Our Story of Generosity: Sharing God s Abundance

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Prudence Shields
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1 Our Story of Generosity: Sharing God s Abundance NARRATIVE BUDGET 2018

Our Shared Vision What happens when a teenager owns her faith to the point that she comes to church with or without her parents?

It s all happening here at Western, and it s all God s mission in the life of our church.

This narrative budget reflects God s abundance at work in us, based on your generosity.

(The session will approve our operating budget in December; copies may be requested through the church office.

through faith. 2017 has been a year of finding new ways to make the vision a reality.

2 Our Shared Vision What happens when a teenager owns her faith to the point that she comes to church with or without her parents? Or when a person who carries all of his belongings with him joins a church community group? Or when faithful folks keep marching and praying and talking about what is most important? It s all happening here at Western, and it s all God s mission in the life of our church. This year, investment in Western made an impact here in Foggy Bottom and beyond, and you need to know how. This narrative budget reflects God s abundance at work in us, based on your generosity. Rather than focusing on our entire operating budget, it tells the story of how your investment your financial giving - accomplishes God s mission through Western. (The session will approve our operating budget in December; copies may be requested through the church office.) Last year we developed our shared vision through 2020, focusing on: nurturing and growing, creating connections, committing to peace and social justice, and loving and supporting through faith has been a year of finding new ways to make the vision a reality. Given our church s financial resources to offset our building and facilities costs, every dollar you faithfully invest goes to make our mission and ministry possible. Whether supporting our pastors so that they might preach and lead worship, providing opportunities for a mission co-worker in Colombia, or hosting an event to raise community consciousness, your faithful giving means we continue as an active force and passionate voice for God s justice and love here and now. I invite you to join me in prayer for all of our ministry and as we discover God s abundance anew through the generosity of Westerners. Together in Christ s mission and ministry, Laura 2 OUR STORY OF GENEROSITY NARRATIVE BUDGET

Nurturing & Growing Our Vision: Become Active Disciples and Engage and Nurture Young People and

teaching, but then I get to teach the kids, and they are such a joy.

I love getting to see them grow up and that I get to be connected even a little bit.

3 Nurturing & Growing Our Vision: Become Active Disciples and Engage and Nurture Young People and Children $102,574 Spiritual Formation Discipleship Every year I say this will be my last year teaching, but then I get to teach the kids, and they are such a joy. We have incredible conversations about the Bible stories and also just about life. I love getting to see them grow up and that I get to be connected even a little bit. - Sherry Trafford 4 OUR STORY OF GENEROSITY 12 Confirmands Exploring Faith 16 Children in the Christmas Pageant 3 Baptism Classes with Parents NARRATIVE BUDGET

Creating Connections Our Vision: Practice Radical Hospitality & Connect to Other Faiths $87,318 Community Life Communications 2 Bus Loads of Marchers Welcomed at Western for the Women s March 36

4 Creating Connections Our Vision: Practice Radical Hospitality & Connect to Other Faiths $87,318 Community Life Communications 2 Bus Loads of Marchers Welcomed at Western for the Women s March 36 Participants in Islamophobia Discussion I want to commend you for providing a welcome/warm-up place for people attending the Women s March!! This march is tremendously important at this point in our nation s history, and I appreciate your stepping up to help support us! - Barb Finch, Staunton, VA 21 Participants in screening and discussion of From the Ashes, a film about the coal industry and the environment. 6 OUR STORY OF GENEROSITY NARRATIVE BUDGET

Committing to Peace, Social Justice, & Equality Our Vision: Advocate for

Minds Write Night have inspired us with their stories coming out of

Their presence gives new meaning to the hospitality scripture over our

- Jerry Hoganson 70+ Community members supporting Free Minds Write Night

5 Committing to Peace, Social Justice, & Equality Our Vision: Advocate for Those on the Margins with a Prophetic Voice The poet ambassadors at Free Minds Write Night have inspired us with their stories coming out of incarceration. Their presence gives new meaning to the hospitality scripture over our fireplace on entertaining angels. - Jerry Hoganson 70+ Community members supporting Free Minds Write Night in October 35 Volunteers serving dinner at Calvary Women s Services $84,046 Missions 28 Participants in Crossroads Anti-Racism Training 8 OUR STORY OF GENEROSITY NARRATIVE BUDGET

6 Loving & Supporting Through Faith Our Vision: Build a Christian, Spiritual Home to Feed Body and Spirit and to Explore Faith in Safety $163,777 Congregational Care Worship and Music 2,500 Cups of Coffee Served That s what s so great about Western. We don t limit ourselves to our own individual experiences and beliefs. We try to cross our cultural boundaries to meet on common ground. - DJ Purnell 26 Community Group Participants Countless Moments of Prayer 10 OUR STORY OF GENEROSITY NARRATIVE BUDGET

Sharing God s Abundance Your financial investment will continue to make our shared vision a reality. In 2017, annual giving accounts for just less than half of our operating expenses.

7 Sharing God s Abundance Your financial investment will continue to make our shared vision a reality. In 2017, annual giving accounts for just less than half of our operating expenses. Your gift will decrease our dependence on other funds for the operating budget, funds that ensure Western s building and facility, for the congregation, Foggy Bottom community, and countless individuals in Miriam s Kitchen. If you wish to know more, the session will approve the 2018 budget in December; copies may be requested from the church office. Ultimately, we hope you ll invest in Western because you know that God is at work, inspiring our generosity and leading us into a new future. You may make your commitment by: going online at westernpresbyterian.org/give, ing stewardship@westernpresbyterian.org, or sending a response card to the church office. If investing in the long-term future of Western is important to you, and you are interested in including Western in your estate planning, please let us know Virginia Ave, NW, Washington, DC westernpresbyterian.org info@westernpresbyterian.org Connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram

Two Years of Imagination Becoming Reality!

Two Years of Imagination Becoming Reality! RPC 2017 3 Children and youth are not the church of the future, but the church of today. The Rev. Jean-Paul Marshall A little over two years ago, unified as a