It is with much regret that the Vestry and I have decided to end our ministry known as Little Cherubs Preschool. Due to the unfortunate lag time between the resignation of the former director and our hiring of Barbara Bridgeman as our new director, our enrollment for this just-ended school year was only five children. However, LC had some grant money in reserve which helped cover expenses for the first half of the school year. But those funds ran out in January and the church has been covering LC expenses since then. Given that we were already operating at a shortfall, this added to our financial burden.

Nevertheless, Barbara, with the help of Pam Dietmeyer, vestry member and grandparent of one of our LC students, made an effort throughout the year to advertise and recruit new students. The result was four (4) enrollments for 2013-14; simply not enough students to make the program self-supporting. There are many possible reasons for this, including the fact that the high unemployment rate in McHenry County makes preschool a luxury for many families, and the reality that we were competing with many other fine programs.

I want to emphasize that this is not a defeat. St. Paul’s Little Cherubs Preschool has provided six years of excellent early education to the benefit of every family we’ve served. Previous leadership set the standard. Then Barbara, along with her assistant Valerie Stephens, did a wonderful job this year. They are beloved by the students and their families, which is the best testimony of all.

Meanwhile, our Diaper Bank ministry remains strong, and we are moving ahead to expand the veterans ministry associated with Bett’s Place. So let us give thanks for what has been, what is, and what lies ahead. TO GOD BE THE GLORY.

Faithfully,