First Presbyterian Church February 2025
The Newsletter this month is a slightly condensed version of the Annual Report, which we just reviewed at the Annual Meeting on Sunday, February 2nd. In order to save on postage, only the narrative sections of committee reports are included. It would cost twice as much to mail if we included the church’s budget, membership rolls, etc. though we have extra copies of the original Annual Report at church if anyone would like to see them.
Rev. Walter Stuber
First Presbyterian Church
11988 W. Main St., Wolcott, NY 14590
585-217-6030 stuberman1@yahoo.com
www.wolcottpresbyterian.com
Buildings and Grounds – 2024
We passed all of our inspections. We had to do some work on the boilers, replacing a motor and tune-up; fixed bathroom issues; etc.
Special thanks to Andy DeMay for all of his work on the lawn and gardens.
Special thanks to Tom Cahoon for the donation of an oak tree in memory of Beth Dunton.
Special thanks also to Marvin Tryon and Brent Gingerich for removing the snow.
And a huge thank you to Bob Lockwood for answering all of the alarm calls and fixing broken things.
Respectfully submitted,
Mary Lou Lockwood
Deacons
2022-2024 2023-2025 2024-2026
Roger Smith Mary Ann Sparnon Cheryl Gilbert*
Kathy Topping* Marvin Tryon* Mary Lou Lockwood
Henrietta Trine* Barb Youngman
*Serving in second consecutive term.
The Deacons had a church sale, raising $1,096.25, and continued to send cards for special occasions to members and friends. A special thank you to Mary Lou Lockwood for providing refreshments after our church service each week and for the many other things she does.
Finance Committee – 2024
Members: Mary Ann Sparnon, Tom Johnson, Mary Lou Lockwood, Bob Stell, and Susan Lockwood - Treasurer.
We meet monthly during the week prior to the monthly Session meeting. A finance report is regularly provided to Session for review and consensus action(s).
Approximately 70 line items are listed on the 2025 budget report. These items reflect the challenge of determining accurate/realistic monetary amounts to enter after each line of the 5th column: 2025 budget. Throughout the church year, circumstances change and unforeseen monetary obligations emerge, making the budget computations only the best estimates at the start of the New Year. The Finance Committee monitors figures, being aware that adjustments are frequently necessary.
The principle financial obligations continue to be: (1) salaries/wages paid out to our worship leadership and to our several paid employees and (2) the church building maintenance and operating costs: insurance, communications equipment, RG&E bills, periodic repair or replacement of operating components, etc.
The church’s mutual funds investments performances are regularly monitored. These are asset allocated “balanced” investments, a mix of stocks and loan instruments (bonds); they comprise “moderate risk”.
These extended reports, to include the 2025 projected budget, represent and reflect the Finance Committee’s intention to provide transparency to church members on all aspects of financial subjects and transactions.
Church members are encouraged to review the budget report at home, taking time to list questions desired to be addressed. Members can contact any of the Finance Committee members.
Respectfully submitted,
Finance Committee
Special Offerings
Deacons Sale$1096.25Golf Tournament$6024.75
Deacons Christmas $110.00 Christmas Joy $68.00 Copies $60.00 Two Cents a Meal $1465.00
One Great Hour of Sharing $122.00
Reception for Eleanor Stevenson $150.00
Stewardship – 2024
Members: Mary Lou Lockwood, Jerry Oakley, Mary Ann Sparnon
As of December 31, 2024, there were a total of 25 families and individuals that pledged this year.
Local $39,570 Per Capita $1,088.78
Building $1,204 Boiler $524
Mission $4,104
Respectfully submitted,
Mary Lou Lockwood
Golf Tournament – 2024
A special thank you to Mike and Linda Douglass and Bob and Susan Lockwood for all of their hard work. This year we raised $6,024.75. Great job. Wonderful! See you in 2025.
Respectfully submitted,
Mary Lou Lockwood
Nominating Committee
Members presented for 2025-2027:
SessionDeacons
Thomas CahoonKayla DeMay
Jerry OakleyRoger Smith
Council of Churches
Mary Lou Lockwood
Please note: Per church by-laws, Session members must have a one-year sabbatical if they have served continuously for six years.
Per Book of Order, Deacons must have a one-year sabbatical if they have served
continuously for six years.
Session has voted to reduce the number of Deacons from three per class to two persons.
Committee Members: from Session John Gingerich (Chair) and David VanFleet; from Deacons Cheryl Gilbert; from the Congregation Sue Mitchell, Tom Johnson, Dan Kilmer, Noah Gingerich, and alternate Dolores Gingerich.
