COMMENTARY
Please keep in mind that our financial status rests on several factors:
• Pastor White is now part-time so her salary package (which includes salary and all accompanying benefits) is less of an expense. While we do not know what savings we will realize with Pastor White being part-time, we recognize that what we will realize is not an extra cash balance to spend but rather fewer expenses to cover.
• Culinary, Blessings Thrift and Endowment all are making significant contributions to Zion’s support. Endowment makes a regular yearly gift which generally covers the cost of Zion’s insurance. The chart shows over $40,000 in income from our endowment fund, culinary activities and Blessing Thrift Store. Without those sources of income, we would be close to $26,000 behind.
• The amount shown from the Blessings Thrift Sales is actually half the amount the sales have realized. Half of the total sales go to fund Outreach so that Outreach expenses are not a strain on the church budget.
• People’s Pantry operates through food donations and funds raised through the Tamaqua Hunger Campaign. Zion received $3,000 for the food pantry from last fall’s Hunger Campaign.
Both Culinary and Blessings are wonderful ministries that deserve your support. That support can be given by attending and supporting Culinary events and, if you enjoy cooking, helping. Blessings has welcomed over 1,500 people this year. Its ministers work several days a week to sort through new items that come in and update offerings depending on the season. Addition help is always welcomed. Both ministries are also excellent sources of Christian fellowship and provide a warm sense of belonging and engagement.
