Norm’s Notes                                                                                      March 9, 2016

Notes from here and there…
 
Congratulations to the Angola High School boys basketball team on winning the sectional. The most winning boys basketball team in the history of Angola High School. If I counted right, with JV and cheerleaders, eight students of that winning combination call FMC their church. We are proud of all of you.
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Have you ever wanted to know what it would be like to start your faith all over as an adult? If so, come to the small church that meets Sundays at 10:30 in room S105. Video teaching from Andy Stanley beginning April 3. Led by Pastor Norm.
 
Attend 9:00 worship, get your coffee and donuts, and bring a friend to class with you.
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I have finally finished all 13 DVDs of GriefShare. In each one I learned things I never knew before. GriefShare meetings begin Monday, April 4, at 6:30 p.m. in the Fireside Room. GriefShare is for everyone who has experienced the loss of a loved one, or may know someone who is experiencing grief. This is for everyone. This will be led by Janet Shawver whose husband passed away suddenly a little over 2 years ago.
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One of the ministries we will be helping with our special give it all away How to Be Rich offering is Project Help. Project Help is the community food and clothing pantry for the under-resourced of our county. As most of you know, I am chairman of the Board at Project Help, and have been for 14 years. Project Help is not a ministry of FMC; it is its own 501(c)(3) non-profit with its own board. But, because of my position at FMC and Project Help, FMC is a huge supporter of Project Help. The following statistics have remained fairly consistent over the last few years.
 
Project Help has 3,300 active individuals in its computer files. This means that in the last two years, where Project Help has been able to get correct information, that many people have received direct help from Project Help with food, clothing, or a referral to other social agencies. The computer program moves people from the active files to inactive if someone has not received help in two years. Approximately 1,200 new clients get help at Project Help each year; this means that in three years, Project Help is helping a totally new set of people.
 
Each year Project Help spends about $55,000 to buy food at Meijer, Aldi, and Community Harvest Food Bank. That is a little over $1,000 a week spent to help feed the under-resourced of our county. This $55,000 for food does not include the tons and tons of food that is given directly to Project Help from many different sources – factories, food drives, individuals, deer hunters, etc. If the cost of all that was included, it would total more than $200,000. In fact, as I write this, I am interrupted with a phone call from Project Help asking if FMC has freezer space for 30 boxes of Tyson chicken – 10 fresh, whole chickens in a box. Those chickens came from Auburn on the spur of the moment. We stuffed our freezers with 20 of the boxes.
 
Many of you are bringing food to help Project Help. Follow this link to see what is best but any food is greatly appreciated by the under-resourced of Steuben County.
 
When you purchase items from the Second Chance Resale Store at Project Help, you help feed the people who need Project Help.
 
Much more could be said. Pick up the Project Help literature in the rack at church. The under-resourced of Steuben County say thank you for your generous giving.
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Bring a friend this week.
 
It’s great to be your Caring Pastor. See you Sunday!
 
Norm
 
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