Quarterly Letter, January 2021
Dear Church Family,
As we close the books on 2020, we continue to have amazing news regarding the financial position of the church! During the past year we have been reporting that “with 2019 as the only exception,” 2020 was on pace to represent the highest level of giving toward the Unified Budget in at least 10 years. Well, now thanks to a surge in your December giving, we can remove that exception and report that giving in 2020 was the most received in any year since 2005, including 2019! It ended up actually being 1% higher than last year. The total revenue was $473,000, which was $23,500 more than actual 2020 expenses! This gives us a healthy Unified Budget Fund Balance of $90,000 going into 2021.
Everyone knows what a challenge the pandemic wrought for the year 2020. For FUMER it kept most of us from worshiping in person in our sanctuary most of the year. However, these numbers help demonstrate it didn’t stop us from being the church. Through your steadfast financial support, you made possible things like online worship services and devotionals, drive-in worship services, and eventually live-streaming over the internet. Your gifts also supported missionaries and relief work around the country and around the world. You supported staff and volunteers who figured out how to work in new and creative ways to keep the mission and vision going in a new world governed by the rules and protocols of a deadly pandemic.
You also went the extra mile. In addition to your record giving to the Unified Budget, when the call went out you gave an additional $19,000 for video equipment so services could be streamed on the internet. This was just a year after coming up with an extra $25,000 for the electronic digital sign (which was installed just in time for the pandemic!) And, of course, you gave in all those “extra” areas where you are generous every year, such as the Building Fund, the “Hungry World,” and the Pastor’s Discretionary Fund. Your heart and desire for giving above and beyond is truly one of those “Lessons Learned Along the Way,” that was our stewardship theme last fall.
Despite or because of the issues of 2020 you seemed particularly determined to give to benefit others by making financial gifts even though there wasn’t an offering plate to pass. You did it through the mail, electronically, and by dropping off checks in person. Looking ahead into 2021 we have no reason to doubt that you will continue to be the faithful and generous congregation that you demonstrated yourselves to be in 2020. Your outpouring of financial support is amazing and appreciated!
On behalf of the Finance Committee,
Steven Peters, Chair
Dear Church Family,
As we close the books on 2020, we continue to have amazing news regarding the financial position of the church! During the past year we have been reporting that “with 2019 as the only exception,” 2020 was on pace to represent the highest level of giving toward the Unified Budget in at least 10 years. Well, now thanks to a surge in your December giving, we can remove that exception and report that giving in 2020 was the most received in any year since 2005, including 2019! It ended up actually being 1% higher than last year. The total revenue was $473,000, which was $23,500 more than actual 2020 expenses! This gives us a healthy Unified Budget Fund Balance of $90,000 going into 2021.
Everyone knows what a challenge the pandemic wrought for the year 2020. For FUMER it kept most of us from worshiping in person in our sanctuary most of the year. However, these numbers help demonstrate it didn’t stop us from being the church. Through your steadfast financial support, you made possible things like online worship services and devotionals, drive-in worship services, and eventually live-streaming over the internet. Your gifts also supported missionaries and relief work around the country and around the world. You supported staff and volunteers who figured out how to work in new and creative ways to keep the mission and vision going in a new world governed by the rules and protocols of a deadly pandemic.
You also went the extra mile. In addition to your record giving to the Unified Budget, when the call went out you gave an additional $19,000 for video equipment so services could be streamed on the internet. This was just a year after coming up with an extra $25,000 for the electronic digital sign (which was installed just in time for the pandemic!) And, of course, you gave in all those “extra” areas where you are generous every year, such as the Building Fund, the “Hungry World,” and the Pastor’s Discretionary Fund. Your heart and desire for giving above and beyond is truly one of those “Lessons Learned Along the Way,” that was our stewardship theme last fall.
Despite or because of the issues of 2020 you seemed particularly determined to give to benefit others by making financial gifts even though there wasn’t an offering plate to pass. You did it through the mail, electronically, and by dropping off checks in person. Looking ahead into 2021 we have no reason to doubt that you will continue to be the faithful and generous congregation that you demonstrated yourselves to be in 2020. Your outpouring of financial support is amazing and appreciated!
On behalf of the Finance Committee,
Steven Peters, Chair