xclose menu

ECO National Gathering, This Sunday, and Beyond!

2

This past Tuesday through Thursday was the ECO National Gathering, held this year at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, Newport Beach. After previous years were spent travelling to Orlando, Florida and Dallas, Texas, it was great to be able to return to the comforts our own homes each night, instead of a stuffy hotel room!

Because this year’s conference and Synod meeting (known in our previous denomination as the General Assembly) was just down the road, not only did Pastor Paul and I attend alongside our Elder delegates - Roberta Ramont and Sue Nelson-Brown - our entire program staff joined in as well: Dee Abell, Thea Walker, Carol Jaeger, Josh Higgins and Michelle Heath! In addition, Covenant Partner Don Travis attended, too!

All ten of us engaged in energetic worship, heard from dynamic speakers, and attended thought-provoking breakout sessions. In the coming weeks, you have an opportunity to learn more about this conference, as I, Paul, elders and staff members will be writing on our blog and sharing on Sunday mornings at 10am in the Fireside Room. Stay tuned for details!

In fact, this Sunday, January 31st, you’re invited to join me at a Coffee with Curtis at 10am in the Fireside Room to hear from me and Reverend Len Tang, church planter and this Sunday’s guest preacher. One of our elders quipped that we should call it Coffee with Curtis and Lemonade with Len! It will be a great time of learning more about ECO’s emphasis in church planting as well as Len’s plans to plant a church in Pasadena this year, as he was approved by our Southern California Presbytery to do so just this week!

Special thanks to the many of you who were able to attend our Annual Congregational meeting last Sunday, January 24th. If you were unable to be there, be sure to pick up or download a 2015 Annual Report. In it, you’ll see that we were able to end the year in a strong financial position, due in part to two things.

  1. Our staff and elders wisely stewarded their budgetary needs throughout last year, saving more than $70,000 from our budgeted expenses.
  2. Our congregation gave generously - sacrificially even!

Because we ended the year with a nearly $31,000 surplus, in addition to another $33,000 given toward the Joint Solution, this past Wednesday we cut a check to our former denominational home to finalize our dismissal!

Those of you who attended our congregational meeting may recall my being overwhelmed with emotion at your ongoing generosity. Thank you so much for your continual gifts to the work of God through our family of faith! I am deeply humbled to be a part of such a thoughtful, caring, and generous congregation.

May the God who so faithfully led us through 2015 continue to lead us into 2016! To Him be all glory, honor, and praise!

Pastor Curtis

2 Comments

While I still struggle with having to pay so much, I am glad it's over!

Curtis, I am constantly amazed at the leadership and staff at GSPC. What a great report about the conference and the exciting things to come at GSPC. Rod and I are so pleased to be a part of a vibrant, growing church. May God continue to bless you all as you lead us into 2016.

Leave a Comment

Comments for this post have been disabled.