Frequently Asked Questions
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Audio
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Church Calendar
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Church Sales
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Food Shelf
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Monetary/Stock Donations
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Support Groups
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Weddings & Funerals
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Church Basement
Audio
Are recordings of church services available?
Audio recordings of Sunday services are available on Compact Discs (CDs).
Please submit a question using the Contact form or leave a message on the church answering machine.
Church Calendar
How to have my birthday or anniversary included on the calendar or removed from the calendar?
Send an Email Message requesting the inclusion or removal using the form on the Contact page.
How can I get a copy of the church calendar?
You can download a current copy of the church calendar from our Calendar page. A password is required. Each January, a few printed church calendars are available on the table at the back of the church. The calendar is updated multiple times during the year. The latest version is always available online.
Church Sales
When are the church sales held during the year?
There are sales in the spring, summer and winter on a Saturday from 9:00am to 1:00pm.
In 2023, the sales will be on
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December 2 (Holiday Sale & Luncheon)
In 2024, the sales will be on
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April 27 (Spring Sale & Luncheon)
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December 6 (Holiday Sale & Luncheon)
What types of items may be donated?
Donated items should be able to be carried by one person.
Typically, these are called "white elephant" household items.
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Home decoration items
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Kitchen items and small appliances
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Clean clothing in good condition (Usually the best time to donate clothing is for the June sale)
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Collectibles and Gift items
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Musical Instruments
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Tools
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Toys, Dolls & Games
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Other salable items
Please no TVs, computer equipment or gasoline powered equipment.
Donating baked goods
Baked Goods to benefit the Sunday School
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These can includes cookies, brownies, etc.
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Please cut and individually wrap the items.
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If there are nuts in the item, please label accordingly.
Pies for the luncheon at the April & December sales
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If there are nuts in the pie, please label accordingly.
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Place a label on your pie pan so it can be returned to you.
When can I donate items?
Items can be donated at any time of the year.
How do I donate items for a church sale?
On the day before a sale, you may bring items to the church.
To donate items at other times, please leave a message on the church answering machine or submit a question using the Contact form.
What can I do with items that are not accepted for church sales?
The Salvation Army, the Habitat of Humanity ReStore and Goodwill accept donations. Their web sites include information about what types of donations they will accept. In some cases, they will pick up donated items.
How can I volunteer to help at church sales?
There are many ways to volunteer to help with church sales. For some of these, there are sign-up sheets in the back of the church.
Some ways to help are:
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After church on the Sunday before the sale, help move items to be sold from the barn at the parsonage to the church.
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On the Friday before the sale, peel potatoes.
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At 7:00am the day of the sale, help make sandwiches.
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Help in the kitchen (e.g. stir the chowder).
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Bake or buy a pie and bring it to the church the morning of the sale.
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Bake "treats" for the Sunday School to sell and bring them to the church the morning of the sale.
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Wait on tables at the luncheon.
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Help with clean-up after the sale.
Food Shelf
What types of items should be donated?
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Grocery store items
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Canned goods
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Frozen chickens & turkeys
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Non-perishable foods
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Household supplies
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Other generally useful items
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Make sure items have not expired
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All items must be unopened
When may grocery items be donated?
Grocery items can be donated at any time of the year.
How do I donate grocery items?
You may bring items to the church before any service. The deacons will accept your donation.
Otherwise, call the church answering machine and leave your name and phone number.
May I make a cash donation instead of grocery items?
You may write a check and place it in the collection plate.
Please be sure to annotate on the check "Food Pantry Donation."
Monetary/Stock Donations
What is the process to obtain a box of church donation envelopes?
Speak to the church treasurer or submit a question using the Contact form.
What is the process to donate appreciated stock to the church?
Speak to the church treasurer or submit a question using the Contact form.
See IRS Publication 526 - Charitable Contributions
What is the process to obtain a written acknowledgment acceptable to the IRS for donations by check?
Speak to the church treasurer or submit a question using the Contact form.
See IRS Publication 526 - Charitable Contributions
Abstract from IRS Publication 526 - Page 17:
Cash Contributions
Cash contributions include those paid by cash, check, electronic funds transfer, debit card, credit card, or payroll deduction.
You can't deduct a cash contribution, regardless of the amount, unless you keep one of the following.
1. A bank record that shows the name of the qualified organization, the date of the contribution, and the amount of the contribution. Bank records may include:
a. A canceled check,
b. A bank or credit union statement, or
c. A credit card statement.
2. A receipt (or a letter or other written communication) from the qualified organization showing the name of the organization, the date of the contribution, and the amount of the contribution.
3. The payroll deduction records described next.
Contributions of $250 or More
You can claim a deduction for a contribution of $250 or more only if you have an acknowledgment of your contribution from the qualified organization or certain payroll deduction records.
If you made more than one contribution of $250 or more, you must have either a separate acknowledgment for each or one acknowledgment that lists each contribution and the date of each contribution and shows your total contributions.
What is the process to obtain a written acknowledgment acceptable to the IRS for items or services purchased for the church as a donation?
Speak to the church treasurer or submit a question using the Contact form.
See IRS Charitable Contributions Publication 526
If I occasionally attend the Grassy Hill Church, may I place my Flanders Baptist and Community Church donation envelope in their collection plate?
If you attend a service at the Grassy Hill Church, you may give your donation envelope to Rev. Scott separately to pass along to the Flanders church treasurer.
Support Groups
Do Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) meetings take place at the church?
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Tuesday 7:00pm Open Beginners Design for Living Group
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Wednesday 12:00pm Open Beginner's Step Group
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Wednesday 7:00pm Open As Bill Sees It Group
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Sunday 7:00pm Closed 12 Steps to Recovery Group
Nonalcoholic guests are welcome at “open” AA meetings. Attendance at “closed” meetings is limited to those who are alcoholic or think they may have a drinking problem. At meetings, AA members share their recovery experience with anyone seeking help with a drinking problem, and give person-to person services or “sponsorship” to the alcoholics coming to A.A. The A.A. program, as set forth in the Twelve Steps to recovery, offers the alcoholic an opportunity to develop a satisfying way of life free from alcohol. More information at ct-aa.org.
Weddings & Funerals
Do you have to be a church member to have either a wedding or funeral at the church?
You do not have to be a church member.
Weddings
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Leave a message on the church answering machine
Funerals
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Tell the funeral director that you would like the services of Rev. Jean-Fritz Guerrier or Rev. Alan Scott
Church Basement
May I have a gathering at the church?
Please submit a question using the Contact form to see if the church schedule can accommodate your needs. There are some scheduled activities in the church basement which may conflict. The church basement is in use and unavailable:
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Every Sunday morning and evening
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Every Tuesday evening
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Every Wednesday afternoon and evening
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Every Thursday evening
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For several days before and the day of our church sales (listed above in the Church Sales section)
No alcohol or use of tobacco-related products is allowed in the church or on church property.
Do you have an idea for a new FAQ or an update of a current FAQ?
If so, please send it to us via the Contact Form.