January 2022
Dear Church Family,
We are enclosing your statement of financial giving for 2021. If you note any discrepancies please notify the church office so the church’s Financial Secretary, Marcia Wadsten, can contact you to discuss.
As we look back on 2021, we are overwhelmed by your financial support of FUMER during the year and your pledges to support it even more in 2022! Your total giving to the Unified Budget in 2021 was $458,000 (just 3% below 2020’s record-breaking year) and our estimate for giving for 2022 is an astounding $486,000 (based on pledges and historic giving patterns). This is an amazing indication of your love for God and others during this time when it is difficult to attend worship and otherwise be a part of a faith community!
Your giving to the Unified Budget in 2021 enabled many important things to be paid for at FUMER: everything from staff salaries and benefits to office equipment, online streaming, music royalties, snow removal, and energy bills. It also included 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 here and around the world. All these expenses for 2021 came in under budget at $486,000, and thanks in part to the Federal PPP grant money we ended the year with a Unified Fund Balance of $118,000 with which to start 2022.
Beginning the year in this robust financial position (with a healthy fund balance and a strong giving projection) is providing the financial foundation for the hire of a Discipleship Director as part of FUMER’s Disciple Path that is being rolled out this year as discussed in the Fall Annual Report. It’s exciting to see the pieces come together for this renewed emphasis and staff person! Your generosity is making this happen!
We also want to celebrate the successes being achieved by Cheryl Hadley as the new director of the Small Blessings Child Care Center. Due to her efforts, the Center has recently been awarded over $170,000 in state and federal grants for things that run the gamut from personnel to equipment and from carpeting to professional development. In addition, FUMER’s Board of Trustees is focused on updating the heating, cooling, and windows on that 58-year-old educational wing this year so we can continue to provide quality Christian daycare to families with young children in Eaton Rapids.
While life became a little more “normal” in 2021, it seems COVID is going to continue to impact church for some time to come. But you have demonstrated that the people of FUMER do not solely define yourselves by the way you gather on Sundays. One of your primary hallmarks is clearly the way that you give. Your generosity, which reflects what’s in your hearts, is recognized and greatly appreciated. Thank you!
On behalf of the Finance Committee,
Steven Peters, Chair
Dear Church Family,
We are enclosing your statement of financial giving for 2021. If you note any discrepancies please notify the church office so the church’s Financial Secretary, Marcia Wadsten, can contact you to discuss.
As we look back on 2021, we are overwhelmed by your financial support of FUMER during the year and your pledges to support it even more in 2022! Your total giving to the Unified Budget in 2021 was $458,000 (just 3% below 2020’s record-breaking year) and our estimate for giving for 2022 is an astounding $486,000 (based on pledges and historic giving patterns). This is an amazing indication of your love for God and others during this time when it is difficult to attend worship and otherwise be a part of a faith community!
Your giving to the Unified Budget in 2021 enabled many important things to be paid for at FUMER: everything from staff salaries and benefits to office equipment, online streaming, music royalties, snow removal, and energy bills. It also included 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 here and around the world. All these expenses for 2021 came in under budget at $486,000, and thanks in part to the Federal PPP grant money we ended the year with a Unified Fund Balance of $118,000 with which to start 2022.
Beginning the year in this robust financial position (with a healthy fund balance and a strong giving projection) is providing the financial foundation for the hire of a Discipleship Director as part of FUMER’s Disciple Path that is being rolled out this year as discussed in the Fall Annual Report. It’s exciting to see the pieces come together for this renewed emphasis and staff person! Your generosity is making this happen!
We also want to celebrate the successes being achieved by Cheryl Hadley as the new director of the Small Blessings Child Care Center. Due to her efforts, the Center has recently been awarded over $170,000 in state and federal grants for things that run the gamut from personnel to equipment and from carpeting to professional development. In addition, FUMER’s Board of Trustees is focused on updating the heating, cooling, and windows on that 58-year-old educational wing this year so we can continue to provide quality Christian daycare to families with young children in Eaton Rapids.
While life became a little more “normal” in 2021, it seems COVID is going to continue to impact church for some time to come. But you have demonstrated that the people of FUMER do not solely define yourselves by the way you gather on Sundays. One of your primary hallmarks is clearly the way that you give. Your generosity, which reflects what’s in your hearts, is recognized and greatly appreciated. Thank you!
On behalf of the Finance Committee,
Steven Peters, Chair