2009 Treasurer’s News: Financial Figures for 9 months ending Oct. 31st, 2009

As was presented recently at the Special Vestry Meeting our historical givings pattern at St. Anne’s has always been that we have several months in a row where we fall just short of our budget and then at certain times of the year we traditionally make up this shortfall. This year is proving to be no different, with the exception that we currently have a larger deficit to make up than usual.

Weekly Givings Report:
Parish Givings at Oct 18, 2009                            $124,624.00
Parish Givings at Oct 25, 2009  $      4,370.00  $128,994.00
Vestry Budget at Oct 31, 2009                            $147,276.00
Short Fall                                                                 ($18,282.00)

2009 Apportionment Total Due                             $36,043.00
2009 Apportionment Paid to Date                          $9,168.00
As we also pointed out in the Special Vestry Presentation, when we have a shortfall in our monthly givings, we inevitably have a similar shortfall in our apportionment payments. It is no coincidence that the amount we are short on accumulated givings is so close to the amount we are short on apportionment. Your wardens, Rector and treasurers are appealing to all parishioners to first help us to make up this shortfall over the next three months, and secondly to help us work towards a more stable monthly income through increased givings and automated bank withdrawal payments.

2010 Church Envelopes
For St. Anne’s parishioners who presently hold church envelopes, the 2010 ones will be available in the Parish Hall after both services every Sunday beginning Nov. 29th and up to and including Jan. 3, 2010.

Any new parishioners or present ones who would like envelopes please make your request known to the envelope secretary, Griff, in the hall at the above times or phone and your envelopes will be available the following Sunday.

Pre-Authorized or Credit Card Giving
For those wishing to make use of Pre-Authorized Giving or Credit Card Giving, you now have three options to choose from for your bank deduction.  The Diocese office now gives you the choice of any one or two of the following dates which are the 10th, 21st, or 25th of the month.  If you are currently making use of the Pre-Authorized Giving or Credit Card Giving systems and wish to change your bank option or perhaps you wish to take advantage of one of these options, please contact the Envelope Secretary, Griff and the necessary form will be supplied.

Warden’s update regarding Christmas Offerings
Dear Parishioners
This year we will be using the same two-envelope system as we have in the past. This will help to clarify where your offering goes when it is put in either of these envelopes.  This system is used to clearly define your Christmas gift to the church and your gift to our active clergy, Rev. Canon Janet and Rev. Ken.

Any monetary donations made to the clergy are not tax deductible, as this represents a gift from you to the clergy; however the donations directed to the church are tax deductible.  The clergy donations will go to support the clergy in the form of a Christmas bonus.  You do not need to indicate your envelope number on clergy gifts but we ask that you please indicate your name and regular envelope number when using the envelope directed to the church.  The Christmas offering to the church and any loose change in the collection plates will continue to support the operation of St. Anne’s Anglican Church.  The clergy donations this year will be shared by Reverend Canon Janet Lynall, and Reverend Deacon Ken Brooks. 

The Rector’s Christmas letter and the Givings envelopes will be ready for pickup November 29th (First Sunday of Advent) at the back of the church.  Those not picked up by the Second Sunday of Advent Dec. 6th will be mailed the following week.  Additional envelopes for clergy or church are available now through the office. 

We would like to thank you for your continued support throughout this past year.  Your support of the various activities in the parish like the Western Fair, the ACW Bazaar and other events are very much appreciated.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!  May your families have a Very Safe and Happy Holiday.
Serving you in Christ, your wardens:
Peter, Rob, Nancy and Paul

Stewardship Prayers for families to say together:
Dear Jesus, I thank you for everything You have given me. My gifts of time and talents are precious gifts, enable me to use them to do Your will. I offer you this day all my words, actions and good intentions to reflect my love for You and my neighbour. Please help me realize that I need to share these gifts and all my gifts with the Church and others, help me to be generous, patient, forgiving and holy.
Amen

O God, I resolve to put You first in my life.
I recognize that You have blessed me with all that I have and all that I am.
As your steward, I resolve to sacrifice when necessary but always to do so out of a spirit of sincere love, just as your Son, Jesus, did for me.
I humbly accept the challenge to share from my means rather than from my excess.
I recognize that being a good steward is nothing more than being truly Christian.
Dear God, I resolve, to be generous with my time, talent and treasure, giving in proportion to the gifts I have been given.
I commit myself to taking care of my body and all creation.
I know there will be times when I will fail to be a good steward, but I pledge to keep on trying.
I will confidently live each day with a spirit of true peace and joy in knowing that I am doing your will. 
Amen

It is exciting to announce to St. Anne’s that we have officially formed our new Stewardship Committee as directed by Vestry 2009. Membership includes parish council members Sherry, Paul, Steve and Rector’s Warden, Rob. 

Message from the Treasurer -  2009 Church Envelopes
Any new parishioners or present ones who would like envelopes please make your request known to the envelope secretary, Griff, in the hall at the above times or phone and your envelopes will be available the following Sunday.

Stewardship and You (April/May 2009)
Is it a good idea to talk about stewardship in tough economic times? Absolutely!

Christ's love compels us" says the Apostle Paul in 2 Corinthians 5:14. God doesn't need our possessions. "The earth is the Lord's, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it" (Psalm 24:1). God wants our devotion. "Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength" (Deut 6:5). Putting God first, trusting His path for us, means everything in our lives, including our money, will reflect our total dedication to God.

Each week in worship services or by mail or pre-authorized giving, members bring their thank offerings to the Lord,. These offerings are the primary way in which mission is carried out at St. Anne’s. Right now our givings are short of what we pledged as the parish family of St. Anne’s at Vestry 2009 to give. Included in this newsletter is an Easter envelope to give you the opportunity to offer a gracious gift to God. A financial statement of how our gifts are matching up against our spending is included in the hard copy of the newsletter. Together, let’s turn this around!