Breeze is our church management software - you’ve been invited to use it to give, to pledge, to sign up for Christmas Eve…and there are so many more ways to use it to stay better connected to one another and to all that is happening at the church. https://brooksidecc.breezechms.com/
Worried that you missed the end of the year? It’s never too late to give a faithful gift to support your church. Giving an extra gift now still helps us start 2023 in a strong financial position!
Assembly will be on January 22nd after worship. We sent out email invitations in a new way this month - an email from Pastor Nicolette through Breeze - please check your spam folder.
Sunday Worship 9:30am
January 8th - Epiphany
The 12 days of Christmas comes to an end with the celebration of Epiphany!
9:30am - Worship in person and via Zoom
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/254441229
Or call in:
+1 646 558 8656 US (New York)
+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
Meeting ID: 254 441 229
Host fellowship by signing up here:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20f044fafaf2ba6fd0-fellowship3
Questions? Contact Maria H. mcikifan@hotmail.com
Previous services can be found here (please subscribe): https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCt13UJi4ShYdpMZm-ONnDWA
Brookside Community Church's Integrated Spirituality team is elated to bring the 5Rhythms® dance to the Mendham community. Led by Mendham resident, Sayrah Garrison, this is a wonderful opportunity to learn about this transformational movement practice!
Sayrah Garrison is a social worker and is deeply committed to exploring how body based practices like yoga, dance and meditation can affect positive change in all of us and hopes that her offerings provide a fun way to explore creativity, connection and personal growth.
Learn more about the series and register here:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/brookside-5rhythms-a-6-week-embodied-movement-series-tickets-502759626577
Seeking an Office Administrator
After 15 years of faithful service, Nancy has retired from the office. A celebration of her “adMINISTRYation” will be held on January 29th.
Please help spread that word about this vitally important position:
Brookside Community Church is seeking an Office Administrator to handle the day-to-day business operations of the church including general office tasks, weekly e-newsletter, bill payment, rental and tenant communications, vendor coordination, and maintaining our church database. The ideal candidate is detail oriented, with strong computer skills (knowledge of Quickbooks a plus), able to communicate effectively through a variety of media (phone, email, text, in person), comfortable working independently, and able to maintain confidential and sensitive information.
The position is part time, approximately 20-25 hrs/week,* with flexibility around scheduling in order to be family friendly. $18-20/hour. As an Open and Affirming church committed to diversity, we encourage all interested parties to apply by sending their resume to Rev. Nicolette Siragusa pastornicolette@gmail.com . Interviews are being scheduled now and will continue until the right candidate is found.
*Additional hours are available for candidates who are skilled and interested in social media management.
As we reflect on 2022, we are grateful for all of the ways you make ministry possible. Over the past three years, amidst some tremendously difficult circumstances, our church has been the heart of faith in the heart of Brookside. During this time of rapid change, we have found ways to adapt and be flexible, carrying on our ministries while facing the same struggles that most volunteer-based non-profits are experiencing.
What we offer - the unconditional love of God, opportunities to serve our neighbor, an intentional intergenerational community, the inspirational experience of worship - has been essential in a time of disconnection and upheaval. Our operational and missional costs have remained at a steady $250k/year, even as our maintenance costs have soared (with several large projects on the horizon). Even after the loss of several of our most generous supporters, we knew that now was not the time to reduce our investment in our community, instead depleting our meager reserves to offset our expenses and losses.
We are beginning to reap some of what we have sown. Investing in partnerships led to the Center for Spiritual Living and the Mendham Township Library renting some of our underutilized spaces. Providing vibrant hospitality at community events led to a steady stream of Sunday morning first-time visitors. Proclaiming welcome to all for two decades led to a fun and festive anniversary celebration. Thank you for your faithful support undergirding our ministries.
Looking forward, our sustained financial health depends on investing together in our community. Rental income is helping to offset some of our needs, but the number of people giving under $1000 has increased and those giving over $10k have decreased. In 2022, we received $143k in pledges, 48% from 4 households. To meet our 2023 goals, please consider increasing your pledge by $23 per week ($1196 total) or per month ($276 total). A little bit goes a long way when we all work together.
Whether you’ve pledged for years or this is your first time, you can let us know your giving plan by submitting it securely through Breeze: https://brooksidecc.breezechms.com/form/851661 . Thank you for your presence, your prayer, and your support in so many ways.
Sincerely,
Mike Wright, stewardship chair, mcwright01@aol.com
Kaki Pierson, treasurer , krpierson@icloud.com
In our Hearts, In our Prayers:
The prayers shared aloud on Sunday morning*
Those whose grief is multiplied in this holiday season, including the family and friends of longtime member and Brookside resident, Rhoda Radtke.
Those who feel broken in body, mind, or spirit
Those who are recovering from surgery or illness
The lonely, the isolated, the anxious
The people of Iran, China, Ukraine, Russia and all who live in places of transition or war
All who are dealing with the aftermath of severe storms and cold
Our leaders, our communities, our nation
*Prayers shared on Sunday morning are NOT published here, except by explicit request. If you would like a prayer included in @Brookside, please email office@brooksidechurch.org