Altadena Baptist Church

February 3, 2003

TENDING OUR GARDEN OF EDEN

In March we will be adopting a church budget for 2003-2004. (The church year begins April 1.) At the Quarterly Business Meeting on Sunday, January 26, the congregation asked the Finance Department to prepare a budget that will be a real stretch. We're going to try to address all of these needs and growth-goals at the same time:

Operating Expenses-necessary increases in building maintenance and office costs $2253

Staff Salaries: Cost of Living Increases $2125

Pastor Connie's professional increase (third step of three previously voted on) $2000

Proposed increase to upgrade Alice Blackwood's pay $2000

Proposed increase to upgrade Glenn Molina's pay $2500

Increase to Missions (Based on Faith Promise increases) $4180

This will be a big, big step, amounting to an 8% increase over last year's budget.

We will share more about this budget in the weeks ahead. Meanwhile, call one of the pastors (797-8970) or bookkeeper Joe Viola (797-3977) if you have questions, concerns or ideas.

Right now, I want to alert you to something that is not in the proposed budget—the cost of lawn care and gardening. The Maintenance Committee and the Finance Department are recommending that for this stretching year we do this important job with volunteers.

This is easy to say, and hard to do. However, we believe that, with teamwork and dedication, we can make it happen. Jill Boekenoogen, who is already doing much of the gardening on a volunteer basis, has agreed to be the Lawn Care Coordinator. She will keep the schedule of the work and be the contact on any special needs volunteers may have. She is already gathering the equipment needed to do the job well.

We think this would be more manageable and more fun if groups, rather than individuals, sign up on the lawn-mowing schedule. What about your TLC group or your Sunday School class? How about an entire extended family taking a turn? Please discuss this among your group members. Then call Jill (797-4825) to determine dates. We believe this should start during March, when the new growing season begins.

What will motivate us to take on this responsibility and to do it well? I believe the motivation should be spiritual. We should see this as a hands-on way of showing our love for the Lord and for his church. Your response might be "Can you give me Scripture and verse on that, Pastor?"

Sure. After God created humans in his likeness, the Bible tells us
"God said, 'See, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is upon the face of all the earth ....' And it was so. God saw everything he had made, and indeed, it was very good. And the Lord God planted a garden in Eden, and there he put the humans whom he had formed ... to till it and keep it." (Genesis 1:29, 31; 2:8, 15)

Go, thou, and do likewise!

–Pastor George Van Alstine