Greg Seavers, our treasurer presented the budget for Church of the Incarnation 2011. Some financial highlights...
- We ended 2010 with greater than projected income and less than expected expenses (glad it was not the other way around :-)
- After 4 years we have now come off the Diocesan Grant and are paying our own way as a congregation and are poised to soon become a parish.
- Finances are tight but we move forward in faith believing God will provide for all our needs.
In my "State of the Mission" address I spoke regarding where we have been, where we are, why we are here and where we are going. In this I shared about why we are at Canterbury and a significant opportunity that exists for us to move the ministry of Canterbury forward through volunteering and serving in a variety of ways More on this in the days ahead.
I do want to encourage us as a congregation to engage in the ministry of Canterbury in two upcoming events. The First Friday with Dr. Carla Waterman February 4-5 and the Diocesan Men's Retreat with Dr. John Tolson February 11-13. (check the column on the left for details) These are amazing opportunities to grow in faith and love. If you have questions about these or other Canterbury programs please let me know.
I also reflected on the blessing Incarnation is and the wonderful partnership I feel with our clergy Pastor Robin, Deacon Dave and Deacon Dick, the staff and all who have joined in this effort to change the world and advance the Kingdom of God, one human heart at a time. I am most blessed in this calling!
Our Senior Warden, Jeff Woodside, thanked the outgoing vestry members: Mike Piercy, Junior Warden; Brad Crandell and Ed Ghiglieri. He also thanked the staff and all those who work behind the scenes to make the mission and ministry of Incarnation run smoothly.
In my sermon yesterday I spoke about The Call to Follow (you can listen on line CLICK HERE). Jesus is calling us into some amazing things and the whole world changes when we respond with YES to this call. In this call and the road we will walk there will be challenges and difficulty; successes and failures, encounters and sojourners, joy hope and peace; faith and love. In walking this calling we are guaranteed a few things...
- We become a light shining in the darkness of the world - helping others to see.
- There is blessing in each step - sometimes we do not realize it immediately but if we lean into Almighty God we will.
- We gain eternity in the end
- We are not alone - Jesus promises he will always be with us guiding, holding and bearing us in all things.
May we God find us faithful as we follow Him.
