I am writing to ask you to consider making an investment in the future of the Church by submitting a 2010 FOSNick Giving Estimate to St. Nicholas Church.

 

Since our establishment 14 years ago as a mission congregation of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington, St. Nicholas Church has dedicated itself to learning how to plant and grow congregations that move beyond the divisive polarities that dominate not only our own denomination, but the whole Church.

 

We have met with much success in this endeavor. Our congregation has grown from 12 initial households in 1995 to more than 150 today. We are growing not only in number, but in all forms of diversity, even theological. Having learned that UNITY is NOT UNIFORMITY, and that the only sufficient basis for Christian community is Christ's love, conservative and liberal Christians come together in worship, fellowship, and service, while openly engaging and appreciating each other's differences. 

 

And now we have gotten enough experience under our "belt" that we have begun to share what we have learned with our diocese and with the rest of the Church.

 

 

Perhaps the two most challenging transition in the life of any new congregation are:

Your help now, in the form of a one-year FOSNick Giving Estimate for 2010, could make all the difference for St. Nick's as we negotiate this second, critical transition.  Despite our best planning and preparatory efforts, we did not anticipate what the inordinately long delays (more than two years) in permitting would do to our growth, our energy, and ultimately to the $300,000 in funds we had budgeted as a post-occupancy growth reserve.  If our current rates of increase in membership and financial growth continue (25+ new households in 2009 and 15+ new Giving Estimates for 2010), we anticipate reentering positive cashflow by the end of 2010, and then turning our generosity back toward our diocese and the larger Church. 

 

To get to that point, we need to keep resources flowing to the programs and staff that stimulate and incorporate growth, including adding a third worship service (late morning) and a part-time staff person to coordinate our Sunday School and Youth Programs, all while continuing to make payments on our construction loan. Your one-time FOSNick Giving Estimate for 2010 could help make sure that happens. 

  

To submit a FOSNick Giving Estimate for 2010, click here.

 

To learn more about our 2010 Budget or our progress on our 2010 Giving Estimate Drive, click here.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.

 

Thank you for your time, your consideration, and your prayers, which we know are with us.

 

In Christ's love,