Stewardship 2014-2015
"Opening New Doors...Changing Lives"
Dear Members and Friends,
This is an exciting time for Community Church. No matter where you look, the energy is incredible: inspiring Sunday services, our wonderful RE program, the SEA program continuing to engage and educate, our covenant groups strengthening connection, or our hard working social justice and service groups.
What makes this particularly amazing is that we have built this energy during a time of turmoil in the economy and in our own church. We weathered the economic downturn with some significant belt tightening and help from the congregation. We had no sooner adopted an ambitious strategic plan than our minister gave notice that she was leaving. Yet we have built our community with energy and enthusiasm, best marked by the out pouring of support for HK on J followed on the same day by an outstanding and successful auction.
During the last few years our pledging has remained essentially stagnant and dropped last year. This directly affects our fabulous staff; our hourly staff are paid rates which barely exceed Walmart’s and there has been no cost of living increase for our remaining staff for years. To honor our values we must increase the hourly rate of pay of our lowest paid staff, provide our salaried staff with a 1.5% COLA, and increase the amount of their health benefits that we pay from 65% to 80%.
This budget puts us in a position to have an exciting first year with our new settled minister, ready to move forward with our strategic Plan. To meet our goals we need to raise an additional $45,000 over last year’s pledging, or a 10.7% increase. Pledging last year was approximately $20,000 lower than the preceding year so we need to get back to this base and add $25,000. We know that not everyone can increase their pledge, but we ask everyone to dig deep, recognize how important this community is to each of us and give as much as you can.
It’s easy – pledge on line starting March 1 or come to Kick Off Sunday, March 16 and make your paper pledge on the spot. We must wrap this up by April 19. We need everyone to pledge generously and as early as possible.
Together we can do great things!
Mary Hulett
Board President
return to Stewardship page
This is an exciting time for Community Church. No matter where you look, the energy is incredible: inspiring Sunday services, our wonderful RE program, the SEA program continuing to engage and educate, our covenant groups strengthening connection, or our hard working social justice and service groups.
What makes this particularly amazing is that we have built this energy during a time of turmoil in the economy and in our own church. We weathered the economic downturn with some significant belt tightening and help from the congregation. We had no sooner adopted an ambitious strategic plan than our minister gave notice that she was leaving. Yet we have built our community with energy and enthusiasm, best marked by the out pouring of support for HK on J followed on the same day by an outstanding and successful auction.
During the last few years our pledging has remained essentially stagnant and dropped last year. This directly affects our fabulous staff; our hourly staff are paid rates which barely exceed Walmart’s and there has been no cost of living increase for our remaining staff for years. To honor our values we must increase the hourly rate of pay of our lowest paid staff, provide our salaried staff with a 1.5% COLA, and increase the amount of their health benefits that we pay from 65% to 80%.
This budget puts us in a position to have an exciting first year with our new settled minister, ready to move forward with our strategic Plan. To meet our goals we need to raise an additional $45,000 over last year’s pledging, or a 10.7% increase. Pledging last year was approximately $20,000 lower than the preceding year so we need to get back to this base and add $25,000. We know that not everyone can increase their pledge, but we ask everyone to dig deep, recognize how important this community is to each of us and give as much as you can.
It’s easy – pledge on line starting March 1 or come to Kick Off Sunday, March 16 and make your paper pledge on the spot. We must wrap this up by April 19. We need everyone to pledge generously and as early as possible.
Together we can do great things!
Mary Hulett
Board President
return to Stewardship page