news.zionbuffalo.org

You may have noticed yesterday that the weekly bulletin no longer includes a summary of Zion’s financial status. We are experimenting with new ways to more effectively communicate the financial information you have found there in the past. This and additional information will now be:

• Sent out with quarterly giving statements
• Printed in the monthly newsletter
• Available by phone, email or in print from the office

Several concerns have been raised recently that have led to this effort to communicate in new, more effective ways. There is not enough space in the bulletin to accurately reflect the whole financial picture of our congregation and offer some interpretation of what the numbers mean.

If you are interested in receiving financial updates on a weekly basis, please subscribe to the email list.

Watch the website and bulletin for additional information.

Zion’s kitchen pantry is in need of 2 upright freezers to replace the large freezer chest. If anyone has one or two they could donate, it would be a huge blessing for those who work in the kitchen on a regular basis. Please contact the church office at 682-1245. Thanks!

The church council and committees don’t directly use the pledges to calculate our budget.  Pledges only give a vague idea of giving in the year to come, because only 40-50% of our contributions come from those who have not pledged.  So the question remains, why should I bother to turn in a commitment card?

First, be assured that each financial commitment to the church is confidential (only the Financial Secretary compiles the information).  One important reason to pledge is to encourage our neighbors to follow our example.  It’s always more encouraging to make any contribution when you know you’re not alone and there’s a community supporting you. But most importantly, when we decide to make a financial commitment to Zion, it is really a commitment between us and God. By writing a number on a piece of paper, we are far more likely to stay on task and in doing so become a more mature Christian.

Although the Finance Committee assembles the budget without the benefit of complete pledging information, they can do their job better with a greater percentage of the congregation pledging and with more confidence that the congregation is backing them.

At the time this was written we have received 150 commitment cards compared to 225 last year.  If you have not turned in a commitment card for 2010, please consider doing so this week.