July 2024
Dear Church Family,
As we begin the second half of 2024, there is so much to celebrate and be thankful for at FUMER. The Casual Service is being reinvigorated with a new Worship Director. Our children and youth are increasingly engaged in church with a Discipleship Director and Youth Director on staff. Worship Through Music Sunday once again celebrated the diverse role music plays in our lives at FUMER. Faith Adventures (VBS) was a huge success as it engaged the children of our daycare. Young and old alike gathered on the shores of Lake Michigan for family camp while another contingency goes on a mission trip to the UP. As you know, FUMER supplies different groups of volunteers who regularly support efforts like the Food Bank’s backpack and mobile food pantry programs, Cinderella’s Closet, funeral receptions, and more. Our renovated Christian daycare has a waiting list. The February capital campaign for the new roof on the Addition exceeded all expectations. These are just some of the indicators of a healthy and vibrant church that your support makes possible!
However, as discussed in our April letter, giving toward the Unified Budget has fallen behind last year’s pace, causing us to continue to consume our Fund Balance to pay expenses. Specifically, through June 30, contributions were $231,500. This was down 7.7% from the same period last year and fell $17,000 short of actual expenses of $248,500. (We had budgeted for expenses through June of $275,000.) Efforts to manage expenses continue (for example, volunteers are mowing, eligible capital expenses are being paid from the Endowment Fund, spending is being postponed when possible, etc.) But an increase in giving is needed in the second half of the year to sustain the programs, missions, and ministries of our church.
As a reminder, your giving to the Unified Budget helps to pay for the basics like staff salaries and benefits, office equipment, online streaming, music and video licenses, and energy bills. It also includes paying 100% of our Ministry Shares at both the Conference and District levels as part of our connectional giving as United Methodists, partnering to make a difference around the world. Gifts to the Building Fund help pay down the church’s mortgage for past capital improvements and help fund present and future ones as well. Every dollar you give to these two funds makes a real difference!
Summer is traditionally a time when churches experience a decline in attendance and with it a falloff in giving. Fortunately, this has never been a serious problem at First Church. Because many folks now use electronic giving it is even less of a concern than in years past. (Info on e-giving is available on the website or from the office.) Please remember that regardless of whether you are in the pew on Sunday or not, the church’s operating expenses continue every day, the ministries go on, and the missionaries are still in the field. Your financial support is what makes these things happen. Thank you for being generous with what God has given you!
On behalf of the Finance Committee,
Steven Peters, Chair
Dear Church Family,
As we begin the second half of 2024, there is so much to celebrate and be thankful for at FUMER. The Casual Service is being reinvigorated with a new Worship Director. Our children and youth are increasingly engaged in church with a Discipleship Director and Youth Director on staff. Worship Through Music Sunday once again celebrated the diverse role music plays in our lives at FUMER. Faith Adventures (VBS) was a huge success as it engaged the children of our daycare. Young and old alike gathered on the shores of Lake Michigan for family camp while another contingency goes on a mission trip to the UP. As you know, FUMER supplies different groups of volunteers who regularly support efforts like the Food Bank’s backpack and mobile food pantry programs, Cinderella’s Closet, funeral receptions, and more. Our renovated Christian daycare has a waiting list. The February capital campaign for the new roof on the Addition exceeded all expectations. These are just some of the indicators of a healthy and vibrant church that your support makes possible!
However, as discussed in our April letter, giving toward the Unified Budget has fallen behind last year’s pace, causing us to continue to consume our Fund Balance to pay expenses. Specifically, through June 30, contributions were $231,500. This was down 7.7% from the same period last year and fell $17,000 short of actual expenses of $248,500. (We had budgeted for expenses through June of $275,000.) Efforts to manage expenses continue (for example, volunteers are mowing, eligible capital expenses are being paid from the Endowment Fund, spending is being postponed when possible, etc.) But an increase in giving is needed in the second half of the year to sustain the programs, missions, and ministries of our church.
As a reminder, your giving to the Unified Budget helps to pay for the basics like staff salaries and benefits, office equipment, online streaming, music and video licenses, and energy bills. It also includes paying 100% of our Ministry Shares at both the Conference and District levels as part of our connectional giving as United Methodists, partnering to make a difference around the world. Gifts to the Building Fund help pay down the church’s mortgage for past capital improvements and help fund present and future ones as well. Every dollar you give to these two funds makes a real difference!
Summer is traditionally a time when churches experience a decline in attendance and with it a falloff in giving. Fortunately, this has never been a serious problem at First Church. Because many folks now use electronic giving it is even less of a concern than in years past. (Info on e-giving is available on the website or from the office.) Please remember that regardless of whether you are in the pew on Sunday or not, the church’s operating expenses continue every day, the ministries go on, and the missionaries are still in the field. Your financial support is what makes these things happen. Thank you for being generous with what God has given you!
On behalf of the Finance Committee,
Steven Peters, Chair