GOOD TIDINGS

The Weekly Newsletter for Park Road Baptist Church

December 27, 2023

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Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from your PRBC Church Staff!

I have not missed it, that year-end round up… “Are we there yet? Are we going to make it? How much more do we need? Do we send the phone tree message? Do we need to send a postcard? Do we mention it from the pulpit, again?”

Did I say, I have not missed it!?

For most of our years, that low grade anxiety mingled with all the joys of the Christmas season. In 23 years, we have only failed to cover our expenses two times. One of those was in 2008, the nation on the precipice of another great recession.

The last few years many churches have struggled. Covid accelerated the decline that has been coming slowly, and many churches just failed to thrive. The opposite has been true here. In fact, the last three have been the best, strongest financial finishes we have had since 2000. We have not sent a single phone call, not had to gather the leadership, wringing our hands, and not had to wonder what to do.

One winter stays with me. Amy and I had enjoyed the good fortune of taking our boys to Colorado for a few days on the slopes. When we left, we were “not there yet.” There was an update from the finance office when we landed in Denver. Another the next morning before we hit the slopes. A day later, the last day of the year, I remember sitting at a picnic table, one of those glorious, mountaintop restaurants. Taking a break carving turns, and enjoying, as much as you can enjoy a $15 resort hamburger, when the phone rang again. “We made it!” Of course. It was the Good News we wanted to hear. But I have not minded waiting on those calls the last three years.

However, Allison Wieland did stick her head in my door one day last week to say, “I know we’re trying not to talk about pledges for next year during the advent season… but, you might want to say a word about this year!”

We are not there yet. Looking a little more closely at anticipated expenses these last two weeks and anticipated income, we think we will be fine, but it may be worth reminding us all… We need to be faithful.

Not only have the last few years been incredible in terms of our annual ministry plan, but the generosity just keeps showing up. We just received a $10,000 legacy gift and have been notified of the $100,000 legacy gift I wrote about recently. We’ve also received a $35,000 undesignated gift, and just yesterday a $10,000 gift to be applied to missions. We have had extra gifts for our Honduran family. Another generous donation is in the works for a special project this spring, that you will learn more about in the future. All of that is just amazing - the sign of a healthy congregation.

Some of that also tracks with patterns of giving these days: the experts tell us people give more to special projects, than to general budgets. But maybe we should think of our annual ministry plan, our church budget, as a special project. There’s so much good stuff happening. Maybe you could consider it a “special gift,” just to help us.

I have not minded not needing to send this message. I hope we’re not going back there!

Thank you for being found faithful for 2023 and 2024! - Russ

Sunday Nursery Holiday Offerings

Parents and Caregivers please note that our Sunday Morning Nursery will be provided for Worship time only on Sunday Morning, December 24 and December 31.

For our Candlelight Christmas Eve evening service, no nursery will be available. However, all children are welcome to attend the service with their parents.

“Carols and Communion” Worship on December 31

In our last service of the year, we will still be decorated for the season, so we will gather to sing many of your Christmas carols, and we will share communion together. Of course, you are always welcome to “come as you are,” but this service will be more casual – no robes for the ministers and a solo instead of a choir. This will be a wonderful way to end the year together.

First Wednesday and Town Hall - January 3

On January 3, we will host a Town Hall as the program for “First Wednesday.” (Email by Tuesday, January 2 noon, to make a reservation for dinner the following night: info@ParkRoadBaptist.org. Our Ministry Council has started the process of rejuvenating our Action Teams. What are Action Teams? How is our Ministry Council structured? How can I get involved? What if there’s not an Action Team that matches my passion? We will try to answer all those questions and more. Our goal is to arrive at our January 28 “State of the Church” annual meeting with a revised list of Action Teams – and to give you a chance to sign up. Please make plans now to attend.