Thursday, March 2, 2023

Hello everyone:

Well, it has already started.  On Sunday we had our annual meeting - it was a very good meeting, but there was some angst and general anxiety about the deficit from 2022 and the projected deficit for this year.  We talked briefly about plans to mange the deficit this year and to strengthen income streams that had lessened during COVID and find new income streams to offset this deficit.  I have good news to share.  As of today the amount of revenue for parking during 2023 will be significantly higher than what was budgeted.  People are beginning to return to some of the downtown offices.  The phone is ringing in the church office about parking.  We will exceed $30,000 in parking revenues and perhaps even be closer to $40,000 this year.  The budget was $20,000 so that is good news.  Secondly we have an offer to rent space in the church basement, namely the Odeon and the Temple.  Negotiations are presently underway with respect to this but this could net at least $10,000 for this year alone.  The chapel is also gaining interest.  A summer music camp is interested in renting the facility this summer.  As well, someone is reaching out to local small theatre groups in the city to encourage one of them to make St. Andrew’s their home.  And Mel Seguin our intrepid administrator is beginning the process of discovering what it might entail to encourage a day care provider to open up space here at St Andrew’s.   So lots of activity and lots of possibilities.  To me, all of this is great news.

A warm thank you to the congregation for the annual meeting.  We made sure to thank all the volunteers, committees and team leaders, the session, the staff and so on, but sometimes we forget to thank the congregation itself.  Sometimes the focus is on what we don’t have rather than what we do have.  We have a congregation made up of hundreds of people who give of their time, talents, and financial resources - all of which makes mission and ministry possible.  Our income streams may be a little sparser due to COVID and the aging of the congregation, but we still have a group of people who raised almost $500,000 just in offerings.  We also have a very significant number of new faces coming out to worship on a regular basis, some older people but also some younger families and young people as well.  We are being church in and to the community and there is so much to celebrate.  Please take time to do just that – to celebrate who and what St. Andrew’s is and what it is that we can do.

Finally, for those of you who have not had a chance to see the Covenant Chapel recently, the renovations are in their last stages, and it all looks stunning.  The carpet is almost complete, the trim work is scheduled for next week, the electrical and audio visual will be installed by the end of the month, the donated grand piano will be placed on the left hand side of the stage and all will be ready hopefully by the end of the month.  The property committee, the Women’s Association and the contractors hired to do the work are all to be commended.  This renewed space will be a joy to use for a variety of activities including some evening worship services.  As well, as noted above it will be a very attractive space for community groups to use.  I think you will all be very pleased with it when you see it.

Take care everyone and God bless.  Have a beautiful week

Marty

Philippians 4:4 – Rejoice in the Lord always, again I say rejoice.