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This Saturday 20th July we gather at 5:30pm for a 6pm dinner. After that we have our meeting to start to talk about the future at St Mary by the Sea.
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Please RSVP here so we have an idea of numbers for catering.
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On behalf of the Vestry of St Mary by the Sea, we are informing you about our current financial position.
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Many years ago, we received a generous legacy which has been a huge help in enabling us to meet the financial challenges that have arisen in recent years at St Mary by the Sea.
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Due to a number of factors, we are now faced with the situation that the income for the parish through donations, ash plot sales, rentals, and the community shop, does not cover our expenses. Extra expenses such as repairs and maintenance, development, and bills that have increased beyond inflationary expectations such as insurance (our current insurance cost is in the region of $13,000 per annum), have had to be paid from our cash reserves resulting in these reserves being depleted over time.
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At present our budgeted yearly income falls short of covering our basic monthly expenses by approximately $3,800 a month. This figure does not allow for any one-time or exceptional expenses that may occur.
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As you may be aware, we are landlords for the buildings (church, hall and vicarage) and as such we have certain obligations for their maintenance – the financial costs associated with this has increased significantly in recent years and these costs will continue to increase as our buildings age. We have undertaken required maintenance on the church and hall over the last 6 years and recently, much needed repairs and maintenance was also undertaken at the vicarage. Unfortunately all these buildings still require more work.
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Your Vestry has spent considerable time coming up with various ideas and suggestions to help us try and overcome these hurdles. Vestry have discussed options to help St Mary by the Sea find a new vision where we downsize and look at potentially combining with other congregations. Vestry have also discussed options to help St Mary by the Sea increase revenue and meet our current vision and ministry needs.
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We would be grateful if you could come and share a meal and meeting on Saturday 20th July 2024 where we can share further information with you. We would value your thoughts, ideas and suggestions as we navigate a way forward with our current vision, or to find a new vision. It is important to note that this dinner is not to make decisions, it is to give information and to receive feedback.
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Our motto is “Navigating the waves of life together” and we are confident that with your input we can navigate a way forward for the Parish.
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Please come to the meeting and share a meal – together in Christ we can indeed meet this challenge.
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Connie Strong Vicar's Warden On behalf of Vestry Rev Dion Blundell Priest in Charge
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