
But if this is like most years, our income increases in the latter months of the year and we may well end the year in the black. So, if you are behind in your pledge, now is the time to catch up. If you have been thinking about a year-end gift, we’d appreciate your consideration of the church as a recipient for that giving. During November you will have an opportunity to indicate your planned giving for 2017 in the form of a pledge. These pledges will help the session determine the appropriate budget for 2017. If you anticipate NOT being able to give at the same level as in the past, please submit a card so that we know that and take that into consideration for our budget. If your financial situation has changed and you will be giving more next year, we’d love to know that as well. There are many ways that we give to support the church – and only one of those is financial.
I’d like give thanks for all the gifts the church receives during the year. Gifts of gardening, lawn mowing and weed-whacking. Gifts of building repair and upkeep. Gifts of musical talent, choral singing, instrumentalists and solos. Gifts of leadership on the session or deacons. Gifts of time with the children in the nursery or Sunday school. Gifts of money counting and purchasing of supplies. Gifts of leading worship and praying for the congregation. We are truly blessed by the many ways you give to the church. The theme for our stewardship campaign is the hymn, Great is Thy Faithfulness. There’s a line in the hymn that is worth remembering in this context: we give thanks to God for “strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow”. Great is God’s Faithfulness. Thank-you for your gifts.