2006 Stewardship
LIVING THE VISION
Last spring our congregation developed a new vision statement. We also redefined mission priorities in line with our sense of God's calling to us, and set goals we feel led to achieve in the years 2005 through 2008.
This year the stewardship committee invites you to join in Living the Vision. If we are to achieve the goals we as a congregation have set, our pledging will need to support the vision, mission and goals.
Our Vision
With Christ as our center, we are led by the Holy Spirit to be
A dynamic, interactive, innovative church,
Inspired to reach out to one another, to our community, and to the world.
Our Mission
We are, by God's grace, committed to:
* Building a thriving Christian fellowship and nurturing relationships through love, prayer, support and acceptance, while sustaining one another.
* Serving Christ in witness and mission by knowing and supporting the needs and interests of our members, our congregation, our community and the world.
* Pursuing the lost, welcoming visitors, and offering compassion to those in need
* Nurturing growth in personal faith, biblical understanding, and spiritual gifts.
Statements to make one proud.
Statements of a healthy Christ- centered congregation. Let me ask, however, did we mean it when we made these lofty statements?
Now is the time for all of us to show that these are statements that we believe. More than just words that look good. More than words that impress visitors.
To achieve our mission and to accomplish the goals we have set, we need your support.
Our basic expenses go up each and every year. For the past two years we have operated on an "austerity budget". We gave our staff and pastors minimum cost of living increases. We balanced the budget only because we discontinued the paid family life ministry that gave so much to our parish through Molly Dykstra, Janet Leighninger and other talented leaders.
Following the noble vision and mission statements, we set a number of goals "” things to accomplish over the next three years. Not one of them says, "Just keep things going." "Just pay the bills." "Don't expand programs." Or other such pessimistic proclamations.
We said things like:
* Keep our youth coming to and participating in church beyond confirmation.
* Reestablish the children and family life ministry.
* Find out why previously active members aren't participating and remedy the situation.
* ... and 9 other noble goals
None of the goals we set will be realized without stewardship: stewardship of money, time, commitment and effort. It's time to "Step Up." It's time for everyone to pledge. We need to show that we are the healthy vibrant congregation that we claim we are in our statements. We need to answer God's call to us to be that church.
When the pledge cards come in the mail, you will see a "step up chart", showing the categories of what people gave last year and the amount that certain groups give as a percent of the annual budget. For the new year we will ask that everyone consider increasing the amount of their pledge, and that everyone pledge. Let's show that we mean to Live the Vision God has set before us, that we believe our mission is to be a thriving Christian fellowship which nurtures, supports, witnesses, welcomes, and sustains each other, our church, and our community and our world, God's world.
Please be one of the leaders that help our congregation ...
Live the Vision.
Yours in Christ
Larry Merla
2006 Stewardship Chair
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