Sunday School and Youth Report - 2024
The Children’s Sunday School averaged eight in attendance for the elementary and younger ages, and another two for middle school and high school class. A special thank you to Tiffiny Cahoon for volunteering to be a new teacher for the older Elementary aged kids!
Respectfully submitted,
Pastor Walter
Wolcott Council of Churches - 2024
The Council of Churches sponsored:
Palm Sunday Cantata
National Day of Prayer in May
Vacation Bible School in August. The turnout was much better this year, and they had lots of volunteers.
Labor Day service with nice attendance
Thanksgiving services which were held in Huron and the Baptist Church
Christmas Eve service which was held in the Wolcott Presbyterian Church
Special Projects:
Wolcott Food Pantry Numbers - 2024
Households1,467
Adults1,718
Children1,930
Elderly 683
Christmas Boxes – 2024
427 adults
509 children received gifts
169 elderly received a food bag
Respectfully submitted,
Mary Lou Lockwood
.
Worship and Spiritual Life Committee – 2024
Committee members: Phyllis Weber, Terry Van Fleet, Chantel Lockwood, John Gingerich
We are very blessed with Rev. Walter Stuber providing pastoral leadership in our worship experience. The services and messages provide meaningful faith context to our daily lives. Pulpit supply was also provided by Elders John Gingerich, Andy DeMay, and John Ray.
We are especially thankful that Phyllis Weber has agreed to lead a pop-up choir the third Sunday of each month in singing an anthem from the hymnal. A new worship feature this year is ending the service by the congregation singing “Go Now in Peace”.
We are tremendously blessed that we are able to have wonderful organ music, with the gifting of Phyllis Weber as organist! Terry Van Fleet has been filling in occasionally also, particularly for funerals and other special events such as the Christmas Eve service..
Our Easter service was a wonderful celebration!
On August 4 Andy DeMay hosted us at his residence for an outdoor service, followed by a picnic. Thank you, Andy!
In August, Pastor Walter suddenly became very ill, requiring heart surgery, placing him on medical leave for five weeks. Many thanks to John Gingerich, Andy DeMay, and John Ray for stepping up to provide services each week. We are also thankful that Gail Heimberger performed a wedding, and Diane Walker a funeral in our church during this time. The Deacons and Elders also provided some pastoral care when needed. A huge thank you for Pastor Walter returning to pastoral duties sooner than expected. That he returned to health so soon was a miracle!
On September 1 we had a joint Council of Churches service in the Baptist church.
There was a Council of Churches Thanksgiving Eve service at the Huron church, led by Pastor Walter.
Thank you to the Lockwood family for decorating the sanctuary for Advent and Christmas!
Advent featured several persons doing the readings and candle lighting.
On December 22 the children produced a wonderful Christmas pageant, led by Chantel Lockwood and teachers Tiffiny Cahoon and Dolores Gingerich.
A Christmas Eve service, led by Pastor Walter, sponsored by the Council of Churches, saw many attendees, the most in several years, in our sanctuary. There was a wonderful joint choir directed by Beth Clingerman. Terry VanFleet played several wonderful organ pieces, and accompanied the choir and hymns.
Many thanks to Mary Lou Lockwood and Marvin Tryon in setting up communion.
We appreciate very much Dan Kilmer doing the visual presentation for each service, and video-taping the service which is posted on U-Tube, accessed through a link on our website. Dan is also now documenting weekly attendance, including online viewers.
Marvin Tryon has done an outstanding job in providing a much-appreciated service attending to many worship-space details as head usher. Thanks also to Brent Gingerich who clears and salts the walks and steps Sunday mornings during the winter.
What a blessing it is to celebrate worship services as a holy time to gather for inspiration, challenge, and fellowship!
. Respectfully submitted,
John Gingerich, Chairperson
Upcoming Events
Saturday, February 15: 5 p.m. Pointes of Faith Dance Recital at the Wolcott Presbyterian Church
February Birthdays
Linda Bastian 2/21
Tom Cahoon2/7
John Crouse2/2
Ellen Elwell2/1
Bill Fisher2/8
Elias Gingerich2/15
Doris Gruver2/10
Lita Lenz2/16
Susan Lockwood2/11
Allan Mitchell2/7
Carson Smith2/4
Terry VanFleet2/1
Wyatt VanFleet2/17
Art Youngman2/11