{"id":14277,"date":"2020-10-20T12:20:22","date_gmt":"2020-10-20T16:20:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.fccej.org\/v5\/?p=14277"},"modified":"2020-10-23T08:12:00","modified_gmt":"2020-10-23T12:12:00","slug":"2021-stewardship-campaign-welcome-to-the-journey-part-3","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.fccej.org\/v5\/2021-stewardship-campaign-welcome-to-the-journey-part-3\/","title":{"rendered":"2021 Stewardship Campaign: Welcome to the Journey, Part 3"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

By the rivers of Babylon we sat and wept, remembering Zion.<\/p>

On the poplars of that land we hung up our harps,<\/p>

There our captors asked of us the lyrics of our songs and urged us to be joyful.<\/p>

\u201cSing us one of the songs of Zion!\u201d they said<\/p>

How could we sing a song of Zion in a foreign land?<\/p>Psalm 137:1-4<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Dear Friends:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Luckily, the Israelites did sing and offer prayers to God in Babylon and they became the only deported people of their day to ever maintain their national identity.  Within a generation they returned home, re-built their temple with a renewed spiritual awakening, re-established civic organization, and watched as the economic underpinnings became strong once again. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

First Church continuing to sing our song in the midst of the worst pandemic in a hundred years is a tribute to the faith and devotion of our members and friends.  Worship, music, meetings, giving, outreach, and mutual support are all continuing to occur because of you\u2026..thank you!  Like the Israelites in Babylon, all of you know the importance of keeping First Church running smoothly now so that our witness to Christ\u2019s love in the future might remain strong.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The importance of keeping our pledges steady during the next year of uncertainty is crucial to our continued well-being.  Let me encourage everyone to spend a little time thinking about the importance of First Church in your lives and in the wider life of Essex and then pray some and figure out what you intend to pledge to the church this next year.  Please consider level funding your pledge and if possible even raising it a bit to make up for the government coronavirus loan\/grant that we will not be getting in 2021. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Together, we can remain strong and keep our beloved church looking to the future with hope.  Your pledge will allow us to create an accurate budget and keep paying our bills. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

On behalf of the Church Council, I offer you<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Blessings and Gratitude<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rev. Mark Mendes<\/p>\n\n\n\n

View a Printable Version of the 2021 Pledge Card<\/strong><\/a>Download<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n

IMPORTANT NOTICE: <\/strong>Some statistics and charts shared in Part 2 of our Stewardship Campaign drive were miscalculated. Please, review these details by visiting this link:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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2021 Stewardship Campaign: Welcome to the Journey, Part 2<\/a><\/blockquote>