UNAUTHORIZED PARKING

As most of you are aware, unauthorized parking by individuals using our parking lot is becoming a very concerning issue and has been for some time. As a result,City Traffic enforcement has been significantly enhanced and will continue on an ongoing basis.  To ensure that our parishioners do not get ticketed, we are requesting that anyone visiting the church/hall from Monday to Friday, 9am to 5 pm, drop by the office for a parking permit.  Vehicles that do not have a permit displayed in their window will be ticketed and St. Thomas' does not have the authority to cancel tickets.

FINANCIAL UPDATE TO DECEMBER 31, 2009

The 2009 actual operating budget givings were $391,189, as compared to the budget of $400,000, a difference of $8811. We were very encouraged by the 8% increase in givings from 2008 to 2009 and we thank everyone for their contributions and listening to what the Lord is laying on each of our hearts. We pray that the Lord will continue to touch each of our hearts as to the resources we need to do His work and that we will collectively meet our 2010 budget of $400,000 for operating budget envelopes.

NCD SURVEY RESULTS ARE IN...:

The results of our NCD survey on November 8 are in and will be worked through by the Inner Core* leadership team as well as the Vestry and be incorporated into our Parish Work Plan 2010 presentation January 17. The results reveal a strongly "green" church which needs to grow in the "red" and "blue" areas. In theological terms this means we are strong in the areas to do with order and creation and creativity (God the Father) but need to grow in our understanding of God's revelation and how we can reveal God's life in the world (God the Son) as well as experiencing more of God's presence and guidance in our lives personally, in worship and when we gather with other Christians or are on our own in the world (God the Holy Spirit). Thank You Lord our God, for helping us to understand what our spiritual style as a parish is, so that we can grow and develop into a more balanced and passionate body of believers, drawing all to You through Jesus Christ. Amen!

* The Inner Core leadership team is a bi-monthly gathering of your clergy, wardens, honourary assistants, music director, treasurer and parish administrator, that looks at core spiritual issues and try to keep our parish spiritually 'on track' with what we have discerned to be God's calling on our congregation expressed in our vision and mission statements.