Cross Currents OCTOBER | ISSUE 9 | VOLUME 2022
FROM PASTOR PETE October greetings to you, St. Andrew’s Family! This month we are continuing our “By Faith” sermon series, which will culminate on November 20. Our focus over this period is on Jesus, Whom we are invited to fix our eyes upon, as the “pioneer and perfecter” of our faith. We are encouraged by the “cloud of witness” who went before us and are described in the Bible – ordinary people who trusted in God’s promises and lived by faith. I encourage all of us to continue godly practices of regularly praying for the St. Andrew’s congregation, the leaders, the staff as this is a key season of ministry work and preparation for the exciting season before us. Here are a couple items to keep in prayer, as we trust in God together for God’s leading and provision: •
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Congregational Mission Study Team (CMST). The team has concluded its surveys and listening sessions with the congregation. They are now in the phase of analyzing the results and turning that into a written report. Please pray for this team and the important work before them. Their final work once published will be approved by the Presbytery Commission on Ministry, and once approved, will clear the way for the election of a Pastor Nominating Committee. I know that many of you are anxious for this to happen quickly. My guidance to the CMST is to do its work without undue delay, but also without undue haste. The team is committed to producing the very best work that will assist and even streamline the work of the eventual PNC. Congregational Meeting: October 23, 10:00 am (between services in the Sanctuary). The Nominating Committee has been diligent in seeking people to be nominated to serve as church officers beginning in January. Please note that only members who are in person at the meeting will be voting to approve the officers nominated to serve as Elders, Deacons, and
OCTOBER 2022
ST. ANDREW’S PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
on the Nominating Committee. This meeting will be live streamed so that interested people can follow what happens, but there will not be provision for off-site voting for those not in person. (To be clear, this October meeting will not include the election of a PNC. That is to be anticipated in the new year, possibly in January or February.) •
Budget Planning. The Budget Team has been hard at work, planning a 2023 church budget. With the present volatile economic conditions, particularly inflation, this is not a simple process. There are competing desires to both keep costs as low as possible and to be able to provide a cost-of-living increase to the staff (which has not happened over the past two years), and to increase giving to Mission. With everyone’s expenses rising, it’s a faith challenge for each of us to consider what our practice of stewardship generosity will look like in 2023, as each of us discerns what to choose to commit financially (and otherwise) to the Lord for the operations of St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church. I acknowledge that for some of us, that may look like a reduction in financial giving, but for others, it may be an opportunity for a joyful increase.
For this these things and more, we trust God to provide and lead St. Andrew’s Church as a beacon of Christ’s love and light! Counting It All Joy, Pastor Pete, Interim Pastor / Head of Staff