First Presbyterian Church February 2024
The Newsletter this month is a slightly condensed version of the Annual Report, which we just reviewed at the Annual Meeting on Sunday, January 21st. 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 – 2023
We passed all of our inspections. We had to update the fire alarm system. This meant adding a trip switch for the ancil system in the kitchen.
We are doing some replacing of sheet rock in the front entrance. Special thanks to Andy DeMay.
Thanks to Andy DeMay for his wonderful job and hard work on the grounds. Looks great.
We are planning a grounds work day in the Spring. More info to come.
Respectfully submitted,
Mary Lou Lockwood
Deacons
2021-2023 2022-2024 2023-2025
Cheryl Gilbert Roger Smith Mary Ann Sparnon
Izetta Younglove Kathy Topping* Marvin Tryon*
Art Youngman Henrietta Trine* Barb Youngman
*Serving in second consecutive term.
The Deacons had a church sale, raising $2,300, and continued to send cards for special occasions to members and friends.
Finance Committee – 2023
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 2024 budget report. These items reflect the challenge of determining accurate/realistic monetary amounts to enter after each line of the 5th column: 2024 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 2024 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 Bob Stell, Chair, or any of the Finance Committee members.
Respectfully submitted,
Finance Committee
Special Offerings
Chicken BBQ $1072.00 Deacons Sale$2300.00Golf Tournament$7356.36
Deacons Christmas $85.00 Christmas Joy $98.00 Copies $85.00 Two Cents a Meal $1428.00
Stewardship - 2023
Members: Mary Lou Lockwood, Jerry Oakley, Mary Ann Sparnon
As of December 31, 2023, there were a total of 27 families and individuals that pledged this year.
Local $35,411 Per Capita $1,150
Building $2,950 Boiler $1,250
Mission $2,465 Sunday School 0
Respectfully submitted,
Mary Lou Lockwood
Golf Tournament – 2023
A special thank you to Mike and Linda Douglass and Bob and Susan Lockwood for all of their hard work. This year we raised $7,356.36. Great job. Wonderful! See you in 2024.
Respectfully submitted,
Mary Lou Lockwood
Nominating Committee
. Members presented for 2024-2026:
SessionDeacons
John GingerichCheryl Gilbert
Chantel LockwoodMary Lou Lockwood
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, Bob Lockwood, Noah Gingerich, and alternate Marvin Tryon.
Sunday School and Youth Report - 2023
The Children’s Sunday School averaged four in attendance for the elementary and younger ages, and another two for middle school and high school class. A special thank you to Dolores Gingerich for volunteering to be a teacher for the younger class!
. Respectfully submitted,
Pastor Walter
Wolcott Council of Churches - 2023
The Council of Churches had a Memorial Day service in the Park.
We held Vacation Bible School
There was a Labor Day service in the Park.
We had two Thanksgiving services.
We had an ecumenical Christmas Eve service.
Special Projects:
Wolcott Food Pantry Numbers - 2023
Households1,479
Adults1,615
Children1,781
Elderly 581
Christmas Boxes – 2023
174 families were helped
375 children received gifts
91 elderly received a food bag
Respectfully submitted,
Mary Lou Lockwood
Women’s Association – 2023
Two Rummage Sales were held. The Spring Rummage sale made $2,527.55, and the Fall Rummage Sale made $2,182.10. We purchased a sewing machine for a third world country.
Worship and Spiritual Life Committee – 2023
Committee members: Sue Mitchell, 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.
Regular choir ended in June with Sue Mitchell retiring. Many thanks to Sue for participating in choir for fifty-two years, and leading the youth and main choirs for a combined forty-seven years! Beginning in November, Sue has volunteered to lead a pop-up choir once a month, so choir will continue on a reduced basis. Thank you! Thanks also for pianist Phyllis Weber for accompanying!
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.
The Council of Churches sponsored weekly meetings during Lent.
Our Easter service was a wonderful celebration!
On August 6, we had an outdoor service at Jack Johnson’s residence. Thank you, Jack!
On September 3 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 17 the children produced a wonderful Christmas pageant, led by Chantel Lockwood and teacher Dolores Gingerich.
We had two Christmas Eve services, one in the morning, and, led by Pastor Walter, an evening one sponsored by the Council of Churches, with many attendees 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.
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
Choir News
There will be a pop-up choir on the third Sunday of each month. Anyone interested in singing, there will be practice at 10 a.m. before the service.
Upcoming Events
Wednesday, February 14: 7 p.m. Ash Wednesday Service at
the Wolcott Baptist 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
Susan Lockwood2/11
Allan Mitchell2/7
Carson Smith2/4
Eleanor Stevenson2/21
Terry VanFleet2/1
Wyatt VanFleet2/17
Art Youngman2/11