans are seldom or never in religious service attendance (Gallup)

  • Regular church attendance has steadily declined since the turn of the century (Gallup and Pew Research Center)

Some of our most brilliant thinkers even prophesied with glee the death of religion and in particular, Christianity,
“And I said, isn't it great that religion is just fading as a force in American life? We'll all be more enlightened and more tolerant and less bigoted and ignorant as a result.” (Jon Rauch)
It turns out that the Lord is not finished yet and many pundits are singing a different tune that is more lament than delight.
We will explore the ever present and always evolving face of religion in America during Adult Education.
I hope that you will join us.

Pear Blossom Place

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The 2024-2025 Winter will probably be a cold one. Pear
Blossom Place will be helping the homeless individuals by
providing a warm shelter when the weather outside becomes
very cold.

Pear Blossom Place is located in Olympia behind the Casa Mia.
Homeless families with children live at Pear Blossom Place
throughout the year. Plus, this very accommodating place will
provide room on the first floor for single individuals who are
homeless during times when the weather gets severe. Pear
Blossom Place needs the following items for these homeless
individuals: Pillows, Blankets, Single bed sheets, Bath towels
Each Sunday after the second service, I will deliver these items to
the Pear Blossom Place. The administrative team and staff at
Pear Blossom Place are very grateful of all the items that our
congregation have provided them in the past.

If you have any questions concerning this project you may text ,
call or email me.   360-480-5330; geraldappl@yahoo.com.
For more information, please check out their website:
https://fscss.org/services/pear-blossom-place/