Dear Cornerstone Family,
Today we take time in service to celebrate the 14th anniversary of Cornerstone Presbyterian Church. On November 20, 2011, Cornerstone was received as a member church of the Presbyterian Church in America. Since that time, the Lord has blessed and grown this congregation far beyond anything I could have imagined.
As we remember God’s faithfulness and give thanks, I’d like to take a moment of personal privilege to say it’s one of the great joys of my life to be your pastor. Your patience in bearing with me, your embrace of the ministry, and your steadfast commitment to the mission of the church is a powerful testament to the Spirit’s work among us. Truly, it is a gift to call Cornerstone my church home and you my church family.
As we give thanks for fourteen years of God’s lavish care and provision, it is also appropriate to share with you where we stand financially as we approach the end of the calendar year.
First, thank you! Your regular and sacrificial giving enables everything we do—from weekly worship and discipleship to mercy ministries and missions. Humanly speaking, the church could not exist without your generosity, and the Lord continues to meet our needs through your faithfulness.
Second, here is where we are:
· We are 12% below projected giving for the fiscal year.
· By careful stewardship, we are 10% below projected expenses.
· Historically, nearly a quarter of our annual giving comes in November and December.
· Because of the current deficit, we need to receive approximately 30% of our annual budget—$605,000—between now and December 31 to remain on track.
We believe the Lord, who has been faithful for fourteen years, will continue to provide for our needs. We are earnestly praying that the current financial gap closes over these final weeks of the year.
On that note, let me encourage you to continue (or begin!) giving faithfully to the work of the church. In addition, as you plan end-of-the-year giving, please consider a special year-end gift to help us overcome the current deficit and finish the year in a strong position financially. If you have questions about giving in non-traditional ways such as appreciated stocks, mutual funds, a qualified charitable donation, or some other means, please contact our bookkeeper, Tammy McCoy, at bookkeeper@cstonepres.org.
Let’s press forward together in cheerful, hope-filled giving as we enter year fifteen of gospel ministry at Cornerstone.
Your servant,
