Annmual Reports Due
Non-financial reports due 15 January
Financial reports due before 28 January

Committee reports are due as soon as you can get them to Keith Lindsey. We have a deadline to place them in both churches two weeks in advance of the first congregational meeting. A more pressing deadline is to have the full charge report masters ready to print by 29 January. Our resource who is printing the charge report has to start by the 29th.

We realize receipt of bank financial statements are not available early in January, but we hope authors of financial reports will be able to enter almost all other information in advance. Then when the statement is received the final information can be entered and the report finalized and submitted.

The preferred method for submitting reports is electronically to Keith Lindsey. If you need to know his email address, contact him at 838-2868.

United Church Women Collecting for Lanark Food Bank

The Ashton UCW are collecting non perishable food items for the Lanark Food Bank. We are asking that you think about the less fortunate and bring in your donations. Let's see if we can fill our basket more than once.

Milk Bags Sleeping Mats

Pat Lindsey, of Munster Church, is undertaking a project to create mats for use by children and adults in countries where they sleep on a dirt floor. Pat is making use of the outer 'packaging' bag of milk sold in bags to crochet mats. Depending on the size of the mat, it can take up to 500 outer bags.

Pat is looking for your help. If you purchase milk in 4L bags, please save the outer bag. Pat prefers that you keep them lying flat or folded and to not scrunch or roll them into balls. Flat bags are much easier to cut. To let Pat know you have bags for her or for more information call Pat Lindsey.

Helping Centre 507

Centre 507 need our help again, so the Ashton U.C.W. is collecting donations. Please help them out with their wish list by giving the following items.
Clothing - new or gently used men's pants, coats, shirts, hats, scarves, mitts, new long underwear, and socks.
Meal Supplements - Ensure or Boost
Food - peanut butter, soups, canned sandwich fillings, coffee, whitener, sugar, candies, etc.
Personal Hygiene Supplies - deodorant, shampoo, tooth brushes, tooth paste, soap, disposable razors, shaving cream, etc.
Financial Contributions - payable to Centre 507.

General Church and Congregation Information

Ashton United Church is a country church. Our congregation is a mix of rural and suburban folk of all ages. We have many active members organizing and taking part in suppers, garage/yard sale, teas, other fund raisers, and maintenance of the property -in addition to regular worship services. We make every effort to remain current with our members and adherents. Should you know of a change of situation with a family or member, please let Lorrie Lowes, Clerk of Session, or our minister, Rev. Matt Gallinger know so that visitation and/or support can be given.

Worship Services
Our worship services are conducted weekly alternating between 9:30 and 11:00 a.m. We alternate service times with our sister church in Munster. Once a year we visit our sister church in Munster and worship with them at their anniversary service in October. Our anniversary service is in early June and we typically celebrate with a supper around the same time. We join the members of our sister church in Munster at a charge picnic, typically in May. During the Christmas - New Years break we attend a service at one of the western area churches of the Ottawa Presbytery where all area church members worship. We also have a Christmas Eve service. Our worship service times are shown on the Schedule - Worship services page. The service times for the next few weeks are also printed in our orders of service.

Our Sunday School is on the smaller side but active. Our senior choir rehearses Thursday nights and presents an anthem as often as we can. We take some breaks during the summer months. Our organist and choir director is Grace Armstrong.

We record the services onto cassette tapes for listening by anyone not able to attend the service. If you wish to borrow a tape, please speak with an member of session.

New To The Area or Ashton Church?
For those of you new to Ashton Church, we welcome you and thank you for choosing to worship with us. If we don't know who you are, please introduce yourself to one of us.

If you are new to the area and are looking for a place to worship and grow in faith, as well as to meet new friends, please feel welcome to join us any time.

Not a member of the congregation and would like to be? Please speak with our minister Rev. Matt Gallinger or Lorrie Lowes, Clerk of Session. You might find it's as easy and straightforward as arranging a membership transfer from another church where you hold membership.

