My wife and I recently began attending a new church, Christ Episcopal in Gardiner, Maine. The people are lovely, the rector is great, we feel we fit in. Here's the deal:

Last year a bookkeeper or somebody embezzled a WHOLE lot of money from the church, tens of thousands. As a result the church is behind in paying its "diocesan assessment," some kind of vig to the diocese, I guess. It owes something like $40,000.00. Instead of whining about "it's not our fault" and trying to weasel out if its commitment, the church is running bake sales, car washes, other campaigns to raise the cash. They shut up the sanctuary for the winter to save money on heating it and have been having services in the "fellowship hall."

At the same time this congregation is doing all it can to support Haiti relief, as well as charitable outreaches right here in the community. If they didn't have this huge debt around their necks they could, and I feel sure would, do more.

So I'm going to ask something pretty ballsy. If this story moves you, if you'd like to help, maybe take just one dollar, put it in an envelope, and send it to:

Christ Episcopal Church
2 Dresden Avenue
Gardiner, Maine 04345

Mark it for the diocesan assessment. No more need be said.

I worried that the moderators or others might find this inappropriate, but decided to go for it. I've been around here long enough for folks to have a sense of me, and I'm only asking for a buck.

Have they considered any kind of legal action against the embezzler?

Either way, I'd love to donate but I'm changing jobs again and the bank account is not healthy at all. I'm waiting on 3 gig checks just to pay March's rent.

I'm praying for you and your church in the meantime.

Don't know, but I think that may be a dry well in any case, at this point.

What? Man, you gots to get paid BEFORE you leave the venue!

Thanks.

Don't mean to distract from the topic, but one is from my band. We get paid out every 2 or 3 months...a 12-piece LLC isn't as easy to just hand out a wad of cash to members. The others are from classical gigs with groups I've played with a good bit who usually mail checks after the concert. The only time I deal with cash at a venue anymore is if I'm subing.

I'll send a little. Wife is unemployed right now. Times is tough. Good luck Chad.

Wow bro,we getting the same stories over here....the Churches are letting people down when crooks like that book keeper abound.
You on Paypal Chad? Let me know so I can do my bit.

I am on PayPal. People would have to trust that I'm going to turn the cash over to the church rather than keeping it. Anybody who's comfortable with this arrangement, and wants to help, e-mail me at tx0990@yahoo.com, let me know how much you'd like to donate, and I'll invoice you through PayPal for that amount. Thanks in advance to anybody who donates.

And thanks, Tshaka and Ross!

I am sending cash so I'll just send it to the church. If you prefer I send it to you just say the word....

O.K. for me, Ross, and thanks. I'd prefer that, actually; but where T. is in Uganda Paypal is probably easier.

Sounds like you have a real Judas on your hands...

If they are doing bake sales and the like, maybe see if you can gather up some of your musical contacts, perhaps even musicians from the church, and put on a couple gigs with a 'suggested donation' of a few bucks. Is that a possibility?

Yeah, actually not a bad idea, Mike. The rector and his wife are very involved in the community, and a number of my musician "Facebook friends" are theirs, too. This could work. Thanks for a great suggestion!

Sent some $ today. Not much, but if everyone send a little....

Be good.