Closing a fiscal year is actually exciting!

We’re going to be gathering for our first annual congregational meeting this weekend, and it’s actually exciting! There is so much to celebrate. I don’t normally think about “closing out a fiscal year” (a financial twelve month period) as a time that calls for balloons and streamers, but that’s exactly what feels appropriate this year.

We’ve had our first year as Kitsap House! We have a great crew of people who have committed to this community and have ordained local elders. Our local giving has grown, and I’ve been able to call 12 churches and say – okay! – time to direct our giving collectively to yet another church plant (including 5% of Kitsap House giving!). We’re planting other churches together!

And all those just look like statistics next to the joy of the neighbors who have become friends who are now following Jesus with us. Take my friend Kirsten whose son shared a kindergarten class with our son. Over a year of birthday parties and PTA griping we bonded. Then there were the Kids Night in/Parents Night Out and Christmas events and the three invites she received to Alpha bringing her in the door before – big leap here– she joined staff, came through Practicing the Way, and made a commitment of her own to God and this community! And now we all wonder how we functioned before kirsten@kitsaphouse.org was a thing!

So join us for all those kinds of stories and celebrations - the statistics, the questions you have about where Kitsap House is going next year, the stories of new friendships - all over a good, old fashioned potluck at 703 Kitsap Street after the service this Sunday.

We’ll have a huddle at 12:30 to bullet point last years’ celebrations and make a point about some of next years’ goals. Everyone is welcome! And all those who have committed to this community are especially encouraged to attend.

Hope to see you Sunday!

Pastor Megan