Called to Be God’s Lighthouse
A Letter from the Chair of Church Council
Dear Members and Adherents of Islington United Church (IUC),
Thank you for your support of IUC; we are grateful for your many donations of time, talent and treasure. We are blessed with wonderful programs, amazing staff, fabulous lay leaders and a beautiful church home.
Further to my letter in February, I am writing you on behalf of Church Council to ask for you assistance with our Fresh Start request. In September 2008, we asked you to consider a nine percent increase in the last three months of the year to address our projected deficit of $35,000. I am delighted to share that with your generosity we eliminated much of the deficit, ending the year with a shortfall of just $11,761 – about one percent of our $1,028,835 budget for 2008. We are almost there – having a balanced budget without a deficit and we have much to celebrate.
We are asking if you would consider donating an additional $19.50 to IUC at this time. If each of us is able to do so the 2008 deficit of $11,761 will be gone and we will have a fresh start for 2009.
This Fresh Start request, similar to the request for Conference and Presbytery fees, enables us to plan for balanced budgets for 2009 and 2009/2010. (We are changing our fiscal year-end to June 30 beginning in 2009.) Executive Council and the Loaves & Fishes Committee have had a number of meetings from November to February to plan a balanced budget going forward: one which is financially prudent while enabling us to continue to be all that we are and have as an open and welcoming church with meaningful services and programs on Sundays and throughout the weeks ahead. The congregation approved the proposed budget on March 8, 2009. You will receive a copy of the approved Ministry & Financial Plan with your Easter LINK Newsletter.
We are grateful that committees have agreed to be flat-lined and help with fundraising where possible, and that our staff has willingly reorganized without Cathy Dilts’ position (Minister of Congregational Development). Please feel free to speak with a member of Church Council if you have questions, suggestions, and/or comments; your input and feedback are always welcome.
Please prayerfully consider this Fresh Start request, as well as the request for your Conference and Presbytery fees ($35.50 per member, including youth members) that were mailed to you in February. We realize that not everyone will be able to respond and we appreciate your generosity of time, talent and treasure, as you can. Mostly, we appreciate and request your prayers for IUC in 2009. Please pray for all who serve and worship here, that we may be the church that God calls us to be in 2009 and beyond.
With sincere thanks and Christian love,
Elsa van Vliet
Chair, Church Council
