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Sunday October 18, 2020

Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; his greatness no-one can fathom.

One generation will commend your works to another; they will tell of your mighty acts.

Psalm 145:3-4

Dear brothers and sisters,

As you are well aware, 2020 has been a year like no other. And it has been a year where so many of us have

valued being encouraged by God’s promises through His word. We have so needed to hear them. We have

heard those promises face to face – but also online; and those promises - that hope - has sustained us all.

Great is the Lord! And most worthy of praise!

Despite how different and challenging 2020 has been, God has clearly still been at work. Many new people

have tuned in to our live-stream; many of them relatives of yours! We have had people reach out to ask

questions about Jesus; to meet up with someone to read the Bible; to be prayed for during this time. In the

last few months we have heard of people tuning in from Zimbabwe, Central Asia, the United States, the and

the South Coast of NSW. One lady, from Orange, NSW let us know that she is watching Norwest every week,

and feels deeply engaged with what is going on here. What a privilege to be able to serve people far and

wide at this time. Great is the Lord! And most worthy of praise!

What we trust is clear to us all is that in a season where a lack of clarity has been a hallmark – the important

things have not changed. We still long to see Jesus as King of every heart and every home. There is still a

community of thousands of people around us who need to hear the life changing news of the Lord Jesus

Christ. We all still have family members and friends who are walking in darkness, and who we’d love to

‘walk in the light’.

Brothers and sisters, whilst it might feel slightly out-of-place to speak about pledging at this time, we

believe it to be the right thing to do. For together our financial gifts enable Norwest Anglican to keep

preaching the Gospel, to keep encouraging the saints, and to keep providing hope and life to a world that

does not know it’s right hand from it’s left.

What is Pledging?

Pledging is where each individual or family prayerfully considers the amount they can generously give over

the next calendar year at Norwest, and then communicate that amount anonymously to the Wardens. This

allows the Senior Minister and Wardens to accurately budget according to the amount pledged, instead of

having to make a “best guess” at how much money will be given over the course of the year. It promotes

giving that is planned rather than reactive where there is a deliberate, thoughtful and prayerful setting

apart of regular financial contributions by church members to the ministry of the gospel.

This letter outlines:

• Covid-19 and Norwest Anglican

• Partnering to meet our priorities

• Next steps

Our hope is that every person and family committed to the ministry of the gospel at Norwest Anglican will

read, discuss and pray about these things, and then respond to God with great generosity.

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Covid-19 and Norwest Anglican

As a growing church, each year we normally place before you a growing budget as we look to bring Jesus to

new people in new places and in new ways. However, in light of the season in which we find ourselves, in

2021 we will be taking a slightly different approach. Whilst we absolutely will be seeking to consolidate and

grow our new four services across a Sunday, reach out to a new on-line community with the hope of Jesus,

as well as continue to develop our Mandarin Ministry, for 2021 we want to put before you the same total

budget as 2020. We believe that takes into account the changes that have impacted many of us over the

last 12 months.

Partnering to meet our priorities

Some of you have told us that Covid-19 has not impacted you financially, and that you’d like to give more

than you normally would for a season. Others of you have let us know that you have been financially

impacted, and have needed to adjust your individual or family budget, including your church giving.

Our request for Pledging 2021 therefore, is that those of you who have not been impacted financially by

Covid-19, would pray about increasing your financial giving by 5%. We understand that this is a significant

request, but our hope is that – for a season – this increase will offset those at Norwest who are unable to

give as much (or at all) over the next 12 months.

In light of this, we would like to put before you for your prayerful consideration a general budget for 2021

of $1,114,000. This is the amount that we believe best enables us to continue the work of the gospel at

Norwest.

If you are new to pledging here at Norwest, as a guide in 2020 the average family or individual pledged

approximately $4,800 ($92 per week). This figure is of course an average - some give above this amount

and naturally others are not in a position to give as much. Far from being prescriptive, we hope that

providing you with these figures will aid you in considering what a generous response is in your own

personal situation.

Next steps...

Please consider your pledge as a promise to God of what you will commit to His work here at Norwest next

year. For 2021, there are two ways to anonymously communicate your pledge to us. Once you and your

family have discussed and prayed about your giving in 2021. Either:

⋅ Scan the QR code on the attached slip of paper before Sunday 15th November

or

⋅ return the coloured slip and place it in the Pledging Box at church before Sunday 15th November

We cannot highlight enough how important it is that you communicate your pledge to us. Together,

our pledges determine the decisions concerning staffing and ministry that can be undertaken here

at Norwest Anglican.

Thank you for taking the time to consider and pray about your partnership in the Gospel at Norwest. Be

assured of our prayers for you as you contemplate all we have brought before you. Please talk to any

member of Parish Council or to Pete Stedman at any time if you would like to seek clarification regarding

what is proposed, or to comment about any aspect of our plans for 2021. It is a joy and delight to partner

with you in the work of our Lord.

Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; his greatness no-one can fathom!

Parish Council 2020