It seemed appropriate to provide a financial update at this time of Covid-19 for St Mary’s members, encouragers, supporters and anyone interested.

I start with our Budget for 2020 so that people might have an idea of what we planned and ask the question, “Are our plans God’s plans?” Well it looks to me as though we need to ask Him and listen to what He planned. So, for the time being we go ahead as best we can and don’t act surprised when we have to take a different road to our destination.

This is where we start and we should look forward to where God takes us, not nervously but excitedly.

St Mary’s, Crich.

Finance Information:

                 Budget 2020      

Regular Giving GA                                       30,000

Regular Giving None GA                              9,000

Tax Recovered                                            10,000

Irregular Giving                                            10,050

Cash Collections                                            3,000

Total Income                                             £62,050   

Giving to Charities (10%)                              5,500

Common Fund                                             34,450

Utilities                                                           3,750

Insurance                                                       3,200

Other Expenses                                           16,400

Quinquennial                                                12,000

Total Expenditure                                      £75,300

These figures look terrifying but, they are due to the once every five years Quinquennial which looks like costing us £12,000 this year. We have, however, sufficient funds in reserve and have made an appeal which has promised over £7,000 already.

‘The one thing I would request is that regular givers store up their giving envelopes which we will receive once the church can be opened again.’

Just a note: the fact that we are not, at present, using the church does not mean that our costs have ceased. We are still expected to pay our Common Fund (£34,450), Insurance (£3,200), Utilities (£3,750) – most of the expenses are in the Winter months – and I would hope our Giving to Charities (£5,500) and Quinquennial (£12,000). In other words, most of our Budget Expenses will still need paying.

I read the other day a prayer that included in it, ‘Heavenly Father, give us enough to live and enough to give.’ May that be the case!

Living generously is what is expected of us, not just by the Diocese and not just by St Mary’s, but also by the Bible. I am not going to preach to you now, but would ask you to look at 1 Corinthians 9:1-14; 2 Thessalonians 3:9; 1 Timothy 5:17; Matthew 10:10; Luke 10:7; 2 Corinthians 11:7-8; Philippians 4:16; 2 Corinthians 11:9;

2 Corinthians 12:14; 1 Thessalonians 1:9; 2 Thessalonians 3:8; and

2 Corinthians 8:1-2.

                                    Good reading!                          Dennis Hooton