First Assembly of God Newsletter                                                                                              December 2010

• We have partnered again with Kingsway Prison & Family Outreach to provide gifts for children of families affected by the encarceration of a parent. This is known as "The Apple Tree Project." Our "Apple Tree" is located in the church lobby with children's name and gift desired attached to the tree. There also are white strips with items listed on them for their mother or dad that is in prison. The Word of God is included in each gift, so the individual can learn the meaning of Christmas. Be sure to pick your "apple" and return your gift "unwrapped" by Sunday, December 5th. Monetary donations are also accepted payable to "Kingsway Outreach."
  
  
• I also want to invite you to the Christmas Banquet and evening of Christmas Music on Sunday, December 19th at 5:00 pm. Details are listed in our weekly church bulletin. A sign up list is located at the Welcome Center. Please sign up and pay on or before December 8. Come join us for an evening of great food, music, and fellowship.

—Pastor Jeff

The weather is crisp, the leaves have fallen, the days are getting shorter, and the Christmas displays are out in full force. That can only mean that we are approaching the end of another year. Hopefully 2010 has been a good year for you and 2011 will bring even more of God's blessings. As we near the end of the year there are a couple of administrative details I would like to share with you.

In early December we will be putting out the 2011 tithing envelopes. I encourage all of you to pick up a box of envelopes and sign your name on the list next to the number that is on your box. The best way for you to insure proper credit for your giving is to use assigned tithing envelopes and make sure that they are filled out when you place them in the offering. The counters and Treasurer do their best to accurately account for your desires in the offering, but it is most helpful when you use tithing envelopes and have filled in your name and the appropriate designations on the envelope. We thank you in advance for your cooperation in this matter.

At this time of year it is appropriate to remind you of the IRS requirements for year-end giving and how it is receipted. The general rule is:

• A contribution is effective when it is delivered. This means that a check delivered to the church in January 2011 cannot be deducted in 2010, even if it is backdated to 2010. One exception is a check that is mailed (and postmarked) in 2010 is deductible in 2010, even though the church does not receive it until 2011.
  
  
• All offerings that you wish to have credited to your 2010 giving must be received at the church by Friday, December 31st, or they must be dated, mailed, and postmarked by that date. Now would also be a good time to check with your financial advisor if you are thinking about year-end charitable contributions from investments.

We sincerely thank you for your continued giving to the ministries of First Assembly. We could not do all of the things we do without your faithful support. May God richly bless you during the Christmas season and the upcoming new year of 2011.

—Steve Parsons