September 2019 Financial Check-In

Every now and again I head to the doctor to make sure that I’m taking care of all the odds and ends of my body’s intricate machinery with the loving attention it deserves. The first thing the nurse does, of course, is to take my vital signs: our blood pressure, heart rate, oxygenation, breathing, weight, all that fun stuff. If something is off, it’s a tell that something’s gone amiss—best to bring it back into balance before it leaves me open to an infection or illness.
A faith community is very much like a body—we are, after all, the “body of Christ,” and that metaphor has some heft to it. We have vital signs, and if something’s amiss, it’s best to adjust our routines now before neglect fosters bigger concerns.
One of our vital signs is our financial pulse. Each month, the money that you generously contribute keeps the engine of this community of love, justice, hospitality, and peacemaking running.
This vital sign is showing a trend that needs our attention before it becomes a problem. In order to achieve everything Union Church sets about to do in the world, our average giving per month needs to be about $28,000.
For this year, our average so far is looking to be around $25,000. You can check out the attached graph and do the math yourself, if you’re into that.
The good news is that there’s an easy fix! If every person who comes to worship were to commit to giving another $25 a month, that would close the gap in no time. Best to solve it now before it becomes a bigger issue, right?
Peace and all good things,
Pr Nate