13200 Bandera Road, Helotes, Texas. GnP 101. [Generosity in Practice]

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1 October Bandera Road, Helotes, Texas GnP 101 [Generosity in Practice] Elsewhere in this newsletter edition, you will read an article from your Administrative Committee regarding your generosity (a.k.a. stewardship). Please read the article in its entirety for all things are possible (after this one, of course). I like the word generosity better because it easily is associated with a round-the-year posture of spiritual practice and discipline I m convinced Jesus modeled for us and teaches us. As such, I can insert the theological concept and practice/discipline of generosity any time, any place, with anyone. But for now, here is the single time each year I address the subject of stewardship so forthrightly. You have affirmed we want a full-time, installed pastor. You have affirmed we want programs of the church. You have affirmed we love our large church plant/campus. You have affirmed we want to more mission work. All the above affirmations take people, materials, and funds. All of them! Your affirmations must come with your commitment to support what it takes to maintain your affirmations. All Active Members of a church have committed to give financially to their church when they joined. Some nonmembers, but active participants, also commit to give financially. Each church family is considered a giving unit. At FHPC, we have 47 giving units who have pledged donations for the 2015 annual budget. In addition we have 8 giving units who are not pledgers but they give a consistent amount annually. In reality, the total 55 giving units do not comprise the total possible units at FHPC. How much of an impact does your giving have on the church? Study the below Range of Offerings. As expected, some give more than others, some less. And equally as expected, there is a larger number who give within a midrange. Do You Know the Range of Offerings?** [pledgers & regular donors] Inside this issue: $ annually #giving units Sunday Worship , , , ,000-10, ,000-7, ,000-5, ,000-3, , ** for Operating Budget Session at Work 5 Youth News 6 October Events 7 From Administration Committee 8 November Events 9 Church Calendar 10

2 Page 2 NOW, look at how far your giving goes by reviewing what it takes for FHPC to meet its obligations based on your affirmations by day, week, and month. Remember, we only have 55 active donors contributing to the annual budget. In reality, we only have 45 who give an amount to cover at least 1 day s budget needs. For every giver to give the 1 day amount and it be enough, we would need 365 giving units Budget ** What It Takes Annual Operating Budget $255,000 Daily Budget Avg Need $ 699 Weekly Budget Avg Need $ 4,904 Monthly Budget Avg Need $ 21,250 **for Operating Budget BUT, if the giving units at FHPC gave enough, or increased in numbers, or increased in giving by unit, we might possibly not have to rely on facility use fees to squeak by year-end and year-out. Let me help you visualize what you could do with the $61,000 projected income from facilities use fees if you did not need it for the day-to-day budget: $61K would re-pave the parking lot and road (really?) past the dumpsters. $61K would have your 2 large loan/mortgages paid off in less than 3 years. $61K would allow you to repair/replace 6 ACs a year for 3.3 years. $61K would cover new folding chairs & tables for gym & children s buildings. $61K would cover more local, regional, global mission benevolences. $61K would allow a return to the pastor s compensation package. Do You Know Your Definitions? Type Definition Deductible Regular Offering Pledges & regular donations for the Annual Operating Budget s daily, weekly, monthly needs YES - donor relinquishes control of use for church ministries as budgeted by the Session. Designated Offering Donor designates monies over and above pledge or regular donation for a particular purpose without applying specific restriction. FHPC Designated Funds a. Good Samaritan b. Pastor Call c. Memorial Fund d. Extraordinary Maintenance/Capital Improvements YES - donor relinquishes control of use as determined by the Session for current and future Designated Funds as best needed by the church.

3 Page 3 Type Definition Deductible Restricted Offering [must only be used for the restricted purpose] 1. Donor Stipulated where donor requires what donation is used for. 2. Special Program created by the Session, such as a fundraiser or camp scholarships. 1. NO - giver retains control rather than relinquishing control. 2. YES - a special program approved by session for monies to be received for that purpose Challenge #1 if you give consistently, don t stop Challenge #2 if you don t give, as a giving unit, decide to give intentionally Challenge #3 whether gross or net monies, try to give 2% above what you have been giving each year as we enter into Challenge #4 IMPORTANT IF YOU ARE AN END OF THE YEAR GIVER end of year gifts are not useable by the church for the year it was given (2015) because the obligations already have been made and paid for throughout the year. In effect, an end of year pledger gives $0 for the church to use in that particular year. CHANGE YOUR MINDSET. Your end of year gift for 2015 really is a usable gift for Use the 2016 budget information provided by the Session as the bases for your pledge or pledge+ when you give this December. May all that we do show Generosity in Practice (GnP). Worship Services October 4 Psalm 26:8-12 John 20: 19 World Communion Sunday At the Drop of a Veil October 11 Psalm 104: Chronicles 29:12-18 Omnipotent Generosity October 18 Psalm 33:8-22 Malachi 3:8-10 Bring It On Generosity October 25 Reformation Sunday Psalm 132:15 1 Timothy 6:1719 Humble Generosity

