It’s been a busy, wonderful year at Northwood Presbyterian church. I hope you took the time to read through the annual report submitted by your session teams and church organizations. It was printed in last month’s Breezeway. On behalf of the session I want to thank each and every one of you for your dedicated support of the mission and ministry that took place in and through Northwood church in 2008.

In this issue of the Breezeway you will find a copy of the annual budget presented to the congregation at the meeting held at the close of worship on Sunday, February 24. You will notice that the session presented a deficit budget to the congregation, a budget deficit of $23,757.00. As was stated in last month’s Breezeway, although pledged giving increased for 2008 as did the total number of pledging units the increase was still not enough to cover the proposed budget  expenses presented to the session by its teams and committees. As hard as the session worked to make cuts it could not present a balanced budget to the congregation, not without further cutting personnel expenses.

What to do? The session resolved to address this year’s deficit, and in effect future deficits, by creating an ad-hoc committee to review the organizational structure and spending of the church and to think creatively, “outside the box,” of ways to increase income to the church. The hard fact we face is that unless income is increased we will need to make further cuts and the only place left to cut is personnel. That means that some of the ways we do ministry at Northwood will need to change as current positions are restructured and/or eliminated. Change can be hard, especially when we have always done things in a particular way, a way we have become used to and with which we are comfortable. And a change in personnel means people, friends with names and stories and with whom we have developed relationships over the years. It is not easy to cut positions in the church and it is always painful.

 A few persons have already volunteered to serve on the ad-hoc committee. If you think you may be called to serve the church in this capacity please let me or a member of the session know of your interest and desire.

 According to Matthew’s Gospel account Jesus delivered the Sermon on the Mount shortly after his time in the wilderness. This wilderness time is a time we remember particularly in the season of Lent. In the Sermon Jesus addresses his hearers’ fears, fears of not having enough, enough food or drink or clothes. He reminds his disciples and his listeners that God is well aware of our fears and of our needs and that God will provide. He states plainly, “Therefore do not worry . . . Strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” In the midst of the present difficulties let us continue to trust in the Lord, always, and in all ways.

                      Blessings,