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We are beginning the New Year with the clear blessing of God. Instead of having a $10,000 deficit (a deficit we approved at our Annual Meeting in February of 2009), it would appear that we will end the year with a very modest surplus! Here’s what happened and you see if God’s hand was involved. Folks worked very had in limiting expenses. We stayed within our means and this was done despite our having to live with an already lean budget. It did mean that certain needed improvements have been deferred – like the ceiling in the sanctuary. Nonetheless, it is a significant achievement. Second, our giving exceeded our expectations.
Loans by members of the church were given and this helped, but so did the efforts of many in the church on various
fund raising projects. The recent Community Holiday Sing, the Steeping-Up Helping Out bill paying program,
the selling of hot dogs and hamburgers during the Farmers’ Market, the efforts of the WABC Women, contributions for raffles, a
silent auction, and I am sure I am forgetting other efforts, all helped bridge the gap between income and expenses and made
this good news possible. Third, we found renewed energy and vision from within the Finance Committee. Under the leadership of Peter Sallet the 2010 Stewardship Campaign was more than a one year projection of our need. We were asked to envision our program needs for the next three years. The result of this effort was a shared vision of hoped for future growth and the campaign itself resulted in roughly a 10% increase in pledges for 2010. Not bad for a church that was whispering it might have to shutter its doors! But I would hope that we would fall on our knees and give thanks to God for what has been accomplished rather than grab the credit for ourselves. I have heard of many churches that, when faced with similar circumstances, fall into a pit of despond, start pointing fingers at one another, begin fighting, or who lose sight of God’s providential grace and live in fear rather than live out their mission. I suppose we, too, faced such a choice. Yet through the leadership of the Holy Spirit the financial crises led us in a different direction — it helped sharpen our vision of ministry and thus we are now attempting to impact the wider community with God’s Good News in Christ. So we are in a very different place as we start 2010. The Finance Committee will be presenting a proposed balanced budget with the Church Council in January and the entire church at our Annual Meeting on January 31. What a remarkable accomplishment. What a wonderful witness. God will continue to present us with challenges. Indeed, we will need to remain vigilant in the area of our finances, but one thing is clear, we did not give up on God and most certainly God did not give up on us. Not a bad way to begin a New Year! Faithfully,Pastor Jeff
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