Dear Parish,
With God’s blessings, 2022 saw Holy Trinity return from the challenges of the past years to a new season of opportunities. Formation and fellowship are growing—group bible study has returned and we’ve had engaging Forums. The Point and Men’s Group have given us new opportunities to connect as a community. As part of our Advent preparation, we must plan carefully to continue our momentum.
Every year, hundreds of churches go through the process of pledging as they seek to plan for the year ahead and anticipate the needs that will arise. This is true for Holy Trinity. We look back at how last year’s budget actually played out, including planned and unplanned expenses that have contributed to the financial status of the church. We planned for the salaries of the employees. We planned for lights to be on, heaters to run, taxes and insurances to be paid, bathrooms to be stocked and the property to be maintained. What we didn’t plan for this year was skyrocketing costs—the cost of heating and cooling the building and the effects of inflation on prices of everything from copier paper to items for the bathrooms and liturgical items for services. In addition, there are other unexpected costs that arise—appliances break, as our refrigerator did this year. Our beautiful old church requires constant TLC including significant dry rot repairs this past year. Thankfully, we will be able to cover most of those unplanned costs by using about $15,000 of our Reserve Fund to make up the difference for this year.
The Treasurer and Vestry are working to complete our 2023 budget by the end of December and we are anticipating additional cost increases and are trying to plan accordingly.
Where We Are Today
Currently, our 2023 pledge numbers are at 37 pledges for a total of $136, 200. This to balance against a projected budget of $245,000 for 2023. The costs associated with operating Holy Trinity are salaries and benefits along with other mandatory costs like PG&E, phone, internet, water, sewer, liability insurance, property taxes and other supplies. There are some things that become negotiable and can be adjusted if giving doesn’t match the budget goals, but not by much.
Currently, our pledging shows a $109,000 shortfall.
Some have made your pledge and we are thankful for that.
Some have yet to make your pledge and we look forward to adding your pledge to the budgeting process.
Others do not pledge, but you do give regularly.
Some don’t pledge, nor do you give to Holy Trinity to support it financially.
In these lean times we are asking for you to reconsider your level of support so that we may faithfully steward our church and ministries.
If you give without pledging, we are asking that you consider making a formal pledge so that we might better plan.
If you do not pledge or give financially, we ask that you prayerfully consider beginning this part of your faith journey and give financially to the needs of Holy Trinity.
To pledge, or to update your current pledge, please pick up a pledge card in a pew or from a greeter. You can also visit our online pledge card page. All pledges and giving amounts are confidential to only our Treasurer.
Beyond “Keeping the Lights On”
As you have heard from our Buildings and Grounds Team, we are blessed to gather in a historic and beautiful building. But a building that provides a constant pull at our resources to be maintained. We have committed to spend money from our Endowment Fund to repair significant issues with the roof over the non-sanctuary part of our structure and will replenish those funds with a capital campaign next year. We hope everyone can plan to contribute to that effort in 2023 as well.
Thank you for your continued support,
brad+
2 Corinthians 9:6-8
Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.