Happy New Year! Now that 2011 is officially "in the books", I want to give you an update of how we finished the year financially. Our 2011 annual operating budget was approximately $662,000. We projected an income of approximately $650,000. At the end of the year, we ended up with a small deficit of $2,732 on income of $630,776 and expenses of $633,508. These numbers do not include your faithful giving to the Building For the Future fund.

            For 2012, we have been blessed to receive 179 pledges totaling approximately $560,000 for our operating budget. Of those 179 pledges, an amazing 44% increased their pledges over 2011. In addition, we received 22 new pledges for 2012. We will use these pledges combined with unpledged/loose offerings and other income to fund a 2012 operating budget of $676,000. I continue to be humbled by how faithfully you financially support our church's ministry efforts.

In closing, I would like to leave you with the verses from Colossians (2: 6-7) that are the theme of the Stewardship season this year.

My counsel for you is simple and straightforward: Just go ahead with what you've been given. You received Christ Jesus, the Master; now live him. You're deeply rooted in him. You're well constructed upon him. You know your way around the faith. Now do what you've been taught. School's out; quit studying the subject and start living it! And let your living spill over into thanksgiving.

Thank you for all you do in the life of our church. Thank you for living Christ. Thank you for being faithful stewards.