LONGER VERSION:
1. Would you be willing to pledge to next year’s ministry? We need to raise approximately $215,000 between congregational giving and building use in 2023. Please prayerfully consider what you are able to contribute, and pledge online here or send in the attached form to the office. A reminder: We can always give more than we pledge, or adjust our pledge if our financial circumstances change.
2. Are you willing to raise your giving amount for 2023? In order to meet 2023 expenses, we need to step up to the plate, each of us, financially. We are looking to increase salaries for all three staff (pending a congregational vote for the Pastor in January), and word is that utility costs, especially gas for heating, are going up.
We have been covering the $1,300 difference between expenses and income from the capital campaign fund. But we want to use that fund for the fun and needed changes to the first floor. Can we each give a bit more to help balance the budget, and take care of the increases coming next year in salary and utilities?
Our giving is currently $11,000 a month. We’ve had a monthly deficit this year of approx. $1,300, and we are estimating expenses will go up approx. 10% next year. For 2023, we would like giving to be $13,530 a month. That’s an increase of $2,530 per month, shared among us all.
At the congregational meeting Lisa Larges said, “If costs are going up 10%, I can decide I can give 10% more, and if all of us do that, it will take care of it.” Or we might give 20% to help cover someone who can’t give 10% more than they already do. We are all in this together – we ARE the church!
What does our giving currently look like? The chart shows, on the Y axis, the total $ given by mid-October. The X axis represents each “giving unit” (aka. individual or family).
3 - If you have automatic giving set up, could you log in now and update your monthly giving to reflect your pledge for 2023? This is both to update to your new pledge amount and also to be sure the categories are accurate. Many of us set up automatic payments while the capital campaign was fundraising for the basement construction, and the Lisa Larges Congregational Care Fund gifts were going to the Raineys. Both funds still exist - money can still be given to capital campaign for building changes and the Congregational Care fund is still there to help people in our congregation with needs that arise, but these two funds are no longer designated for basement construction or the Rainey family. So please reassess where you want your giving to go. Building maintenance giving is always helpful, but primarily, we need more general budget giving for the staff, worship and shared ministry of the congregation.
4- Are you willing to pay per capita now so you don’t forget? The per person portion the congregation pays for our shared ministry with the denomination and our presbytery is $36.50 per member. LNPC pays the full amount no matter what, so if we each pay our own, that’s around $2000 that goes back into the budget for ministry through LNPC. (In 2022, members paid $1400 of the $2000). Why not pay your per capita now online?
Thanks, LNPC, for all the ways you participate in the ministry of God in and through LNPC!
Blessings,
Pastor Kara, Pastor Lisa
and Session: Sue G, Amy L, Jason D, Brian R, Rachel F, Andrea D.
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SUPER LONG EXTRA BONUS DETAIL VERSION
For for those who want even more details:
Snapshot of finances, October 2022:
We began 2022 with about $46K in undesignated funds in our bank. We now have about $35K. Our giving and expenses have averaged, per month in 2022 (there are other bits-and-pieces, but these are the biggies):
Giving from members and friends $ 11,000
Mandala lease $ 3,150
FRNNG rent $ 450
Expenses:
Administration (office/utilities/building maintenance) ( $ 6,700)
Salaries (including pension/medical for Kara, and SS/Medicare for everyone else) ( $10,600)
NET monthly deficit ( $ 2,700)
We have been the grateful recipient of $10,000 grants annually from Westminster Church, Minneapolis. This has offset about half of the deficit. The rest is reflected in the reduction in our bank balance.
We also have two loans outstanding, for the roof ($500/month) and for the renovation ($2,200/month). We have used donations given specifically for the Roof Loan, and to the Building Maintenance Fund, and tithe allocations from our congregational giving, to make those payments.
What do we need Giving to be in 2023?
Factoring in the deficit and the 10% increase in expenses, for 2023, we’d like giving giving to be $13,530. That’s an increase of $2,530 per month, shared among us all.
Budget:
To see this year’s budget, go to our website under “stewardship.” Next year’s budget will be posted there as soon as it is approved by session (will be similar, with the addition of the increases already mentioned here).
Wow! You’re a real details and numbers person!
Have you considered being the Treasurer?
Talk to a member of session to find out more!
Blessings,
Pastor Kara, Pastor Lisa
and Session: Sue G, Amy L, Jason D, Brian R, Rachel F, Andrea D.
