BEING HERE: PART I

After appeals for financial support for ministry went unheeded, Margaret Mercer persisted in the construction of a small chapel to serve the local community. Although no one else was willing to invest money to help, her commitment to ministry was matched by her commitment to invest cold hard cash in the service of others. In 1840 Belmont Chapel stood where this parish stands today.

Neglected and forgotten in the twentieth century, Belmont Chapel fell into ruins. But 16 years ago her legacy inspired a covenant community to restore ministry in this place.  Over the years many, many hands working together have established our beautiful parish campus. Just as Margaret Mercer's commitment to ministry included the financial cost of building and maintaining Belmont Chapel, our commitment to ministry includes a financial cost as well.

Just being here requires a significant financial commitment. To meet the obligations of our mortgages, to maintain the property and to open the campus each week will cost $376,000 for 2007.  This does not include the cost of ministry - worship expenses, staff salaries, outreach, children and youth programs, music and missions. $376,000 provides the opportunity to serve. $376,000 is just the cost of being here.

General Manager Jim Tracy reviewed our Legacy to compare the cost of "being here" compared to 1998 before construction of the sanctuary. At that time the parish worshipped in a little wooden church in the woods - now known as Mercer Hall, the home of our Preschool.

In 1998 "being here" cost $25,573.  The difference in the cost of being here today: $376,000, and being here in 1998: $25,573 is the mortgage on the church and other campus costs. The parish debt is 11 times today what it was in 1998.

Just as Belmont Chapel blessed this community 150 years ago,  our church blesses this community today. Just as in the days of Margaret Mercer, our commitment to minister here must be backed up by a financial commitment to be here.  May we be here - in service to our community - for many years to come.