Roy’s Ramblings

So as I write this article this week I am pulled in many directions. First, I thought I would write about the election … but … everyone on social media, in newscasts, and even ALL of the coffee shops (yes – I have been to all of the coffee shops since Tuesday – don’t judge me) … that is the talk/buzz. So I think that that subject is covered.

I then thought I would write about/promote “The Church Has Left the Building” that is happening this Saturday (Nov 9). We need workers here at the church (or at their work site) at 9am to do odd jobs for folks and then come back to the church at noon for lunch together. Mike Goering has all of this under control and I actually have a funeral on Saturday so I will only be here to get things started and then I head to Morgantown for the day. So, with all of that and the fact that there won’t be a lot of time between this email and work … I won’t write about this either.

Now this brings us to Sunday. For the past three weeks I have been loosely touching base with the “Five Practices of a Fruitful Congregation” as a stewardship sermon series and this Sunday is “Extravagant Generosity” and our Pledge Sunday. What does that mean? It is time for us as a church to pledge what we are planning to give this coming year so that our finance team can base our 2025 budget on those pledges. Each ministry team/committee is scheduled to turn in their planned spending by November 15th and we as church leaders will set the new budget at our November meeting (Nov 26). This past year, the church set a deficit budget of approximately $17,000 and we are projected to finish the year about … $17,000 short of budget.

Now we come to the meat of this email – as an attachment you will find a pledge card (they will also be available the next couple of Sundays at worship or in the office if you want to stop by) I ask EVERYONE to please fill one out. Even if you do not plan to pledge … please indicate so and still fill one out. The reason is that we plan on mailing a letter and card to those we haven’t heard from. Then this year, we as a finance team, plan on setting a balanced budget based on pledges and planned income. That may mean that a ministry team or committee may not get funded to the fulness of their asking mainly because there are some expenses that are out of our control. (Insurance, utilities, repairs, etc.) But, we will do the best that we can. So, I encourage you to pledge/give as the Spirt leads you and support your church by your: Prayers, Presence, Gifts, Service, and Witness as we all said in our membership vows.

Blessings to/for Us All – Pastor Roy