I enjoyed Fr. Dunbar's sermon today on modern magi: the physical scientist, the biologist, and the social scientist. Our church needs to find some of the things these magi found. They found things they did not know they had been looking for. So when our Church comes to us looking for answers to our current budget shortfall, let us hope that everyone's eyes are opened like our imaginary modern magi. When that happens, some eyes should pop open and see that maybe the whole church is not doing the best job of living the Gospel.
From where the pewster sits, the reason for the shortfall in December giving is due to the huge amount given in the "First Fruits" offering for the rebuilding fund. In addition, people may have not given all that they had pledged to the operating budget for 2007, but I hope that we the pew people are not painted as the bad guys. An ill timed capital funds drive probably is the culprit.
Did anyone hear Bobby put in his plug for alternative readings for the adult Sunday Schoolers who are slogging through "When Jesus went to Harvard?" Let us hope his pleas are heard. I don't know how that class has been able to stick with that book all these months.
Posts
For your Christmas Eve listening and dancing pleasure
-
Every year, I like to make a list of things to listen to on Christmas Eve
(and beyond). Here are some of my favorites:
1938 Charles Dickens' A Christmas...
50 minutes ago
While "First Fruits" may have had some impact on this December, it doesn't explain significant budget shortfalls three years in a row.
ReplyDeleteWhile York County is one of the fastest growing counties in SC, this parish has shown no growth for years. Our Average Sunday Attendance right now is exactly the same as it was in 1995.
It's been said that the only two ways Episcopalians can protest the absurdities coming from 815 is with their feet or their wallet. It appears the local crowd is doing both.
Not only are we having attendance stagnation, our sister parish St. Matthias is having trouble attracting people too.
ReplyDeleteInterestingly enough, the only orthodox parish in this county, Good Shepherd in York, has people hanging from the rafters. Attendance is up significantly in the last two years, they just completed a major construction project, and discussion is beginning on another construction project.
ReplyDeleteAre the current renovaton plans that we chose earlier perhaps too ambitious? Should we settle for just taking care of the structural issues, that may be better within our grasp, and leave the cosmetic bits for another time?
ReplyDeleteSomeone (who has been living under a rock) asked me yesterday where all that money (1.2 million) was going to go. After I explained, they said we should fix the roof and leave the peeling paneling alone since it has been present for at least 20 years. A very astute observation from this stone age person (probably related to the pewster but living in a different cave in Afganistan).
ReplyDeleteit will be interesting to see how the emergency meeting goes on sunday. wonder if we will get (again like last year) the push to give just a little bit more.
ReplyDeleteWhile you will no doubt hear calls for greater giving (like Congress, the answer is always more revenue, not less spending), this will not impact the budgetary shortfalls which the bishop and Standing Committee will be reviewing in two weeks.
ReplyDelete