A Guest Pondering by Chris Nelson, FoC Council President
Friends,
Last weekend I had the opportunity to share a brief financial update with those who attended our three services and am very grateful for your attention during our coveted worship together. I wish to share those same thoughts in this week's Pondering in case you were not with us last Sunday or simply want to review again our financial position as of August 31st. Let me emphasize how grateful I am for your trust and support of staff and our various leadership teams as we continue to do our best being faithful stewards of the gifts you have bestowed onto God's ministries here at FoC.
So where are we financially? For the calendar year 2016, we approved a spending budget that reflects our commitment to continued investment in our local and global ministries. So far this year we have stayed within our spending budget. Through August, our expenses totaled $544,000 which is $22,000 less than budgeted. The income side of the equation, however, has fallen behind during the late summer months. So far this year, we have received $483,000 in contributions, which is $61,000 less than what we've spent. Historically we've had similar deficits like this through the summer and into the fall months, so this is not terribly "out-of-the-ordinary". However, even with our history of summer deficits, I feel it is important for everyone to know where we stand YTD as we move into the last quarter of the year. I prayerfully ask that each of us consider being a bold part of our resurgence back to strong positive cash flow and that each of us do what we can to either catch-up on your pledge, give beyond your pledge, or perhaps make your first financial gift to FoC. We are all in this together!
Our responsibility to look ahead and continue our investment in local and global ministries is very important and unending. Our commitment to this investment ranges from our successful boiler campaign and supporting church operations, to Seeds of Hope, to ELCA Outreach Mission. In the most recent 2016 ELCA publication "Stories of Faith in Action", our presiding Bishop Rev. Elizabeth Eaton speaks of how important our connection to each other is and how we collectively create a greater good that cannot be matched as individuals or single congregations. She says, "As a member of the ELCA you are part of a much larger story. You are connected with our 9,300 congregations, 65 synods and one church wide organization. Your church is connected globally to 72 million Lutherans through its membership in The Lutheran World Federation. We are church - together!"
We are a Family of Christ - together. It is this togetherness and sense of community that calls each of us to chip in financially and together, we accomplish God's work with our hands. Thank you for your trusting and faithful generosity and thank you for participating in the ministries at FoC. May God's peace be with you!
- Chris
