Pastor Pate's Update, Mar. 3, 2010

Dear Church Family,

I don't know if you've been staying in the loop on things throughout the church family, but I can update you on a few items.

We are, of course, concerned for the concentrated losses (3 passing in the last week or so) throughout the Montaque family.  I believe they are in Washington state for the services for BJ Behrens.  We'd prayed for him for months and months and he finally succumbed to the cancer.  That's on top of the loss of two friends/relatives in New York last week.  Our hearts are saddened for this family.

I was joking around with George Livermore yesterday... and I'm so grateful for his courage as he is now walking this part of the journey without Virginia.  What a sweet man and asset to our church family he is.

We remain concerned about Judy Brown.  The good news is that she's home. The concerns are for her decision process and the courage that they will all need to face the challenges that have been allowed to come their way again.

Speaking of home... Cliff Pope has decided to try that!  Let's keep praying for his increasing strength and stamina.

Some of you probably got an email or two from Bob Daum.  He's in Loma Linda undergoing the Proton Accelerator treatment and he's really positive about the experience on every level.  We're grateful for that and have hope that this will resolve his challenges.

I know that many are praying for AUC in a special way this week.  March 5 has been the target date for NEASC consderations and I know we all, first, want to pray that God's will is done in all of these deliberations. That's our highest priority.

To my knowledge everyone survived the 30-hour Famine.  Pastor Heather is feeling really good about the experience for the kids (about 65 of them) and I do so appreciate the various adults who also took part and provided the leadership. I know of Dustan Cook, Jeremy and Kristen Malin, Ricardo and Sif Muchiutti and Kathy Grellman... and I'm sure there were more.  (I also know that a few of us adult-types who weren't at the program but were also fasting and giving emotional support of the effort from a distance. I haven't seen Ray Williams but I assume he's doing just fine.  I know it didn't at all do me any harm.)

Other issues?  I don't know the details, but I have been leaning on Tom King, Don Munding and Ray Dow for wisdom on how to proceed with our oil reserve.  All I know is that this morning we saw the oil tanker truck in the parking lot.

We have had some discussions of completely refilling or just adding enough to get to June or so and see what the summer prices provide.  It appears that the second course of action is probably the best wisdom.  At any rate, I am so grateful for this new system that you bought and that our skilled artisans put together.

We started the season with about 5,500 gallons.  The last I knew we'd made it to March 1 only having used about 4,000 gallons.  That's just huge! That's so much more efficient than the volume our old dinosaur used to drink I am told.

Speaking of upgrades and renovations:  It is hoped that our Primary II kids may be back in their own room this Sabbath.  It's been a long time coming, but that's what happens when you are doing the task with wonderful volunteers and their limited schedules.

It will be really attractive and will match perfectly with the new curriculum that Pastor Heather and the team are creating.

Of course, I need to keep reminding you that we still need to keep financially supporting as we have two layers of immediate work that need to be done late in the spring.  One is the last details of trim around the crown of the church and the other is the ramp.

If you were at the "town hall" visit a few weeks ago you got the details, but the ramp component of our project bounced around at an estimated $40,000 to around $20,000 to just at $60,000 as we got deeper into the issues and challenges.

At this point we are about $8,000 short of having paid cash for all of the magnificent work we've already done.  We are looking at another $60,000+ to be able to step back and take a breather for a little while.

Is there more that we could/should do?  Yes, but let's finish this first. Let's then pause and reconsider what priorities should be tackled after a little break.

I know that Sandi and I keep donating to this and I'm sure that you want to, also.

Thanks so much!

I need to head toward the morning Recalibration meeting... I hope to see many of you there or at this evening's!  We're going to revisit the "Raising of Lazarus" episode... good stuff!!!

'Lord Bless',

Don Pate

PS: One quick added note. Julie Willoughby went through her surgery well and
now looks forward to about four weeks recovery.

I know that Vera Davis was with Susan (Willoughby) throughout the surgery
and we'll do our best to keep you posted on this progress.