The session projects a budget shortfall of $4000 for this year, due to the loss of two substantial givers in this budget year. We have been good stewards of the money you have given and have been joyfully using it for the glory of God here in Edmonds. This church has consistently given ten percent of all gifts to the general fund to local, national and international missions. That amount will total over $11,000 this year! We are truly a blessing to our community as these persons and agencies share God’s love with the world. If you would like to help offset this year’s budget deficit, a gift of $57 per member by the end of 2015 would help us break even as we start the new budget year.
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Our theme: “You have been treated generously, so live generously” (Matthew 10:8, the Message translation.)
Our reality: This year we have experienced decreased giving to the general fund. What are we doing? The session is working to enact cost savings, increase outside income, and prepare for potential budget cuts. Depending on the amount pledged for 2016, we may see a combination of the following cuts: a decrease in our 10% mission giving (to 8%), decreased office hours (12 instead of 16/week), sermons offered by church members instead of a guest pastor when our pastor is gone, and/or a cut in the Pastor position from ¾ time in the summer and full time the rest of the year, to ¾ time year-round. The cut in the pastor’s time would mean fewer office hours, less time spent on administrative tasks, and a decrease in the number of classes / studies led by the pastor. How can I help? You can help by prayerfully submitting your pledge for giving to the general fund for 2016. We can be good stewards of what God has given us if we know approximately what income to expect in the coming year. Where are the pledge cards? In the Sunday service bulletins November 8 & 22, also in the pew racks. A copy of the card is printed below if you would like to cut it out and send it in to the church office with your pledge. Greetings! This summer I have been doing some reading and thinking about the topic of stewardship. What comes to mind for you when you hear that word? I know for me, for many years, stewardship meant pledging money to the church. As many churches do, we have a stewardship drive and a stewardship Sunday. But stewardship actually means more than that. To be a good steward is to care for something on behalf of someone else. A steward may watch over someone’s home and yard while they are away for an extended period of time. They may be authorized to pay bills, to make repairs on behalf of the home owner. Jesus tells parables about honest and dishonest stewards, teaching his disciples that all we are and all we have belongs to God. We are each stewards of that great gift. During 2015-16 we will be looking at the many facets of stewardship. What does it mean to be good stewards of our physical body, mind and spirit? What does it mean to be good stewards of the corner of creation that is entrusted to our care? What does it mean to be good stewards of our time? And to begin, we are asking what it means to be good stewards of our choices. Here’s the dictionary definition of choice: choice (chois) n. the power, right, or liberty to choose. A number or variety from which to choose. To be human is to have choices. We choose how to use our time. We choose what to eat, what to wear, how to spend our money. We choose which friends and family to stay in touch with. We make hundreds of choices in a single day. God has given us the capacity to choose – and the responsibility to choose well. Some of our choices are easy or inconsequential. Do I drive I-5 or Highway 99? Do I have the turkey or the ham on my sandwich? Do I wear the yellow or the blue shirt? Other choices have longer lasting consequences. Do you remember, if you are married, the steps that led to the decision to marry the one you loved? Do you remember saying “yes” to a job offer? Do you remember the process of making a decision to move away from a place you called home? These far-reaching decisions deserve our best discernment, our best attention. They deserve to be made in light of God’s presence in our lives. It is these decisions that we bring before God in prayer, humbly seeking for help in making good choices. And it is those decisions that motivate us to ask others for their guidance and prayers, or to read the scriptures to help us discern God’s will for us in that situation. On September 13th we will explore this theme further during our Sunday worship. Come join us as we consider how the choices we make reflect and are informed by our faith in God. In Christ, Pastor Amy A quick reminder: While finishing the summer, the dog days of summer, and going into September, please remember your monthly pledge/offering. It can be easy to overlook while having enjoyed our beautiful Pacific Northwest summers. Our expenses do continue and EPC counts on your steadfastness of being good stewards of God's gifts to pay our bills promptly and in order. Thank you.
Look all around you! What a blessing we have been given! Look up and you’ll see a new roof over the fellowship hall and entry-way. Look down and you’ll see new flooring, a new walk-off mat by the front entrance and new carpet! This is possible by generous financial donations and by the gift of time & talent of people like Gay Hawkins, who did the woodworking for the chancel. Thank-you, Hawk! And thank-you to all who moved pews, emptied bookcases, stacked chairs – your assistance is very much appreciated. There are changes in store this summer for the physical plant of Edmonds Presbyterian Church! Thanks to generous donations over the past few years, we have been able to resurface the parking lot, upgrade our sanctuary lighting, replace the choir robes, purchase a new vocal microphone, and many more projects. This summer, there will be three major projects taking place: We will replace the windows on the East (garden) wall of the sanctuary, replace carpet and flooring in the sanctuary and hallways, and fix the Fellowship Hall & entryway roofs. Wow! We are blessed by the generosity of our members and the careful stewardship of our resources by the session elders. We are getting a LOT for our money! It is our goal that this building will serve the congregation in our mission and ministry to the community for many years to come.
