If you were not able to attend, all of the presentation materials are on the St. Mark's website on the Pledging and Finances page.  Included are the slides from our presentation, as well as four handouts: the 2015 St. Mark's Budget as approved by the Vestry; a financial summary of the Designated Funds, which contain money that has been given for specific purposes; the 2014 year-end report of our Endowment Funds; and a financial summary of the Vision 2020 Capital Campaign project to renovate and expand our Parish Hall buildings.I urge each of you to review these materials carefully.  But here are the key takeaways from our presentation.  First, our operating expenses for 2014 came in exactly on budget, but our income fell short of expectations, due almost entirely to a very unusual underpayment of pledges.  The result was a $93,000 deficit.  We are able to operate despite that deficit by "borrowing from ourselves," as explained in the slides. 

Second, the Vestry has approved a 2015 budget that is balanced, but which contains several new costs, mostly related to the new building (utilities and insurance) and the Rector search.  We were able to balance the budget by virtue of the savings from not paying an Interim Rector or a new Youth and Family Ministries leader until they are hired in the spring, and by making small cuts to 14 parish accounts.

Third, we have real challenges ahead, particularly in 2016, when we expect to be fully staffed.  Our expenses are outpacing our income, and our pledge base has remained flat for several years after growing steadily prior to our V2020 Capital Campaign. 

Fourth, we discussed how to address the challenges.  In addition to continuing to attract new members and generating more income from our new space, we also need to reinvigorate our annual Canvass, when we ask members to make a financial pledge for the coming year.  We plan to do that by implementing a year-round Stewardship effort that will culminate in the fall with an "every member canvass" - a face-to-face effort that we hope will increase enthusiasm for giving while building community at the same time.  There were many creative ideas offered about this during the Q&A period, and I plan to convene a group to begin planning in April.  If you'd like to be part of that effort, please contact me at stmarksstewardship2015@gmail.com.

Finally, we asked everyone to consider whether they can increase their current pledge, even by a little bit.  Is there anything you can give up in order to give a little more to St. Mark's this year?  If so, please consider increasing your pledge by informing Susan Block, the Parish Administrator for Finances and Membership.  As inspiration, I might also encourage you to read the sermon that our outgoing Senior Warden, Grady Hedgespeth, gave last Sunday.  In it he gave a very powerful and personal testimony regarding the difference our St. Mark's community has, and is, making in his life.

While our presentation was direct about some of the challenges we face, it is important to remember that St. Mark's remains one of the largest and financially strongest parishes in the Diocese of Washington.  Moreover, our community pledged nearly $3 million to the Vision 2020 Capital Campaign, a staggering sum that clearly demonstrates that there is both enthusiasm and willingness to support St. Mark's financially.  We can and will build on that in the year ahead!

If even a portion of that one-time support translates into ongoing support of our operating needs, and we continue to expand our membership base, then we can face into the future confident that we will have the wherewithal to be the faithful community we are called to be.    

Prelude

Aus der Tiefe rufe ich (Out of the depths I cry, Lord, to thee), C.P.E Bach (1714-1788)

Opening Hymn

150 Forty days and forty nights, Aus der Tiefe rufe ich

Kyrie

after Alexander Archangelsky, arranged by Richard Proulx

Psalm 19  

Caeli enarrant

Offertory Anthem

I Will Arise and Go to Jesus - Traditional American, setting by Cary Ratcliff - Chancel Choir

Presentation Hymn

 313, v. 4, Jesu, meine Zuversicht

Sanctus

Russian Orthodox Tone 1, arr. Richard Proulx

Fraction Anthem

Agnus Dei after Alexander Archangelsky, arranged by Richard Proulx

Music During Communion

LEVAS 203 There Is a Balm in Gilead, American Melody, arr. Carl Haywood

Hymn 148 Creator of the earth and skies, Uffingham

Closing Hymn

495 Hail, thou once despised Jesus!, In Babilone

Postlude

Allegro from Vivaldi's Concerto in E minor, RV 275, arr. Johann Gottfried Walther (1684-1748)