COFFEE, COOKIES AND RADICAL HOSPITALITY

Have you been enjoying the coffee served here at Platte Woods Church? Did you know we now use only FAIR TRADE coffee? In particular, we use the Green Mountain Coffee brand of Fair Trade coffee. Use of Fair Trade coffee is being done at the suggestion of the church’s JPEG Committee.

What is Fair Trade coffee you ask? Quoting from the Green Mountain Coffee Web site (www.GreenMountainCoffee.com): “Fair Trade guarantees farmers a fair price which means they can afford to feed their families, keep their kids in school and invest in the quality of their coffee.” The Green Mountain Coffee folks go on to explain:

Fair Trade is an innovative, market-based approach to sustainable development. Fair Trade helps family farmers in developing countries to gain direct access to international markets, as well as to develop the business capacity necessary to compete in the global marketplace. By learning how to market their harvests, Fair Trade farmers are able to bootstrap their businesses and receive a fair price for their products. This leads to higher family living standards, thriving communities and more sustainable farming practices. Your choice to purchase Fair Trade Certified™ coffee empowers farming families to take care of themselves - without developing dependency on foreign aid.

Speaking of Green Mountain Coffee, several weeks ago I was invited to officiate at my nephew’s wedding in Rhode Island. Shirley and I drove to the Ocean State via way of Vermont. While in Vermont we visited the Green Mountain Coffee Company’s headquarters in Waterbury, Vermont. Waterbury is also the original home of Ben and Jerry’s ice cream. We visited those facilities as well. Both organizations are examples of companies doing business with socially and environmentally responsible business practices as a core value of their business model.

Speaking of coffee, did you know we served coffee and cookies to the some 1200 folks who voted at Platte Woods Church in last week’s general election? Jeff Denton coordinated the provision of approximately 80 dozen cookies (954 to be exact) and 5 pots of our 100-cup coffee brewers. Thanks to Jeff and all those who baked cookies.

Coffee and cookies are part of Platte Wood Church’s “radical hospitality.”

SUPPORTING OUR CHURCH

Dealing with church finances is always a challenge.

Asking Platte Woods Church members and constituents to make a formal financial commitment to support the ministry of the church allows the Finance Committee to develop a plan for how we are going to pay the bills. Then by carefully reviewing the income received the Finance Committee is able to responsibly conduct the business of our church.

Filling out a commitment card is an indication of the financial support intended to be provided by an individual or family. Certainly there are circumstances in which financial positions change in individuals’ lives. In such cases the church understands changing the commitment intended for the church.

The fall commitment card process has been a focus of our church during October. Commitment cards for 2009 have been received and continue to arrive.

Thanks to the dedication and generosity of the Platte Woods Church family we so far have received the following commitment for 2009:
258 commitments equaling $967,893 (as of 11/6/08)
75 new commitments
57 increased commitments

How does this compare to last year?
$41,189 more in commitments than 2008
75 new commitments received
57 commitments increased from 2008
14 fewer commitments received than 2008 (as of 11/6/2008)
91 commitments from 2008 have not yet responded (as of 11/6/08)

The Finance Committee will soon be finalizing the 2009 budget given these commitment results.

So, THANK YOU to those who have provided commitments to the Platte Woods Church. For those still contemplating making a commitment for 2009, please give serious consideration to contemplation. If you have any questions or comments, please let me know.

Dealing with church finances is always a challenge.