| Unity of Tustin
How We Are Walking Through Times Of Change Together |
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August 26, 2010
Dear ,
Last month I sent you our second quarter 2010 financial statement and spoke to our deep desire to reverse our negative financial trend immediately. In response to that letter our July tithes increased by 5% and we received many wonderful divine ideas. These expressions of giving speak to our resilience as individuals and as a community as we navigate these times together.
Historically, July has been a difficult month with summer vacations but this year thanks to your giving tithing was up 14% from July 2009. This increase in offerings helped narrow our loss to $1,800 for July 2010. This brings our year-to-date deficit to $27,810.
In response to our financial situation, your Board has made some tough decisions regarding some staff salary decreases, adjustments in work responsibilities and work hours. These decisions are a part of an over-all staff re-organization plan that will be implemented over the next 6 months. This, obviously, will impact programming and what we provide as a church. Our plan does not include eliminating any positions at this time. Having made these decisions, we know that the changes are going to build on positive energies as we see our community in light and health. We are hopeful that with Adventure in Faith beginning in October we can turn around the financial deficit by the end of the year.
It is at this time that we are all required to step up and contribute to this sacred place. It will take all of our gifts (not just one or two people) to make the shift to a positive income trend. Our staff has risen to the call in many ways. In addition to Dr. Marj Britt taking a voluntary salary and time decrease, other members of our staff are stepping forward. Rev. Carolyne Mathlin has committed to doubling her tithe. Mary Jeanne Hawes, our Love in Action Director, has committed to coming in an extra day a week in selfless service. Meredith Van Steenwyk, our Bookstore Manager, has invested her own money for a couple of new bookstore product features, including a coffee bar, which many of you have suggested. How will you give more?
On behalf of your Board, I want to extend my blessings to all of our staff. We cannot pay you enough money for what you all bring to our community. Your continued alignment with Spirit blesses us as a community and that, at the same time, blesses you. Your actions really do "show us the way." Many thanks also to all selfless servers that make our community what it is.
God's currency is divine ideas. Once we receive the divine idea, it is up to us to put hands and feet to it. At Conscious Covenant recently, Marj invited the participants to go into the Silence and record any ideas that came to them from the Silence. One particular idea got the immediate go ahead from the Board to explore the options. The idea is to investigate putting solar panels on top of the sanctuary and classrooms. Putting solar panels on the sanctuary roof is a great symbol of our good use of the light of God shining. Plus, it would lower our monthly energy cost, which is currently several thousand dollars. Many thanks to Kathy Andrews (who happens to be an engineer) for saying yes to getting the bids and bringing this Divine Idea to greater clarity.
We know that our Unity of Tustin community's health is not just measured by financials but also by consciousness. We know that as we continue to make consciousness our focus, we will come into alignment with our highest potential and grow in consciousness and the 'right' numbers will be part of this. I invite all of us to enter into this sacred time in our church history with an open, giving, prayer-filled spirit. Together, we will continue to go higher and deeper into levels of awareness that are about living heaven on earth.
One with God,
Jeff
Treasurer, Board of Directors
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