The Federated Church is blessed with a house for the Lord which has physical assets that now total 1.7 million dollars, built through the generosity and hard work of generations of church members and friends including those of the present generation of West Winfield and its environs.  The church is not a cathedral, far from it, rather a spare but adequate sanctuary with similar supporting buildings housing the programs essential to the work of the Lord.

The Federated Church is also blessed with a core congregation of dedicated members whose pledges of support carry about 40% of the up-keep expenses of buildings and grounds and payroll for Christian programs.

Our financial secretary reports that pledges have been coming in regularly.  The finance board in particular and the church at large thank pledging members for their understanding of the need for steady income so that our treasurer can pay outstanding bills.  The Board also thanks those who responded to the request in the previous News Letter "Helping with a little extra" that yielded a much needed $520.

The summer months usually lead to excessive shortfalls in income.  The year to date shortfall is $22,000.  This together with payroll and other bills, electricity, for example, in need of payment, required that the Board authorize the treasurer to borrow up to $13,000 from the segregated funds to handle ongoing expenses and certain bills in arrears.

Borrowed funds, whether from intramural or external sources have to be paid back.  For this to happen special events are essential. They will need the support of everyone.  The finance board is sponsoring the third annual barbecue chicken dinner on September 9.  The pie sale, rummage sales, woman's guild and a host of activities sponsored by other boards will help to bring budget and programs into fiscal synchrony by year's end.

The Congregation can be proud of its achievements, past and present, and of its concept of a loving God of all people expressed through world outreach efforts of the four denominations that make up the federation -- funds which come from pledges.  Now more than ever the world needs the sort of religious beliefs the Federated Church embodies and the actions it takes to offset the concept of an angry God, the handmaiden of a few to the exclusion of others.

Respectfully submitted,

John J. McKelvey, Jr.