Covenant Member Update, November 2024
Hi Park Church family,
Around this time of year, many of us brace ourselves for the onslaught of holiday happenings—some welcomed, some not so much. Here’s an invitation to pause.
Is there anything that would be helpful to say “No” to this season? Or, “Not in the same way”? Are there other things that deserve a refreshed “Yes”? At times, Jesus engaged the crowds. Other times, he withdrew to be alone, pray, and get some rest (Mark 6:30–46). May this be a season that we discern the right spaces for each.
As we enter Advent and the end of the calendar year (but the start of the Christian year!), we have three areas to highlight (plus a few tidbits at the end).
Financial Update & End-of-Year Giving
Here is a look at our financial picture at Park Church.
FISCAL 2024–2025 YEAR-TO-DATE (Aug-Oct)
| Total Income | Total Expenses | Surplus/Deficit | |
| ’24–’25 Actual: | $645,240* | $660,217 | (14,977)** |
| ’24–’25 Budgeted | $654,362 | $690,805 | (36,443) |
| Campaign Fund | $256,587 | — | — |
*After our first quarter, we are tracking $9,122 below our anticipated giving
**Since our actual expenses have also been down (by $30,588), our actual deficit is $21,466 less than budgeted. We budget a deficit prior to the end of the calendar year in light of anticipated greater end-of-year giving.
We are grateful for the financial health we are continuing to experience this year. As our covenant members, we recognize it is largely through your generosity that God is sustaining financial stability for our church family.
As we shared at our last family meeting, this stability is met with a refreshed sense of direction and a call toward investing in family discipleship, our building project, church planting, and other initiatives that will further our mission to make disciples of Jesus for the glory of God and the joy of all people. We will continue unfolding the vision and direction around this in the new year.
End-of-Year Giving
Right now, we are asking our church family to help us reach our year-end goal of $682,015 by the end of the calendar year. This will allow us to stay on track as we enter 2025.
Here’s where we are right now:
EOY Goal: $682,015
Received: $110,772
Remaining: $571,243
Will you prayerfully consider an additional year-end offering to Park Church to help move the needle toward our goal? As a reminder, here are the current ways you can give towards the mission of Park Church:
- Online: Log into your Gyve account or set one up here.
- In-Person: You can make a donation during our Sunday services by depositing cash or checks in the “Giving” boxes near the back of the foyer and gallery.
- By Mail: You can send a check to Park Church at 3025 W 37th Ave, Denver, CO 80211.
- By Gifting Stock: If you are interested in gifting stocks to Park Church, we’re grateful and able to receive them! Please email john@parkchurch.org.
- Cryptocurrency: We are able to receive cryptocurrency. If you would like to pursue giving this way, please email neil@parkchurch.org.
General information about giving to Park Church can be found at parkchurch.org.give.
As many of you know, several staff members working within different teams at Park Church raise support for their salaries. Would you consider financially supporting one of them as well? You can find more info on our leadership page.
Advent & the Apocalypse
The Book of Revelation (or, “The Apocalypse of John”) offers a helpful lens through which to explore the season of Advent. We are invited to consider how the church is to live between the first arrival of Jesus—where God’s light broke into the world—and Christ’s second coming–when all of the darkness and death will finally and fully give way to the glory of God’s new creation. In this “time between” the comings, we face trials and tribulations of all shapes and sizes and experience the unveiling of the presence of Jesus amid those challenges. The reality of Jesus’ coming truly strengthens us to experience the hope, love, joy, and peace Christ secured for us as we wait for Him to come again.
Here’s where we’re headed:
- December 1: Revelation 1:4–8: The Apocalypse & Hope
- December 8: Revelation 2:1–7: The Apocalypse & Love
- December 15: Revelation 19:6–9: The Apocalypse & Joy
- December 22: Revelation 21:1–6: The Apocalypse & Peace
- Christmas Eve: Revelation 12:1–17: The Dragon at the Nativity Scene
Advent Events
Advent Weekly Prayer:
Wednesdays, December 4–8 • 12–12:45pm • Gallery
Advent Hymn Sing:
Thursday, December 12 • 6:30–7:30pm
Advent Devotional (Free)
Starting this Sunday, December 1, grab your free copy of Everyday Gospel: Christmas Devotional by Paul David Tripp. The devotional includes a passage of Scripture, a brief reading, and a prayer for each day of Advent. We hope this small gift strengthens your experience of the season and orients your hearts toward our coming King. Look for these at the welcome desk.
New Staff Team Members
Whitney Grimm, External Events Coordinator
Whitney is a Colorado native who has been part of the Park Church community since 2022. She is a gifted artist, designer, and visionary for beautiful events. In this role, Whitney will serve the church by coordinating all components of facilities usage for weddings and other external events held at the Park Church building. This is key to stewarding our beautiful old building as a gift to the broader community. We’re excited for her to join the team.
