We are trying something new at New Heights!

Would you prefer to continue to receive your mailed newsletter or would you prefer an online version? I know how busy everyone is in their lives and if this would enable you to read the newsletter more effectively as well as being a more economical approach for the church, it might be our wave of the future!

I'll be trying to get all the "bugs" worked out so let me know your preferences as well as how this works for you.

Thanks,

Dawn

Sonflowers Serving Breakfast
Hey Church !  The Women’s Ministry has begun to serve breakfast on Sundays before the service from 9:30 – 10:15.

The Menu items are as follows –

Slice of Egg Bake, Toast & Beverage - $ 3.50
Choice of Cereal, Milk - $ 1.50
Yogurt, Toast, Beverage - $ 1.50
Fruit, Toast, Beverage - $ 1.50
Donut or Toast, Beverage - $ 1.00
Fruit (Choices May Vary) - $  .50
Yogurt - $  .50
Toast - $  .50
Coffee, Milk, Juice Drink - $  .50

The “Garden of Eatin” will still be the same after the service.  All Donations from breakfast benefit the Women’s Ministry of New Heights Church.

Sunday, August 10th

1. Lead Usher/Greeter – TELLER - Renee Nelson,
2. Usher/Greeter - Paul Nelson
3. Usher/Greeter - Pat Adams
4. Usher/Greeter – TELLER - Val Adams
5. Greeter - Elwood Ruud
6. Nursery Volunteer - NEEDED - Please contact church office or Michelle Barnett
7. Offering Reader -

Sunday, August 17th

1. Lead Usher/Greeter – TELLER -  Todd Larson,
2. Usher/Greeter - Ernie Moen
3. Usher/Greeter –TELLER -  Mel Karline
4. Usher/Greeter - Linda Karline
5. Nursery Volunteer - NEEDED - Please contact church office or Michelle Barnett
6. Offering Reader -

Sunday, August 24th

1. Lead Usher/Greeter – TELLER - Tracy Zeimet,
2. Usher/Greeter - Pat Adams
3. Usher/Greeter –TELLER -  Val Adams
4. Greeter - Elwood Ruud
5. Nursery Volunteer - NEEDED - Please contact church office or Michelle Barnett
6. Offering Reader -

Sunday, August 31st 

1. Lead Usher/Greeter – TELLER - Tom Fox,
2. Usher/Greeter – TELLER - Ernie Moen,
3. Usher/Greeter - Ryan Quiggle,
4. Greeter - Elwood Ruud,
5. Nursery Volunteer - NEEDED - Please contact church office or Michelle Barnett
6. Offering Reader -

Wow! VBS was awesome again this year!

Huge thanks to the following people who made it happen: John Alberg, Brenda Alberg, Kat Rohl, Denise Moen, Michelle Barnett, Lynn Gorham, Linda Marum, Alex Marum, Nichole Fox, Kara Hildreth, Jessica Whipple, Mark Reiland, Don Frein, Michelle Frein, Linda Karline, & Pastor Mike. We would not have been able to do it without each one's help! Special thanks to Donna & Lewis Hanson for our connection with Shepherd of the Lake Church in Prior Lake for some of our props - thank you!

We had 21 children being a part of our VBS this year. Next year we want to make it even bigger! If you have any ideas for next year's VBS or would like to help organize/plan it, please contact Pastor Dawn.

My policy has always been to be open and honest with you so here it goes. We are in a financial pickle right now at New Heights. Our summer attendance and financial giving are really down. While we have received about $20,000 from the Capital Stewardship Campaign, our general giving and tithes are way down since the beginning of April. Basically we have had a tough Spring/Summer and we have gotten behind in our mortgage payments again.

In recent months, we have fallen three additional budget payments behind and now owe close to $9,000 in back payments, not to mention the additional $10,000 in back interest we still owe. The $9,000 will need to be paid to our lender by August 31, 2008. There is no foreseeable way we will be able to come up with this extra money in 30 days if we stay with the status quo.

So I am asking the congregation to do four things:

1) Give financially what you can in both tithes and additional offerings.

2) Pray - that an additional $9,000 is raised up by August 31st, 2008 on top of normal giving (we need approximately $3,300 a week to maintain).

3) Pray for the New Heights church body - I know that there are many pressing financial needs in the congregation as well right now.

4)  Attend the prayer meeting on Sunday, August 3rd right after the service from 11:30 – 12:15 P.M.

I think under these conditions, it makes sense to have a good old fashioned prayer meeting where we come before God and ask him for a miracle.

Those of you who have been with us for a while will recall that this is how we relocated to Farmington. We saw God show up and provide $45,000 needed to make the move. The God who provided for us back then is the same God who will provide for us now.

I am not worried or anxious about the future of New Heights. We have seen many blessings and movings of God over the past 13 years that kept our doors open for ministry when it looked doubtful to some at the time. New Heights will continue to fruitfully minister to our community and beyond as we come together in a unified spirit.

Jesus tells us in Matthew 6:33-34: “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own”. Matthew 6:33-34

While we are told by Jesus to not worry about tomorrow, we should certainly pray for the future of this great church family called New Heights Christian Fellowship. To make it easy, I am planning the prayer meeting on Sunday, August 3rd right after the service from 11:30 – 12:15 P.M.  We will keep the children longer in Children’s Church that day.

I would greatly appreciate it if you can make it to this prayer meeting after church on Aug 3rd,

Mike Barnett

In response to your requests for monthly updates on finances, we have provided the following information:

Total needed each month: $ 13980.26

Weekly needed each month: $3226.21

Monthly Total for July: $6541.00

Weekly Average for July: $1635.25

Forward in Faith totals for July: $1960.33

Attendance Average for July - 55

SCRIP is available as a no-cost fundraiser for you and your family. Simply purchase gift cards through New Heights for groceries, gas, restaurants, etc. and New Heights will receive percentage at absolutely no cost to you. For more information, please see the SCRIP website.

If you're interested in becoming a part of our SCRIP fundraising - you'll need the information below to register.

Organization: New Heights Christian Fellowship/Farmington, MN

Enrollment Code: L714986312289

New Heights Christian Fellowship
newheights@frontiernet.net
501 Walnut Street
Farmington, MN 55024
651-463-9363

www.nhcfchurch.org