The Finance Team added a new member, Jackie Seymour and a consultant, Terrie Landini to our team in June. In late June the Finance team met and agreed upon a process to make recommendations as to the management, use and investment of our monies for the benefit of our Skyland Church community. We divided into two sub-groups to research opportunities and to develop rules and policies as well as recommendations for the use of the monies. We will keep in mind the history of the Milberry fund and the Endowment. One sub-group is tasked with research on the Milberry Fund and Endowment Investments. The other sub-group is researching opportunities for the Board Designated Reserves. The Finance Team will include ESG filters (Environmental, Social, Governance) while researching the investment opportunities. On August 8 the subgroups will return to the Finance Team with their research and make recommendations for establishing policies and general investment criteria which will then be disc
Before After Change is in the air! You have probably noticed a few changes around the Food Pantry last month as we work to make the pantry integrate into Skyland's operations. We are working to winterize the pantry next and hope we can do that by October before the rains come. Outside Pantry The front porch has been cleared and we are working to get the pantry winterized before the rains come. There are two refrigerators and two metal shelves on the left front side of the church below the handicap ramp. We chose this spot since it is the least sunny, easiest to access and would not require us to add a driveway between the church and the shed. That area is too steep for disabled people to use. New Shelving The two new metal shelves are up and running. They were paid for from the Mission Board budget. They even kept things dry with our tiny 5 minute recent rains. Inside pantry The garage clear out looks great! The Trustees are working to update the shed. When this job is compl
Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:21 This is that most wonderful season of the church year. No, I speak not of Easter, though that is also a wonderful season. I speak of stewardship season. The Church has always thrived on the generous sharing of gifts. From the people who fed and housed Jesus and his disciples as they traversed the countryside to the lending of a donkey to ride into Jerusalem and a room for their Passover feast to the gift of nard to anoint Jesus' feet to even the lending of a tomb for Jesus' body to be laid through the sabbath, the generosity of Jesus' followers is what enabled his ministry. Two thousand years later, this same generosity enables our ministry in Jesus' name. In his Sermon on the Mount, Jesus reminded his people, reminded us all, that we are willing to invest in what we value and what we invest in we come to value even more. A church budget, and a personal budget, is a statement of values, of what is