4 Page 4 Worship Services (continued) Head Usher: Clay Dullnig Greeter: Blossom Jeter Liturgists: October 4 - Pam Power October 11 - Sharon Newhardt October 18 - Randal Cude October 25 - Tyler Moore SUNDAY SCHOOL Each Sunday: Faith Builders Adult Class 9:15 am - 10:00 am Family Hour Sunday School 9:15 am - 10:00 am October 18th 9:15 a.m. Family Life Center, Room 109C (Quilters Room) An Adult Sunday School Seminar will meet for a lay discussion of Versions/ Translations of the Bible. Please bring your Bible & other versions you might have (KJV, RKJV, Oxford Study Bible, etc.). Judy Grant will facilitate. We will meet once a month for this first topic for adult Sunday School. Others to follow. FHPC is happy to welcome Lorrell Wright to our ministry. She will be with us every Sunday from 9-12 AM. I want to thank Valerie Williams for leading children Sunday School and look forward to more families participating. Lorrell will be partnering with any of the parent leadership. It was a delight to learn that Lorrell had memories of meeting some families from FHPC when she had been a counselor at John Knox day camp. Also, she had attended many youth events in the area and remembers some of the participants from FHPC. Be sure to welcome Lorrell and pray for her as she assumes these responsibilities. FHPC is still in need of a nursery attendant. If you have any persons wo refer let me know or have them contact the church office. Submitted by Ruth McKay

5 Page 5 Come to the Waters is the title of the Bible study for Presbyterian Women this year. There are more books available (See Ruth McKay). All Women are urged to attend. It is a meaningful way to share your faith walk with other women of FHPC. The Deborah Circle will meet Saturday, October 10, at 2 PM in the FLC conference room. The Evening Circle will meet Tuesday, October 13, at 7 PM at the same location. Your Session at Work At its September meeting the Session: -Met with Committee on Ministry representatives for FHPC s Triennial Review -Received Committee on Ministry s liaison s approval to renew interim contract -Entered Mia Landrus and Conor McCary into the Active Members Rolls -Moved Kurt & April VanDeldon to the Other Participants Rolls, at their request -Approved standing dates for celebrating Holy Communion each year -Approved placement of bible and candle on chancel -Approved a barbeque plate fundraiser for Fall Festival, October 17 -Approved installation of a door in wall between Quilt Room and classroom -Approved Boy Scout Troup 211 fundraiser for a pizza lunch on September 27 -Approved marking additional handicap parking spaces on both sides of lot -Approved job description for a Children s Ministry Director -Approved job description for a Nursery Worker -Are in the process of reviewing the Active rolls as required by the Book of Order -Approved a congregational meeting any Sunday between October 11 and November 1 for the purpose of electing a Pastor Nominating Committee IF the Committee on Ministry approved a PNC at its October 5 meeting and IF the Nominating Committee of FHPC has a slate of nominees to present to the congregation

6 Page 6 October 4 Youth Group 4:30-7 Middle School 4:30-5:15 Together 5:15-6:15 High School 6:15-7:00 Dinner: October 11 Youth Group 4:30-7 Middle School 4:30-5:15 Together 5:15-6:15 High School 6:15-7:00 Dinner: Longs October 17 Fall Festival 11-3 Games What is expected of the youth? Pitch Burst and games. Will find out more from Mission committee October 18 NO Youth Group October 24 Halloween Mystery Dinner with St. Marks of Boerne in Boerne Time: Meet at Forest Hills at 5:15 and return at 10:00 October 25 St. Marks Youth coming to worship with Forest Hills. The youth will be a big part of the worship service. More details to come. Will go to Fuddruckers for lunch after church. Enjoy time and devotion with youth group. NO Youth Group at night

7 Page 7 Christian Education/Youth Committee will gather for their monthly meeting Sunday, October 11 right after church in the Family Life Center conference room. All interested in these programs are urged to attend. Ruth McKay and Diane Sawyer, Co-Chairs Fellowship Time Fellowship time with refreshments is held every 2nd Sunday of the month in the sanctuary Narthex following the worship service. On October 11th, the Administrative Committee will host the fellowship. Saturday, October 17th 11:00-3:00 p.m. Cakes & Volunteers Needed Let s Do Lunch Bunch Wednesday, October 28th 11:30-1:00 pm Tiu Steppis Italian Restaurant on Loop 1604 We need frosted sheet cakes for the barbeque plates we are selling, as well as cakes for the Cake Walk. If you can help, please let Pam Power or Christina Long know. Volunteers for setup, serving, breakdown, etc. are also needed; please sign up in the narthex. And, don t forget to buy you plate sale tickets from the Fellowship & Church Growth Committee.

