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November 2011
Dear Second Presbyterian Family,
Happy Anniversary. This fall marks the completion of my first year (+) with you. As far as I’m concerned, my call and attraction to this community of faith are stronger than ever! Thanks for your patience and encouragement and, as always, thanks for being such a talented and committed family of faith.
Over the past four seasons you have gotten to know me, and my respect and love for this community have deepened. It has been fun to watch children gather, study and support groups develop, seniors assemble (and nibble!), and successful service and mission projects reach out. Our $80,000 gift towards outfitting a new medical facility for children at Community LINC was one of the many highlights. After years of working hard and regaining solid footing, it’s fun to be at a place where we can gather our dreams and also make plans to accomplish them.
Currently our GPS (future planning) team is busy asking questions, looking at possibilities and running a spiritual audit on all the various programs and structures in the church. On Sunday, October 30, you heard a preview of their findings and in early 2012, Bill Tammeus and his team will present re-vitalizing, future-focused goals that will guide us into the next 3-5 years with intentionality. Some of the ideas will be practical and logical; some will be audacious and challenging. All of them will require a new level of buy-in from us - spiritually, temporally and fiscally.
In the days to come, the Stewardship Team, in conjunction with the various committees of the church, will be presenting a narrative budget to the congregation, explaining how the various ministry areas in the church are preparing for 2012. Here’s a sneak preview: We want to grow.
Ideally, we would love to add staff hours and positions to better support and expand our ministries. We would also love to improve our communication both within the church and to our neighborhood. Additionally, we would love to update our children and adult educational offerings, increase the welcoming nature of our wonderful facilities and get the church up to speed technologically. So far it’s looking like a $100,000 increase. And this is just the start…
In order to reach these dreams, the Stewardship Team is asking members of Second to run your own spiritual audit this fall as we all reflect on God’s question to us, “Where are you?” (Gen 3:9). How, where and why are you spending your time, gifts and resources? And could they be more intentionally focused on what God is doing in and through Second Presbyterian? We hope so.
As I mentioned Sunday, two large churches in southern Kansas City are seriously looking to invest resources in a new church plant in the Brookside area. God asks us, “Where are you?” Friends, we are in the middle of a mission field, and our best years are yet to come.
With gratitude and anticipation,
Paul
To consider: As our capital campaign ends, consider shifting a portion of the money you’ve become accustomed to giving for capital improvements towards the annual budget – the 2012 vision campaign.
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