Due to the time line for sending this information for the newsletter, I can only report on the month of January, since I have financial totals for January and only partials for February. Please take the time to read and understand our church finances. Always remember, this is your church and the success of your church depends on all of us. We appreciate everyone’s efforts to financially support the wonderful activities and the costs that are associated with maintaining this church.

                In January, our total income for the general fund was $10,056.55. Our Miscellaneous Other Giving Fund for January was $2930. Then there were receipts from individuals that donated things and didn’t want to be reimbursed. The total income for the month was $13,015.75.

                Although we completed the 2011 budget year in the red, we have started out the calendar year in the black. I do realize that no one wants to hear or read about budgets and especially deficits. As your financial secretary, I have a clear understanding about our financial needs. During the past 2 years, we had approximately 56 individuals who have not communed or contributed. We are making every attempt to encourage these individuals to become active members of Mt Zion Lutheran Church.

                As your church council president, I know that we can no longer continue to have inactive members on our roster.  The costs associated with mailing newsletters and offering envelopes is too much to continue holding on to these non-supporting members. We do hope that if you read this message and you are one of those members who has not communed with us or contributed over the past 2 years that you seriously consider your obligations to Mt Zion Lutheran Church.

                Until next time, may God bless all of you for your never ending support and commitment.  We do appreciate your kindness.       Jeff Wetzel, Financial Secretary

From the Treasurer's Desk

Below is a summary of the income and expenses for 2011 in the General Fund.  This is not including money we receive for designated items i.e. memorial fund, building fund, fuel etc.  Also my numbers do not always tie exactly to what Jeff reports because of the timing of the deposits.  If there is a Sunday that falls at the end of the month for example Dec. 31 Jeff would report that in his December numbers but I track it when it actually hits the church’s checking account which would be in January in that example. 

I reiterate what Jeff wrote last month.  The Thrivent Choice program has been a huge blessing this year and we thank all the members who have participated in the program.  I pray that Thrivent continues this program because it has really been a big help.  It has helped to offset some of the giving we have lost from members who have gone to be with the Lord.  Also thank you to all the members who have donated to the fuel fund.  This money that is donated offsets the massive expense that the fuel is.  This year we got 5,000 gallons and it was over $16,000 dollars.  Our other big expenses which make up about 80% of our budget are the salaries and property insurance.  Through today we have only 1/3 of the balance for the oil still outstanding to pay thanks to the generosity of our members.  I hope to pay the remaining balance at the end of January.

2011:

 Income:     $ 107,804

Expenses:     130,742

Deficit           $(22,938) 

 In order to cover this deficit this money was pulled from our investment accounts.  Going forward I will be providing this information quarterly in our newsletter so everyone has a more up to date picture of the church’s financial situation.

 An estimated breakdown of the above expense is:

Salaries/Pension/Medical/Mileage/Payroll Taxes                   $99,000
Property Insurance                                                                    6,000
Fuel                                                                                            1,500
Copier                                                                                        2,500
Phone/Internet/Electric/WaterGuy/Trash                                   4,000
Snow Removal                                                                            2,000
Miscellaneous (ie. Worship supplies, supply                          16,000
pastor, payroll service, erlich etc.)                                        $ 131,000

 Note:  Fuel expense is only $1,500 in the above because members have donated most of what I have paid on the fuel bill so far.  That money came out of the miscellaneous other giving account where the designated funds are kept. 
There are great things happening at Mt. Zion and I believe we are on the brink of even better things.  I thank all the members for their continued dedication to Mt. Zion in 2011.  In 2012 we need continue to build on the momentum in church and with the help of God this year we can achieve great things.   Greg Schappell, Treasurer