Kate Elgie, Executive Assistant
Kate joined Park Church a little over one year ago after moving to Denver. She currently leads a Gospel Community and serves on the Welcome Team. In this position, Kate will work to carry strategy into implementation, streamline communication, and oversee various ministries and initiatives into execution–all working toward our mission to make disciples of Jesus for the glory of God and the joy of all people. We’re grateful she’s joining the team! Kate will officially jump into the role in December.
Tidbits at the End
- Reminder to keep an eye out for our upcoming Vision Gatherings. We’re finalizing the dates and details. If you’re eager to secure a slot, please email me! neil@parkchurch.org
- Are you aware of anyone looking to work for the local church, use their gifts, gain experience, and be developed? Please direct them to our Ministry Residency program. Information is up, and applications will open in a couple of weeks.
- As the holiday season approaches, we often spend more time with extended family. This may be a good time to revisit our Family of God series from earlier this year to reorient us toward Jesus and what is going on inside and around us. These sermons and resources will provide a good context for awareness, conversation, and growth.
Grace and peace,
Neil Long
Executive Pastor
Covenant Member Resources
This page is home to Covenant Member updates, Family Meeting recordings, and digital versions of reports, shown from most recent to least.
Covenant Member Update: August 2024
Sunday, August 25, 2024
What does it mean for a human person to flourish? What is required to experience the "life and life to the full" Jesus has designed for us?
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Friday, March 22, 2024
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Monday, October 23, 2023
Whenever the people of God (that is, the church) come together on a Sunday or in a Gospel Community, we can be understood as the "church gathered," people gathered to worship God and grow together.
See More ›Covenant Member Update: July 2023
Wednesday, July 12, 2023
In 2008 a couple dozen people gathered in a Highlands basement for a weekly Bible study with the hopes of joining God in a movement toward Gospel renewal in Denver.
See More ›Family Meeting: May 21, 2023
Sunday, May 21, 2023
Covenant Member Update: April 2023
Wednesday, April 12, 2023
A tension runs throughout my life that's arguably nowhere more pronounced than during this time of year. Maybe you can relate. I desire for my life to be oriented around and structured toward the voice and presence of Jesus. When asked what determines my priorities, my time, my thought life, I want my answer to be a perpetual, "the personal triune God, of course"...
See More ›Family Meeting: February 12, 2023
Sunday, February 12, 2023
A time for Covenant Members to celebrate what God is doing, pray over what He may do next, and share a meal together.
See More ›Covenant Member Update: December 2022
Sunday, December 18, 2022
Covenant Member Update, November 2024 Hi Park Church family, Around this time of year, many of us brace ourselves for […]
See More ›Family Meeting: November 14, 2022
Monday, November 14, 2022
Family Meetings are a time for Covenant Members and members in-process to look back on God's kindness, get updates on where we are now, and look forward to what God will do in the months and years to come.
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Semester Update Booklet: Fall 2022
Monday, November 14, 2022
This report was handed out at our Family Meeting on November 14, 2022.
See More ›Covenant Member Update: October 2022
Wednesday, October 12, 2022
Our elders and staff routinely sit back in awe at God's kindness at Park Church. The past year or so has introduced heartache we never wished for, some of which was self-wrought. We’re humbled and yet remain grateful. We’re humbled by what we now see but didn't before (and are still learning). We’re humbled and grateful at how God has preserved us with such remarkable grace to be where we are right now. And we’re incredibly grateful we have the privilege to pastor and minister within a church family that includes each of you. Thank you for your continued presence, care, and investment.
See More ›An Update on the Basement
Wednesday, September 14, 2022
If you've been downstairs at the Park Church building in the last year, you've noticed the plastic sheeting, the scaffolding, and the bare concrete...
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Christian Practices Survey Report: August 2022
Thursday, September 1, 2022
This survey was conducted mid-service on Sunday, August 21, 2022 at Park Church as a part of our annual Mission series. Responses were collected anonymously through an online form and paper response sheets. This report exists to make the results accessible to our congregation for discussion and growth.
See More ›Sunday Worship Gathering Updates
Wednesday, November 24, 2021
Earlier this week the Denver County Health Department issued a Public Health order requiring masks at all indoor public gatherings. Starting this Sunday, November 28th, we will be requiring masks at all Park Church gatherings.
See More ›Covenant Membership Renewal
Wednesday, November 3, 2021
Through the broken body and shed blood of Jesus, those who trust in Him are ushered into covenant relationship with the Triune God and with the spiritual family He has created...
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Annual Report: 2022–2021
Monday, October 25, 2021
This report was handed out at our Family Meeting on October 25, 2021.
See More ›Sunday Worship Gathering Updates
Wednesday, August 4, 2021
It has been a gift to gather in-person again after a long and often lonely season. We are so thankful for this, yet we also recognize that this pandemic is not over. We are all working through how to live in that difficult tension...
See More ›Sunday Worship Gathering Updates
Wednesday, May 19, 2021
We are encouraged by recent announcements from the CDC and the City of Denver that vaccinated people can go without wearing masks in most indoor and all outdoor environments.
See More ›Family Meeting, January 31 2021
Sunday, January 31, 2021
A panel of Park Church staff and members discussed Park Church Downtown and responded to questions.
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