Stewardship
Administration An updated picture directory is forthcoming. Phone numbers/Names directory is in need of revision again. If you have any additional or changed information please alert Tamara in church office. Be on lookout for updated versions of both coming soon from Church office. Finance EPC depends on you and your faithful giving to further God’s work through us. Thank you for your faithfulness to God and His mission for us with your cheerful and generous giving. We have received a little over half of our per capita, about $2063 of the $3450 that we are required to remit to the national Presbyterian church. Please note that if you have not paid your per capita, there is still time. $48.50 for each member does come out of the operating monies if you do not pay. Thank you for paying your per capita if you already Stewardship
To date we have received about $2063 in per capita, a bit over half of the $3,451 that we owe the Northwest Coast Presbytery. Yippee! We progress! Per capita is a set amount of money per member that congregations must pay to the larger national Presbyterian Church once a year. Please remember that your per capita of $48.60, if not paid, comes out of the operating expenses money, which then impacts our ability to further our church’s mission. Please remember to pay your per capita, as well as to honor your pledge. Thank you!! Finance Our pledges to this church are a vital part of furthering the business of Edmonds Presbyterian. With your honored commitment and dedication to the paying of your pledged amounts or even more, our church meets its expenses, from payroll to paying for utilities, taxes, and supplies and Mission. Being a part of Edmonds Presbyterian Church continues to be a privilege, which we hold dear because of our Christian fellowship, and worship and study of His Word that empower us to grow closer to God. We continue to dedicate ourselves to God, as we pay our chosen amount to further the work of our church. Thank you for all you do to further God’s work in and through each of us. Stewardship
To date we have received about $1,800 in per capita, a little over half of the $3,451 that we owe the Northwest Coast Presbytery. We are making progress. Per capita is a set amount of money per member that congregations must pay to the larger national Presbyterian Church once a year. Please remember that your per capita of $48.60, if not paid, comes out of the operating expenses money, which then impacts our ability to further our church’s mission. Please remember to pay your per capita, as well as to honor your pledge. Finance Our pledges to this church are a vital part of the business of our church. Without your honored commitment and dedication to the paying of your pledged amounts or even more, our church cannot meet its expenses, from payroll to paying for utilities. Being a part of Edmonds Presbyterian Church is a privilege which we hold dear because our Christian fellowship and worship enable us to grow and move closer to God. We continue to dedicate ourselves to God as we pay our chosen amount to further the work of our church. Thank you for all you do to further God’s work in and through us. Mission Statement
Edmonds Presbyterian Church is a caring community of faith in Christ Jesus our Lord. United in service, study and worship. Committed, through intentional action, to reach others with the love of God in Christ. Below is a description of our budget to provide a better understanding of where your giving goes in furthering the mission of this church. The online report shows percentages only. To see the full $ amounts, please refer to a hard copy of the report. Where the Funds Come From Offerings (pledges and free offering) 97% Miscellaneous Income (building usage, gifts) 2% Per Capita 1% How the Funds Are Spent Worship Ministry 35 % Our Pastor, Music Director, Music Instrumentalist, and choir provide worship ministries. This ministry is coordinated through the work of Pastor, Choir Director, Instrumentalist, and Worship elder, and are enhanced by our piano, digital piano, and facilities. The Administrative Assistant produces bulletins and other programs, as needed. Education Ministry 13% These ministries are provided by our Minister, Nursery Attendant, and others who give their time and talents to lead our people in education and Christian formation. The budget also funds youth activities. The educational ministries of our church are coordinated by the Minister and Christian Education elder. Caring for our Members 12% Ministries of care and fellowship are provided by our Pastor, Christian Education elder, Congregational Life elders, Board of Deacons, and church members who visit people in their homes, in hospital, and support our fellowship activities. Our Office Administrator provides staff support, with calls, cards, conversations, and listening. Our Board of Deacons coordinates care, and Congregational Life elders coordinate fellowship activities. Both of these are in coordination with the Pastor. Mission Ministries 12% Much of our ministry in this area centers on tithing God’s gifts of monies that we receive. Support for our overall mission ministry is channeled through gifts to several local, national, and international agencies of our church’s choosing. We open our building for use by others in the community, as well. Other designated gifts are forwarded as requested by their donors. The Minister, Missions elder, and our Administrative Assistant provide support. Outreach Ministries 5% We support and coordinate these ministries through our Outreach elder and through advertising. Our Minister provides staff support and guidance, along with the Administrative Assistant, who produces fliers and the Caller. Presbyterian Partnerships 7% Our connection to the larger church is funded through Per Capita, which underwrites the ecclesiastical needs that are provided through the larger church. The Minister, especially, who participates and conducts workshops for Presbytery and co-chairs the Presbytery’s Committee on Ministry, and elders of the church enhance these partnerships. Building and Grounds 13 % Our Building and Grounds elder and many others of our church help to maintain our facilities. These facilities allow EPC and others to worship God, to study, to gather for Christian fellowship, to grow in grace. Costs include building and grounds maintenance, utilities, janitorial services, insurance, telephone/internet, and security. Taxes and Administration 5% The Administrative Assistant tends to the “business of the church” through ensuring bills and payroll taxes are paid, and providing accurate and timely financial information to the Minister and Session. ______________________________ [As a clarification: within this budget narrative, the mission allocation is included within the “Mission Ministries” category. Within our budget planning, this allocation is subtracted from income and is NOT listed as an expense. In the format of this narrative, the mission allocation is counted as an expense and is not subtracted from income. Therefore, both the income and expense numbers here are larger than in our itemized draft budgets. Let me know if you have any comments.] If you have any questions about this information, please contact Elder Minna D. |
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