Greetings from your FCC Board!

January was another busy month in the life of FCC. Our worship services were full of life with attendance over 200 persons in the sanctuary and viewing online for many weeks. A highlight was the Service of Separation for Pastor Jonathan officiated by a pastor from the UCC Central Pacific Conference.

The celebration of Jonathan and Lisa’s ministry in a full Fellowship Hall following worship was a touching completion of their service to FCC. In early January we also welcomed Pastor Nancy Ellett Allison back to FCC. Pastor Nancy agreed to spend six weeks at FCC to tide us over between Jonathan’s retirement and the hoped for arrival of the Intentional Interim pastor. Pastor Nancy’s main activities are to preach for six Sunday worship services, work with our staff, provide pastoral care to our members, and to work with various committees of FCC on preparation for the Intentional Interim pastor. It is so good to have Pastor Nancy in our church community!

Another major event for the month was the Preview Budget Conversation organized by the FCC Board and the newly created Finance Committee. This conversation was organized to educate the congregation about our budgeting process ahead of the Congregational Meeting on February 5. Copies of the main components of the 2023 Budget, plus explanations of the “trade-offs” considered by the Finance Committee were provided to over 70 people in Fellowship Hall, along with a snack of bagels and cream cheese supplied by the Parish Life Committee. The budget preview was another effort by the FCC Board to operate with transparency in all aspects of church life.

A final major event was the installation of the Transition Team during worship on January 15. This team was created by the FCC Board to hire the Intentional Interim pastor. Once the Intentional Interim is hired, the Transition Team, utilizing information from the All Church Survey, will work with our Interim Pastor to identify areas within the church that are functioning well, and to address areas in need of stabilization or reinvigorating; to facilitate conversations that will allow us to learn from the past (accomplishments and mistakes); and to incorporate insights into future plans.

Please contact me or any of our FCC Board members if you have questions about the functioning and operations of FCC. Together we will thrive now and in the future of our blessed church community.
Best Regards,
Dan Close, Church Board Moderator