In order to have your weekly offering count toward a tax receipt, please speak with Allen Hills to arrange a set of offering envelopes. A numbered set of envelopes will be issued to you for your use. In order for us to be able to accurately issue you with a charitable tax receipt in February of 2011 for offerings in 2010, we will require basic information about you (name and address). If you would like to make handling of your offerings easier, download and complete a PAR (Pre-authorized Remittance) form then give it to Allen. This will arrange to have your offering deducted automatically each month and credited to your church. The form is found in the Pre-Authorized Remittance of Offerings section farther down on this page.

United Church Women
The United Church Women (UCW) undertake a fair number of activities in addition to their regular meetings and they support the church, other groups, and causes as a result.

Study and Youth Groups
We also benefit from a study group as described on the Pastoral Charge events page under General Information and a vibrant Youth Group under the direction of Liz Hale and Rev. Matt Gallinger. The Pastoral Charge Youth Group draws participants from both communities and churches. Check the Pastoral Charge Events page for details of any changes or cancellations. Presently our second study group is not functioning. It took place Monday evenings.

As part of our church and Pastoral Charge operational procedures, we have a Ministry and Personnel Committee responsible for the oversight of the paid staff (the Minister and the bulletin secretary). It is a confidential, consultative body that supports pastoral relationship in your church. The Committee describes itself as "being in ministry together". We welcome your interest. Representatives for Ashton are Connie Stevens, Jonathan Howard, and Steve Gardner.

Fund Raising
During the year we undertake several fund raising activities and events to supplement income from offerings and to allow us to undertake programs beyond the basics. Some run on an ongoing basis and are operated by a small group of dedicated people. Other activities, such as suppers take place only a few times each year and require volunteers. We have been selling Loblaws/National Grocers Gift Cards for years and the program returns a fair amount of money to the Local Fund of Munster Church to support regular programs and special undertakings.

   Loblaws/National Grocers Gift Cards
Simply stated, your church buys gift cards at a discount and sells them to interested people (you) who use the gift cards the same as you spend money. The church earns the difference. The cards are equivalent to cash at Loblaws in Ontario and Quebec), Real Canadian Superstore, Your Independent Grocer, and valu-mart stores. In addition, they can be used at Zehrs, No Frills, Fortinos, Extra Foods, Loblaws Superstore, Provigo, Maxi, Maxi & Co, Atlantic Superstore, and the Real Canadian Wholesale Clubs locally and across the country.

The cards are a convenient way for you to shop because as you spend a portion of the card, the system keeps track of your card balance, and that balance is available for your next purchase. No need to carry cheques or cash and have to keep track of change. They come in denominations of $10, $25, $50, $100, and $250 so you can purchase the exact amount you need weekly, every two weeks, monthly, or whenever you prefer. The cards are preactivated and good for two years.

For information or to purchase cards, speak with Irma Willoughby or Wendy Barrie.

   Fair Trade Coffee and Tea
Our congregation has undertaken support of Fair Trade coffee and tea through use of it after the services and at events as well as selling it to you. The program benefits more than one million farmers and farm workers in 58 developing countries. Speak with Linda Guetta to obtain more information on products we carry and to purchase coffee and tea.

   Church Suppers
Once or twice a year Ashton Church holds a supper open to the community and area. Typically we celebrate the anniversary of our congregation's start with a supper close to our anniversary service in early June. If you are willing to help we can certainly use the assistance.

Pre-Authorized Remittance of Offerings
Some of you have heard about our PAR program or Pre-authorized remittance. For those of you not aware, you can arrange with the United Church of Canada and your bank to have a specific amount of money withdrawn from your account each month. The money, your monthly offering, will go directly to the church's local fund to support daily operations.

There are benefits with this arrangement. You benefit by not needing to find your offering envelopes each week before you head off to church. You also benefit by not having to 'double up' your offerings if you are away for a period of time to get caught up with your planned offerings. The main benefit for your church is that it helps provide a regular, steady flow of funds, especially during the summer months when some people are away and offerings on the plate would typically be reduced.

A number of families and individuals are on the PAR program presently. If you would like to find out more about this program or you would like to sign up, please contact any steward. Your information relating to PAR will remain confidential. Or download the PAR authorization form and give it to the Treasurer.

Publications
We have a publication available that will be of interest to people with families in the area and genealogists with family members in the area (Waymarks and Guideposts, Ashton United Church). Please check for details on the Pastoral Charge page under General Information.