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The Exeter Times-Advocate, 1976-03-11, Page 8Christian Reformed Church Sunday, March 14 10:00 a.m.—tvlorning Service 2:15 p.m.—Afternoon Service Everyone Welcome The Back to God Hour CHLO 4:30 p.m. Pia11570 0)) Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish REV. J, MOONEY, PASTOR Phone 237-3593 MASS Saturday-7:30 p.m. St. Peter's Church - Hwy. 4 Sunday-9:00 a.m, Precious Blood Mission (at Anglican Church, Exeter) Main at Gidley Sunday-11:00 a.m. Mt. Carmel Church Courtesy Car: Phone 235-0111 Exeter Pentecostal Tabernacle Main at Victoria REV. DON FORREST Sunday, March 14 We invite you to join ua for the following aervices 9:45 a,m,—Sunday School 11:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m, George Eizenga Tues., 8:00 p.m. — Bible Study Wed., 7:00 p.m. — Crusaders We Would welcome your prayer requests, Caven Presbyterian Church Minister REV. WILFREDO, JARVIS, BA,, B,L). Organist: Mr. Robert McIntosh Sunday, March 14 10:00 a.m,—Sr. Sunday School 11:15 a.m,—Reception of new members and Holy Communion. Sermon: "Tell and Show" Everyone We/come Calvary United church of Canada Dashwood Minister: REV. BRUCE GUY, B.A. Organist: Miss (della Gabel, A.R.C.T. Sunday, March 14 Church service for this Sunday is cancelled. Everyone is invited to Zion United Church, Crediton to hear Miss Jean Kellerman, The Crediton service is at 10:00 a.m, UCW meeting — March 16. Quilting at 1:30 p.m., potluck supper. Regular meeting at 8:00 p.m. Emmanuel Baptist Church Huron St. West Fundamental — Evangelical PASTOR: RAY MILLER Sunday, March 14, 1976 9:45 a,m.—Sunday School A class for every age 11:00 a.m.—"In Christ's Name" Acts Chapt. 3 7:30 p.m.—"The Seal of God" Revelations Chapt, 7 Nursery facilities at all Sunday Ser- vices for children four years and under. Wed. 8:00 p.m.—Prayer and Bible Study Mrs. E. A. Keves, 0 raaniet The Anglican Church Of Canada Trivift Memorial Rector REV, G. A, ANDERSON, D.F.C., Dip. Th. Lent il March 14, 1976 8:00 a.m.—Holy Communion 11:15 a,m.—Holy Communion and Sermon Sunday School during the ser- vice. Come and „loin in the fellowship. Zion Lutheran Church Dashwood Vacancy Pastor REV, MAR1./1N BARZ Sunday, March 14 9:00 a,m.—Divine Service 10:15 a.m.—Sunday School and Bible Class All Welcome Bethel Reformed Church Huron Street East, Exeter REV. HENRY VAN ESSEN, B.A., B.D, Minister Sunday, March 14 8:00 a,m,—"Words of Hope" WCAR dial 1130 10:00 a.m.—Worship 11:10 a.m.—Sunday School 7:30 p.m.—Worship Zion United Church Crediton Minister REV. BRUCE PIERCE, B.Th, Organist Douglas Lewis Sunday, March 14 10:00 a.m.—Morning Worship All are welcome By GWYN WHILSMITH T-A Women's Editor Praise the Lord and pass the collection plate. And please put all you can into it because it takes more than faith to support a church these days. That's what many local pastors are telling their congregations as churches are hit with skyrocketting costs of main- tenance, heat, electricity, salaries, insurance, etc. Whether a church is big or small, financial problems are always present. But somehow budgets are met and bills paid. Father John Mooney admits his parish of Mount Carmel-St. Peters and Precious Blood is feeling the pinch. "Last April we discovered we needed $500 a month just to survive. I spoke to the people and am grateful to say they responded. "We, are also thankful we did the restoration to Mount Carmel church last year since materials have increased even since then. We had intended to relead the windows which cost around $1000 each but I don't see how we can do it now." While there is a religious background for tithing, Father Mooney says the Roman Catholic Church is neutral on the point. "By and large, our people are very generous." Besides meeting the local commitments, there is $1700 assessment for Diocesan outreach. Besides that, a collection in taken once a month for various mission and developments programs. Father Mooney points out that inflation has hayed the value of the Canadian dollar overseas in the past few years. "To hold the same for missions as in past years just isn't good enough," he states, The Catholic Women's League Centralia Faith Tabernacle Exeter United Church James at Andrew Ministers: REV. GLEN D. WRIGHT', B.A., B.D. and REV. HAROLD SNELL, B,A.,13.0. Organist and Choirmaster: Mr. Robert Cameron Music Director: Mrs. Roland McCaffrey Sunday, March 14 9:45 a.m.—Sunday School 11:00 a,m.—Morning Worship Nursery Courtesy Car - 235-2656 Peace Lutheran Church Andrew and George Streets PASTOR: REV. K. HAHN Sunday, March 14 Sunday, March 14 10:00 a.m.—Sunday School 11:00 a.m.—Morning Worship 8:00 p.m.—Evangelistic Service Everyone Welcome 8:30 a.m.