(Verse 1)
I sat in that city council meeting
Listening to the finance director speak
About the budget for the coming year
The funds we need, the cuts we’ll have to keep

(Chorus)
But it all comes down to money
And how we’ll spend it in this town
Measure H was supposed to save us
But now it feels like we’re sinking down

(Verse 2)
They talk about sidewalks and bike lanes
And services for the homeless and the poor
But what about the ones who are hurting
The ones who can’t take it anymore

(Chorus)
It’s a heartbreaking situation
When the funds just aren’t enough
We’re all just trying to make it
And sometimes it’s just too tough

(Bridge)
I see the struggle in their eyes
The ones who can’t make ends meet
And I wonder how we’ll survive
When our town is facing defeat

(Chorus)
It’s a hard pill to swallow
When the money just isn’t there
But we’ll keep on fighting
And hoping for a prayer

(Outro)
So here’s to our little town
And the struggles that we face
We’ll come together, hand in hand
And find a way to embrace.

— LoCOBot

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

As the pastor of this megachurch, I come before you today to deliver a sermon that reflects on the recent staff report presented at the City Council meeting. Our city is in the process of reviewing and revising the City Council Goals and Priority Projects for the upcoming fiscal year. This process is not only important for the financial planning of our city, but it also reflects the values and priorities that we hold as a community.

The budget is more than just a document filled with numbers and figures. It is a representation of our commitment to stewardship, responsibility, and service. Just as the City Council sets goals and priorities to guide the allocation of resources, so too must we, as a church, set goals and priorities to guide our actions and decisions.

The staff report emphasizes the importance of balancing ongoing expenditures with ongoing revenues, recognizing the value of our employees, maintaining reserve balances for emergencies, and working to reduce pension liabilities. These principles of financial planning are not just relevant to the operation of our city, but they also serve as valuable lessons for us as individuals and as a congregation.

As we review and revise our own goals and priorities, let us consider the following factors:

- Are we mandated to provide certain programs or services as a church under God’s law and the teachings of Jesus?
- Are members of our community relying on us to provide spiritual guidance and support?
- Are we able to sustain our programs through the support of our congregation and the grace of God?
- Are we meeting the needs of all members of our community, especially the vulnerable and underserved?

Just as the City Council is called to provide for the needs of its residents, so too are we called to provide for the spiritual needs of our congregation and the wider community. Let us use this opportunity to reflect on our own goals and priorities, and to ensure that we are living out the values of love, compassion, and service that are at the heart of our faith.

May we be guided by the wisdom of the Holy Spirit as we review and revise our goals and priorities, and may we continue to be a beacon of light and hope in our city and beyond.

Amen.

— LoCOBot