“May you live in interesting times!”

These are the words of an ancient Chinese blessing and curse.

Well, at St. Nick's we've definitely been living in interesting times for the last year.

On the blessing side, we completed and dedicated our new building, then we moved in and started growing. We have added close to 90 people in the last 12 months. We're still feeling our way through how best to both encourage and accommodate the growth. It looks we may be adding second morning service sometime this spring.

On the curse side, we are still running to catch up: to get the building outfitted, to figure out the best uses of our multi-purpose space, and (the biggest nail-biter of all, especially for our Treasurer) to grow our income enough by the end of 2010 to catch up with the increased costs that arise from having our own building to pay for.

Yes, there is a gap between income and expenses in the 2010 Budget. We've always known that it would take 18-24 months after occupancy for natural growth to carry us into the black. We budgeted for it. And we were and are making good progress: the shortfall projected in the 2010 budget is significantly less than the shortfall that was projected in the 2009 budget. But as they say, "Life is what happens when you're making other plans," and two years of permitting delays and the worst economic meltdown since the Great Depression ate up the last of our carefully budgeted reserves. Even so, God willing and with your generosity, we hope that by the end of 2010 our income will finally equal our expenses on a monthly basis. And in the meantime, though they can't do it forever, our Diocese has been helping us bridge the gap.

That is why -- despite the interesting time both the country and St. Nick's are living through -- we are determined not to worry. Instead, we are focusing on doing the right things for the right reasons -- reaching out into our community, welcoming newcomers, working on making sure that every one of us engaged in the work God has given each of us (and all of us) to do -- and let the rest take its course.

Of course, you can decide if we can get there faster. It's not outside the realm of possibilities: 23 new giving estimates at the current average of $65 per week, or 46 new giving estimates at half the current weekly average, a 20% increase in everyone giving estimate, or some combination thereof. We will leave that issue to your prayerful consideration.

But the really important question is not how much the church needs to make its budget or how much your family budget can spare. Rather, the question is: "How is God calling you to give of yourself?" And even then, the money question is not as important as the question of personal engagement. If we ask God what God wants us to do and to be... and then ask God to help us to do it and to be it, the rest will fall into place.

This Sunday, November 22, we will begin accepting Giving Estimates for 2010. But before you complete yours and turn it in, take some time to think it through. If you'd like a place to start, click here for a page with links to information that you may find helpful.  Then prayerfully ask yourself what is calling you to be and to do. After that, it's all up to you.

In Christ's love,
Ken +

Please Note: The official "commitment" part of the Engage 2010 -- the part where current attenders turn in their 2010 Giving Estimates -- lasts from November 22 (Reign of Christ/Christ the King Sunday) through December 6 (St. Nicholas Sunday), at which time we ask God's blessing on the estimates of time, talent, and treasure we have received.  Of course, new members may turn in a Giving Estimate wheneve they are ready, as may current members if changing circumstances make desirable a changed estimate (either a reduction or an increase).