Dear Friends:

It is the time of year that we are charged with the responsibility of setting the budget for 2008. As it is with businesses and even households, we must make next year’s projected budget based on the current year expenditures and expected increases. The budget items include the church building, parsonage, staff salaries, insurance, utilities, outreach ministries, and conference and district apportionments. We have worked this past year to see where we could become more fiscally responsible and have made headway by placing monies with the Methodist Foundation that affords us better interest on our monies deposited without the penalties of early withdrawals.

That being said, there are areas beyond our control where increases occur, such as insurance and utilities. While our church and parsonage belong to the conference, we the local congregants are responsible for the maintenance of our properties. We derive no financial assistance from the conference as a rule.

Presently we have approximately 24 pledging units/families from which our present budget is based. Due to the increases especially in our insurance and utility costs, we are facing greater financial needs. Just consider that if an additional 20 pledging units were to give $10.00 per month that would increase giving by $2400 a year. And if they were to pledge $10.00 per week, that could increase giving $10,400 a year. Just imagine what we could accomplish, as a church leading lives to Christ, if everyone participated.  Lives are being changed.  Just imagine what we can accomplish!

Your pledge remains anonymous and can be adjusted at any time throughout the year as your needs may change. A pledge just allows the Finance Committee to hopefully meet all of its fiscal responsibilities as it plans the church budget.

We want to express our thanks to those who have faithfully supported the church with your pledges, tithes, and gifts and pray for your continued support. We couldn’t maintain our responsibilities without your sincere generosity. To those who have not previously pledged, we ask you to prayerfully consider pledging. Pledging is investing in the life of the church which supports its many ministries.

During the Advent season we will be prayerfully asking you to consider making a pledge to the support of Algiers UMC. You will be given the opportunity to offer your pledge at the altar any Sunday in December.  You can pick up a card, at church, or just mail a slip to the office.  We thank you for your support and pray your lives are blessed.

In His Love,
The Finance Committee
Paul Clayton, Charlotte Hemard, Judy Manzella, George Wien, Donna Darling, Pastor Ray Varnado