Mid-June weekly update

Great day yesterday at Clinton FCC! And actually, great week at Clinton FCC last week! Here are a couple of reasons why the last week has been such a blessing:

** The Rooted Celebration on Friday evening was such a blessing - one of my favorite moments in almost 12 years of ministry at FCC! It was so moving to see so many share their testimonies, to hear confessions of faith by three being baptized and two rededicating, and most of all, to see Jesus glorified! If you were not a part of Rooted this time, will you seriously consider doing Rooted this fall? The next launch is Sunday September 9.

** VBS  was once again a huge hit at FCC! Cassandra did a great job organizing and planning, and it is always a joy to see hundreds of children praising Jesus and learning about the faith! I personally had the chance to hang out w/ the 4th and 5th graders a couple of days - so great to see 56 4th and 5th graders at VBS this year!

** Back to the Basics elective class - Bob Phillips and I launched a new six week elective class on Sunday, expecting 15-20 to join us - we had 40 show up! God is good! We will be meeting in the FLC alcove the next five Sunday, looking at some of the basics of the Christian faith. There will be room for YOU!

What a great week! Here are some opportunities for you just around the corner:

** Tour de Witt bicycle ride is Saturday June 30 - I'm in, are you? Four different routes are available: 9, 22, 40 and 62 miles - each route begins and concludes at the Methodist church in Clinton. Just $25 - you can't beat it!

** Little Galilee Camp is off and running - are your kids and/or grandkids signed up yet? Once again in 2018, FCC will pay half-tuition for one camp session! 

** POWER - more than just PARDON sermon series during the month of July. Join us on Sunday mornings as we consider the POWER of SHALOM, the POWER of CONFESSION, the POWER of the BODY and BLOOD of Jesus, the POWER of WEAKNESS and the POWER of WORD. I can't wait for July!!!

Finally, this coming Sunday is our bi-annual congregational meeting - please make note of this information shared by Mark Behrends on Sunday morning June 10:

On June 24th we will have our bi-annual congregational meeting at the end of both services.  As is typical each June, we will ask you to vote YES or NO on candidates for Elder – this year five men will be on the ballot:  Dick Koritz, Gage Lyons, Ryan Sosamon, Jim Taylor and Jim Weikel.  Ryan Sosamon has never served as Elder before so he is on the ballot for a one year initial term.  The other four have served as Elder at FCC previously and are on the ballot for a three year term.  We are asking you to consider each candidate individually and vote either YES or NO.
 
Also on the ballot will be a vote for Cassandra Benton and Allison Hitchings, both currently serving on the ministry staff.  Both Cassandra and Allison were hired three years ago this month to part time ministry positions and have since become full-time, serving primarily in Children’s Ministry but also impacting and serving in multiple other areas of ministry at our church.  We are extremely blessed to have both serving on staff at FCC, and our children’s ministry is very healthy and making a great impact on the next generation.  In order to be true to our by-laws, since both are NOW full time, we are asking you to affirm this past decision of the Elders to elevate Cassandra and Allison to full-time ministry staff positions. 
 
In order to help you be as prepared as possible, we have included a sample ballot in your bulletin and you are invited to take a copy of a questionnaire where each of the five candidates for Elder answer a variety of questions about their desire to serve as Elder and their perspective about our church.  You may find this questionnaire at the welcome center, in the church office, or online at Greg’s blog site. 
 
Absentee voting will begin, for those members who will not be able to attend the June 24th congregational meeting, tomorrow Monday June 11th and will run during regular office hours through Friday June 22.  To vote absentee you must come to the office and vote as no official ballots will be mailed or accepted by mail.
 
Please see any current Elder if you have any questions about the congregational meeting on June 24th.  

I personally am so thankful for our entire staff, and look at the blessing of having Allison and Cassandra on staff full-time as a true gift from the Lord. I couldn't be more pleased with either of them. I strongly encourage you to vote YES and affirm the elders decision!

Have a great week!

​GT