2023 in review

What a year it has been for us at Solomon's! In 2023…
… The steering committee…

• Installed and started a livestream of our worship services
  • Our YouTube channel currently has 20 subscribers
• Began drafting a strategic plan for church vitality and growth. The fruits of that plan can be seen in the achievements of the various committees.

 
… The nurture committee…

• Offered special services for Ash Wednesday, Maundy Thursday, Easter, and Christmas Eve
• Offered Christian Education book studies on Cathedral on Fire and Laudato Si’
• Offered an alternative summer worship featuring various spiritual practices
• Established a once-a-month children’s ministry: Weekends of Wonder

 
… The outreach committee…

• Shared garden produce with financial aid members of the Chambersburg YMCA
• Hosted a movie night to show and discuss “The Letter” – a documentary about Pope Francis’ call to creation care
• Raised ~ $700 at our first annual rummage sale and encouraged visitors
• Distributed 600 native trees and shrubs in support of PA Interfaith Power and Light and the Chesapeake Bay Foundation
• Became a Harvest Host site for RVers to have a safe place to park and rest for the night
• Developed relationships with the Chambersburg YMCA, the United Way of Franklin County, and Healthy Franklin County
• Supported Cindy and Sarah as they lead the Power Pack Program

 
… As a congregation we…

• Reconnected with LIU12 to become a work study site. This partnership provides work experience to the students and cleans our church.
• Sent 19 Climate Hope Cards to the White House and EPA to tell them that people of faith care about the earth and environment
  • The UCC sent a total of about 8,000 of these cards!

• Sent a massive amount of plastic to CRDC, but kept all that plastic out of landfills!!

• Re-established Coffee Fellowship hour
• Participated in the Chambersburg Area CROP Walk and raised money for Church World Service
• Collected a wonderful bounty of food for Maranatha Ministry, Inc. via our Harvest Homes food drive
• Voted to move forward with the installation of Solar Panels, pending a site inspection and congregational revisit of more accurate financials
• Hosted 90 people at our Christmas Eve service!!
  • AND raised $900 for the Power Pack program through our love offering! This money will go toward grocery store gift cards for the families as a little something extra at the end of the school year.

These are all incredible accomplishments and they are all for God's glory and pleasure! God is doing some neat things at our little church, and I am so excited to see what's instore for us in 2024. 

Thank you all for your commitment to our church and your faithfulness to God's call! 
​- Pastor Julia