We enter the time of the year where Rolling Hills recognizes and affirms leaders for the Mission among us. This time of year is also in line with our fiscal year. Our normal fiscal year runs from July 1 - June 30, so we ask our Active Membership to be aware of our leaders and needs, to pray for them all, and to affirm them together. Why?

“God has put the Body together.” (1 Corinthians 12:24)

“Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, so it is with Christ’s Body. We are many parts of one Body, and we all BELONG TO EACH OTHER.” (Romans 12:4-5)

You’ll know a church is a family when their beliefs turn into the action of “belonging" to one another. This is why—on behalf of our great church’s caring Elders—I hope to encourage and compel you to live life as a member of Rolling Hills Church as if YOU BELONG TO THE OTHER MEMBERS OF THIS FAMILY. Rolling Hills is built upon the truth that God is putting our family together with purpose—redemptive purpose for our neighbors as well as to serve one another well. But this doesn't just happen of its own, does it? It requires a spirit of community, a sense of our being a disciple of Jesus, sacrifice, and even financial contribution from each one of us. (Not merely some of us.) We would be wise to remember that while the Church's provisions definitely come from Heaven, they don't fall from the sky. Heaven provides for Jesus' Church by providing for you and me. Our Mission is funded by His provisions for and through us. God gives us our means so that we are able to give to this mission. And this will always be true for all of His followers.

What you'll see in the forthcoming information: we ask of our members to affirm our coming budget with both an "Amen" as well as with your intentionally-thought-through, cheerfully-given finances. Both are needed so that Rolling Hills has the funding to fulfill truly impactful ministry to the lives God is calling us into. 

When people tithe as well as give out of their generosity, the Kingdom of God can move nearer and deeper into real lives. This, of course, can't help but cost us something in our time and in our finances. So, thank you when you serve the Lord and people with passion and when you give to the Lord and people with enthusiasm. Both are keenly needed and both are asked of us by our Lord. Of course, neither may be easy to do here in the East Bay. Reaching our neighbors with both God's Love and His Word is challenging and it is often also costly. Point of fact: if every family gave a $100 every week to Rolling Hills, we still wouldn't have but half of what our church needs each year. You know how difficult it is to live here financially. Well, it's no different for Jesus' Church here in the San Ramon Valley. We pray that tithing and deep generosity will be your value as it has been for every generation in the life of Jesus' Church. That's built into belonging to a Body like ours that is so driven to be authentic and loving.

One other note about something you might notice here as we enter a new fiscal year. We have seen God provide for us by increasing our next year's rental relationships (others using our space) by nearly $50,000 year-over-year. It still doesn't close the gap of all our anticipated costs and expected giving, but it is, truly, a great help. And these additional funds from friends and organizations we have built connection with in the community might grow even more. We have been developing a relationship with a local Christian Child Care and Preschool organization with 20 years of experience and impact that we hope to bring into our building's Kids' Wing over the coming months which will give new opportunities for the Kingdom of God! You'll hear more about this in coming days.

In the meantime, thank you for taking time to gather this information, bathe it all in prayer, and then be a part of our annual Affirmation Gathering on June 29 (following worship that day).

Lastly, I would like to honor our Elders who labored over discerning God's desires and plans for our church. They work so hard and are trustworthy. I would also like to praise the Staff God has blessed us with. Their enthusiasm for the Lord and people--combined with their integrity, budget-preparations for, and stewardship of our church's resources--is praiseworthy.

Continuing scrolling to read more about our nominated Elders and Deacons as well as the proposed budget for the 25/26 fiscal year.

Blessings, 

John Morlan

Lead Pastor, Rolling Hills Church