the new year and our ongoing vision

Caleb shared about reflecting on his goals for the new year and recognizing that when it comes to our church, we don’t need a shiny new vision to run after every year. God has already given us the vision, we just need his empowerment as we continue to walk in it.

Presence /  God, let us know and enjoy your presence every day

Formation / God, help us grow to be like Jesus

Love / God, help us to be tangible expressions of your love

Caleb shared a series of ‘Can you imagine?’ ideas about our future. We encourage you to listen to the audio as you are able.

elder goals

Over the last couple of months, the elders have been praying and talking about goals for 2020. They were summarized in the meeting.

• Complete three-year discipleship plan

• Turn outwards

• Complete a test run of The Seconds Course 

• Develop new leaders:  elders, deacons, group leaders

• Ensure every committed participant in our church has an opportunity to follow Jesus in community

• Grow as a praying church:  in consistency, in faith, using all the gifts

• Re-establish a regular moment in our Sunday gatherings that reinforces our discipleship culture through prayer and storytelling 

• Achieve our giving goals as an expression of growing in generosity

• Strengthen staff communication protocols, particularly for care needs

Caleb also shared details about upcoming events that are in response to these goals:

• The Seconds Course

• Come Holy Spirit: An Evening with John and Ele Mumford

• Lent / Eastertide / Pentecost

discussioN: getting to know one another

We discussed the dynamic that there are so many newer participants in our community right now and we need to make a concerted effort to building new friendships and getting to know one another. We opened a discussion among the members of how we might do that.

financial update

Josh Staton shared a detailed financial update for 2019–2020.

2019 Income / Expenses

• 2019 Congregational Giving Received:  $1,262,644

• Christmas Offering:  $84,488

• External Contributions:  $46,799

• Total Expenses:  $1,306,495

• Net Income:  $87,436

Financial Position as of december 31, 2019

• Working Capital (including Christmas Offering):  $340,407

• Other Assets:  $9,018

• Total Equity as of 12/31/19:  $349,425

Sustainability

• Average of 130 households contributing per month

• 95 of those households have ongoing giving schedules accounting for 43.8% of our parish budget

• As best we can tell, roughly 750 people are participating in the life of our community at some frequency (approx 550 adults; 200 kids and youth)

• Average weekly attendance last year was around 445 (355 adults; 90 children and youth)

• 142 adult members

2020 Giving Goals

• Increase average givers per month from 130 to 150

• Increase portion of budget covered by scheduled giving from 42% to 50%

• Reach our Congregational Giving target of $1,170,000

2020 Budget

• Community Life / Discipleship / Ministries  64%

• Mission / Benevolence 17%

• Facilities / Admin 19%

upcoming events

Please mark your calendar for these important upcoming church-wide events. If you’re interested in volunteering for any of these dates, contact us.

• Jan 26 -- Mercy + Justice Course starts

• Feb 1/8/15/22 -- Don’t Walk By

• Feb 4 -- The Seconds Course starts

• Feb 12 -- Come Holy Spirit with Mumfords

• Feb 21-23 -- Youth Winter Retreat

• Feb 26 -- Ash Wednesday

• Mar 14 -- Parent Well Conference

• Mar 22 -- Financial Equipping Course

• Apr 4 -- Easter Egg Hunt

• Apr 5-11 -- Holy Week

• Apr 12 -- Easter Sunday

• Apr 21 -- Alpha starts

• May 3 -- Membership Course starts

• May 29 -- Members Meeting