—Morning Service Welcome $5000 and a bond left to the Sunday School by a former member. If inflation is showing its ugly head anywhere in the Exeter Presbyterian church it's in mission givings which were down from last year. On the other hand. Cromarty showed a large increase in missions while Hensall was up slightly from the previous year. Although unable to meet its mission allocation. Exeter redecorated the inside of the church at a cost of 51300 as an anniversary project last year. Caven Presbyterian Church women raise money for special projects such as the installation of sewers. by different means. The most successful is their annual Spring take-cut dinner when everyone pitches in to prepare. pack and deliver over 300 dinners, hold parish dinners and social evenings to raise money for the upkeep of church rectory. Christian Reformed At the moment the Christian Reformed Church is without a minister but ChesterBaarda, treasurer for the church, says income seems to be keeping pace with expenses. With 55 families contributing, the total receipts last year for general expenses was S41.000. About $5000 of this was sent to missions, but over and above that amount. another $8000 was raised for world relief. This is, by far, the largest contribution to missions and relief, per capita, by local churches. Christian Reformed members do not tithe but the church council sets guide-lines for givings. Since the projected budget for 1976 is $6000 more than last year, the families are asked to increase their givings accordingly. One of the reasons the budget is up for '76 is that the new minister, who is expected in a few weeks, will have to be moved from Alberta. The Christian Reformed church minister is among the highest paid in the district. Presbyterian The three congregations, Hensall, Exeter and Cromarty, under the ministry of Rev. W. J, Jarvis, all showed the best financial reports in history last year in as far as givings were concerned. Contributions to the church are by free will and many parishioners responded to increase costs, said Mr. Jarvis, All three congregations are fairly small, Exeter with 80 families, Hensall, 80; and Cromarty, 60. Neither Hensall nor Cromarty have any debts but Exeter has a bank loan, However, the later congregation also has a manse trust fund of aaat•ta saa aaa.a.„; -aft ,ao-a. no difficulty in meeting the monthly payments. The Jehovah's Witness take no weekly collections and make no drives for money. Contributions are placed in a box at the door of the building and are entirely free will. United Church Baptist One of Exeter's smallest congregations. made up of about 25 families, is the only one that owns buses to pick up children in outlying areas for Sunday School. And it's here where inflation is hitting them, says Pastor Raymond Miller. a ech anicial maintenance and insurance on our two buses has risen astronomically," he states. "In fact, we have come to the place where we may have to sell one." Cost of Sunday School sup- plies and materials has also risen with increasing price of paper. and Mr, Miller says it is something the Board of Deacons and Sunday School board is going to have to come to grips with right away. Last year, the small congregation raised 514,000 from which they sent partial support to five missionaries. Mr. Miller says his congregation does not have a projected budget as such but prints a monthly statementof receipts and expenses to keep everyone up to date on how things are going. Love offerings are sometimes taken for special speakers or events, but there has never been fund raising campaign in the history of the local congregation. "We don't preach tithing," says Mr. Miller, "but many do practise it. Others give as they can, We have never had to ask for money." EMMANUEL BAPTIST CHURCH JEHOVAH WITNESS KINGDOM HALL EXETER UNITED CHURCH The church with the largest congregation and the largest budget in Exeter is the United Church. Rev, Glen Wright, minister to the 677 families who are on the church roll, says so far inflation doesn't seem to be hitting his church too hard. Givings have been going up about 10 percent yearly, keeping in step with the current trend of in- creased costs. Despite this, however, the voluntary mission givings were down about $1000 from last year, Nevertheless, $15,000 was sent to the Missions and Service fund, $3600 of which was raised by United Church Women. The proposed budget for 1976 is around $53,000. United Church people do not tithe but "we hope they give according to how thankful they feel," says Mr. Wright. He cited the case of one fixed income family who gave considerably over 10 percent because of their gratefulness to God. He admitted this was the exception rather than the rule. "Perhaps it's time we took a good look at the vows taken when people join the church. Part of the membership vow is a com- mitment to contribute finan- cially to the church. However, the United Church has always been very strong in being tolerant and we are careful of anything that might cut off the sinner . whether it be poor stewardship, or anything else." If the collection is not going up as much as he would like to see it, Mr. Wright says he feels an in- crease and a new appreciation of the spiritual dimensions of life among people. A few years ago, Science was God bat now he helievesaherells!aifresharentimith people looking at life religiously. Perhaps, he says, as a more meaningful dialogue takes place between 'religion' and the church, the interest in steward- ship (financial givings) will in- crease. not