Dear Friends, October 2025
Thank you! Thank you for generously and faithfully funding Haslett Community Church in 2025!
For many years we have sought to "fully fund the church we love.” This year our goal is to "fully fund the church we love for good." This is possible because one year ago the collective congregation committed to a level of generosity that pledged to cover the projected 2025 budget completely! This was the first in many years we did not operate with a deficit budget, knowing we'd have to use savings to pay for the everyday functioning of our church. But it was more than a pledge, together we made good on a combined commitment. As we enter the last two months of the year, we are in the black and will not be making any last minute appeals to barely meet budget. This is incredible. We have fully funded the church we love!
This didn't happen by accident. It is because of the trusted pastoral leadership of Betsy Aho and Erin Heisler. It is because of a continued effort to communicate financial information and to concisely set forth a clear need and plan. It is because we adopted and live into a new and inspirational mission and vision. It is because we refuse to believe that the best days of HCC are behind us. We have so much good yet to contribute!
We now seek to fully fund the church we love for good. We now prove to ourselves that fully funding the church we love is the new norm, not one and done. We still live on a supremely modest budget and have continued work yet to do to backfill previous years' shortfall. We will again not be making any large adjustments to our budget. We will continue to justly compensate our staff, prudently care for our building and grounds, and appropriately provide seed money for our programs and ministries. We expect that in 2026, reaching $325,000 in pledged giving will fully fund the church. This is an increase of 6.5% over last year. After looking over all the information here, please prayerfully consider how your generosity might support this goal.
We seek to fully fund the church we love for good, because there is still more work to be done. There is more radical welcome to extend. There are more in need of a fierce love that seeks them whoever they are and wherever they are on life’s journey. There is still more human need than even our relentless care can cover. But we continue because not everyone yet has a place where they know they belong. This welcome, this love, and this care are the good we fund and the good we pursue. A goodness that continues a story God began in the first moments of creation, and one on which Haslett Community Church, United Church of Christ is built. We will fully fund the church we love for good, not only for ourselves, but for those who are not yet here, and for everyone who will come after us.
Thank you for all you offer, share, and invest. Your investment in Haslett Community Church matters. Thank you!
On behalf of the Finance Stewardship Committee,
Kyle Carnes Rev. Betsy Aho
Finance Chair Pastor