8 Page 8 From the Administrative Committee Our Season of Stewardship is fast-approaching. Forest Hill s committees have been asked to submit their budget requests for 2016 by October 15. This year, the Session has voted that fund-raising by committees will not be considered as part of their budget request, and any fund-raising activity that occurs will need to be for a specific purpose that is approved by the Session in advance. The source of funds for Forest Hills is primarily from 3 sources. First is income from families who pledge a certain level of support for the coming year. This is the income that is most important to the Administrative Committee and Session in drawing up a proposed budget for the year. Second is loose plate offering from those who give without pledging, usually on an irregular and casual basis. This is the income for which we consider faith in drawing up the budget. Our last major source of income is from rental of our facilities to other groups. This turns out to be a rather large portion of our budgetary requirement, but it is one that we would prefer to do without. The use of our facilities by other groups adds a tremendous amount to our utility and maintenance costs. At this point in the year, Pledged Income is approximately $4,500 behind, Non-Pledge Income is approximately $2,700 below estimate, and Facility Use Fees are slightly ahead of estimate. What does your financial support mean to our budget? Among other things, it will be a determining factor in the type of pastor that we can call. Hopefully, the Presbytery Committee on Ministry will, at it bimonthly meeting in October, authorize Forest Hills to nominate a Pastor Nominating Committee to seek out our next pastor. Options include a full-time pastor, part-time pastor or designated pastor. The financial support that the church receives from the congregation will be an important indicator of the type of pastor that the church can afford. In addition, as the Administrative Committee considers the budgetary requests of the committees, we will have to balance those against the projected income. If there is a large imbalance, programs may need to be curtailed, a difficult and reluctant choice. Remember that fund-raising will not be a part of our budget. We have a number of maintenance issues to address in the near future, including a new roof for the Maples House. One budgetary increase that is known will be in the Pastor s salary. What does this mean on an individual basis? For 2015, our overall budget is approximately $255,000. We had a total of 55 units (individuals or families) pledging a total of $168,000. Obviously, based on our membership, there were a number of family units that did not pledge. If we assume a total of 70 family units pledging in 2016 and a stable budget, an average pledge (for the year) of $3,715 would cover the entire budget, without depending on the loose plate or facility rental income. This is an average. Some are unable to give this amount; others can and do give considerably more. As we enter our Season of Stewardship we ask that you carefully and prayerfully consider the level of your financial support for Forest Hills Presbyterian Church, especially considering God s bounty for us all.

9 Page 9 Coming Up! Military Appreciation Luncheon Sunday, November 8th The Fellowship and Church Growth Committee will sponsor a nice luncheon after worship on Sunday, November 8th. We will honor all our veterans in our Forest Hills Church family. The entrée will be furnished. Members are asked to bring side dishes or desserts. If you are a veteran, please let Chairmen Pam Power or Chuck Vinton know so that we can add your name to our honorees. We will celebrate the religious and other freedoms that these veterans have protected Women s Retreat November Agape Dome retreat Center This year s theme is Lavender Springs Spa, a spiritually nourishing retreat on Psalms. The cost will be $150 per person, which includes 2 nights stay, all meals, t-shirt, and more! The fun and fellowship are FREE! Scholarships are available. For more information, contact Laurie Vinton at lvinton.earthlink.net or (210) Please sign up in the narthex.

10 Page 10 OCTOBER 2015 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat am Men s bible study 7 pm worship team Emmaus Walk - Men's 4 9:15 am Sun day School 10:30 am Worship/Communion 5pm Youth Group 6 pm choir 5:45 pm Habitat Cluster Mtg 10:00 Prayer ministry 9 am prayer quilt ministry 7 am Men s bible study 7 pm worship team 2 pm. Deborah Circle 119:15 Sunday School 10:30 worship 5 pm youth grp 6 pm choir 189:15 Sunday School 10:30 am worship 6 pm choir pm Women's evening circle 10 am prayer ministry 9 am prayer Quilt ministry 21 9 am prayer Quilt ministry 7 am Men s bible study 7 pm worship team 227 am Men s bible study 7 pm worship team 23 Presbytery meeting Ramp warehouse 11-3 pm Fall Festival 24 Presbytery Meeting Ramp build 259:15 Sunday School 10:30 am worship 5 pm youth grp 6 pm choir am prayer quilt ministry 11:30 ladies lunch 297 am Men s bible study 7 pm worship team Committee Meetings: Fellowship & Church Growth - Oct 6:30 pm -8 pm Worship - Oct 6 pm - 7 pm CE & 11:45 pm - 1 pm 6:30 pm - 8 p.m. 6:30 pm - 9 pm Mission & 12 pm- 1 pm