OUR MISSION FUND

            Our Mission Fund was a gift two years ago from an anonymous family in our church, who wanted our Missions Committee to have some extra money to accomplish creative mission work that is normally not budgeted for.  Their initial gift of $100,000 was invested with our Endowment Fund.  The family’s stipulation is that from this fund and its interest, our Missions Committee will receive 5% per year until there is only $15,000 remaining in the fund.  At that point, the committee may use it all.  The family, of course, hopes that others might add to this Mission Fund to increase its value and longevity.  Our Missions Committee is using this fund (over $5000 last year; less this year) for some very special projects.  For example, did you know that a member of our Missions Committee delivers perishable groceries (usually valued at $50-$100) each and every week to the Prudence Crandall Home (for victims of domestic violence) New Britain, using a Mission Fund grant, along with a matching donation from Tops Supermarket.  This project is funded through November 2005.  Our Missions Committee also gave a $1000 grant last year (and $500 this year) to Re-Member, an outreach project to the Oglala Lakota Indians at Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, as well as a $400 grant to Water for People, to help build wells in developing nations.  The remainder of the Mission Fund grant last year funded a very part-time position to help Every Dollar Feeds Kids (a mission which the donor family wants us to support) find partner churches and sponsoring organizations.  Lyndsey Ellis has been doing this doing this job.  This year we are providing a $1000 grant to The Denan Project, a medical mission at a refugee camp in Ethiopia (which you will be hearing much more about soon).  Our Missions Committee is currently discussing what other projects and programs to fund this year.  Have a creative idea?  Talk with a member of our Missions Committee (Cathy Andrini, Michael Halloran, Kim Rees, Judy Khericha, Sue Meissner, Clare Lindsey, Greg Thompson, Diane Ellis, Sharyn Murphy, Betsey Sarris or Todd Pinter).  Would you like to contribute any amount to our Mission Fund, even in memory of a loved one?  Please contact Gordon Ellis.