members of the congregation. On the surface the Pentecostal Church appears to be a fairly aggressive organization in at- tracting members and the practice of tithing should always help them keep pace with rising costs. ethel Reformed Church "We're not hurting," says Rev. Henry Van Essen of Bethel Reformed Church. In fact, finances have improved over the past three years, In 1973 the budget was $20,000 and in 1975 it was about $35,000." This was partly due to the ten family increase that took place, from 60 to 70. Mr. Van Essen says the congregation is meeting its budget due to the fact the conzegation is very aware of Inflation and is giving good support to the church. Tithing is not a 'public issue' says the minister, "but we do stress it privately. Many do tithe, and several farmers contribute twice a year when they harvest their crops." A generous congregation, Bethel Reformed Church gave 54500 to missions and relief work in 1975 and their minister. receives one of the highest stipends of all preachers. Mr. Van. Essen says this is all part of the historical persuasion of his church. Reforined Church, as a whole, believes in paying the minister at least the average income of the congregation. "Because we pay our ministers a good salary they are freed from financial worries and are able to concentrate on ministering to the families under their charge," "Our ministers must have a BA, BD degree which takes a lot of time and money. Personally, I think I might have difficulty keeping a proper attitude if I were receiving a low stipend. Yes, sure I agree we are called by the Lord, but I can't go along with the thinking of some of the other churches who seem to say, "you should be glad we hired you, after all you're not in it for the m mo money." ya" Van E-s.sen pointed out that his church has no trouble getting young men to enter the ministry while some of the others are having great. difficulty in at- tracting enough people to fill vacanc jieehso. vatas Wintness Clarence Leeson, Exeter, elder of the iehovah's Witness congregation in Exeter, says they are having no problem dealing with inflatioa due mainly to the paid minister and most of the Maintenance done to their Kingdom Hall is vOTuaitliry They borrowed $5000 dollars last summer from Watch Tower to remodel the Hall but have had Like in all the other churches, the Anglican expenses have in- creased sharply over the past few years, "But we are making ends meet," says Mr. Anderson. "In fat', we are better off financially than we were 10 years ago." Trivia Memorial, Exeter's most beautiful church, is rented to the Roman Catholic congregation every Sunday morning from 9 to 10. This is a happy arrangement for both congregations since it helps the Anglicans to defray the cost of heating, and the RC's do not have the added expense of erecting and maintaining another building. Maintenance of the Anglican Church has been costly in the last few years, Work on releading the lovely stain glass windows and patting protective storms over them is expensive. Some of the windows have been completed while ethers remain to be done. Meanwhile, cost of the work continues to rise. The church tower is also in need of some repairs and the congregation is putting forth a drive this year to have it fixed. Analicans meet their mission budget by envelope givings and by staging a chicken barbeque each Spring. Pentecostal Rev. Don Forrest of Exeter Pentecostal Tabernacle concedes his church is in the same boat as all the others when it com es to combatting rising costs. However, the Pentecostal Church may not be feeling the crunch as hard as other organizations because the tithing system is used by members in their support. As inflation drives costs skyward the revenue collected by the Pentecostals goes up ac- cordingly. This means that members of the congregation are giving more because they in turn are earning larger amounts of money every year. Rev. Forrest doesn't appear to worried about rising costs in his congregation. "We have a slow but steadily growing membership and when God's plan of tithing is followed, we won't be faced with any serious problems," the young pastor commented. He added that mission support from the church has increased as well. "The amount of money each church gives toward mission support is determined by the local congregation, and we decided to give more this year," he said. The Pentecostal Church in Exeter serves a vast area and has a membership of 55 people. This figure can be a little deceiving because there are many other people attending the church on a regular basis who are Anglican Inflation may be partly to blame for the fact that Trivitt Memorial Anglican Church is using recorded music in its services these days. After ad- vertising for an organist, the only one to apply was a professional who wanted S3500 per year. That's beyond Us," says rector, Rev. George Anderson. PENTECOSTAL TABERNACLE tm BETHEL REFORMED CHURCH TRIVITT MEMORIAL ANGLICAN CHURCH n $uppo a churdi . Nati, it e,it.4.t, tJAI ,r CAVEN PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH . a HRISTIAN REPORMED CHURCH