Dear Church Family, Since school is out, and Thanksgiving is upon us, and many people are out of town, this week's e-note will be brief. First, I want to wish you a happy, gratitude-filled Thanksgiving. I am grateful for many things this year, including the privilege of serving at BUMC. Second, I want to thank all of you who have turned in your pledge cards for 2012. To date we have received 725 pledge cards totaling $3,300,010 in pledges, for an average pledge of $4,550. Hundreds of additional pledge cards will come in during the weeks ahead. Since our Finance Committee uses this information to plan next year's budget, it would be extremely helpful for you to bring your pledge to church this Sunday, or mail it in this week, or pledge online right now by clicking here. If you prefer, you can call in your pledge to our Director of Finance, Lisa Gray at 3248201; or our Financial Secretary, Joyce Brown at 324-7246. Third, this weekend begins the sacred season of Advent. As we begin this Advent season, our organist Gregg Bunn asked me to share the following information with you.