Looking Ahead to 2026

It is just unbelievable to me that it is December! Where did this year go? We were putting up our Christmas decorations the other day in the parsonage, and I looked at Sara and said, "Didn't we just do this?" When I was younger, I would hear people say that time went faster the older they got. I guess I didn't really believe it until now!

No matter how quickly it seems to have happened, it is true! We are into the final month of 2025! I love this month and all the joy and hope that it brings. There is such peace and comfort in our Advent celebrations, and everyone seems to be just a little bit kinder and filled with a love-infused holiday spirit! (OK, I know that is not always true, but let me live in this moment for just a bit!) I believe we each have the ability to make the Christmas season a special time, filled with anticipation and neighborly love! It's a choice we make.

The last month of the year also has some practical realities. Here at the church, we are creating a budget for next year and evaluating our financial position (something we actually do all year long). I apologize that we have not listed our financial position in the weekly email and bulletin for the past few months. Sometimes things fall through the cracks when we are busy. Please know it was not intentional. Also, know that you are more than welcome to come and ask me any question that is on your mind or remind me if we have forgotten something like including the financials. 

The November financial overview (and our year-to-date financials) are included in this newsletter. Mary Olson will add her comments next week when she returns to Florida. I will add that we are in a good financial position despite rising costs and difficult financial times for many of us (for instance, did you know our church property insurance is about $110,000 per year?). On the plus side, we received a $100,000 unrestricted bequest from the Mary Ann Causley estate, which was very helpful this year, and many of you fulfilled your pledges and gave generously. We are also seeing an increase in our facility use income. 

We have worked diligently to be good stewards of these funds as our Children's Ministry grows, and our attendance shows an increase despite other churches’ attendance declining. Our trustees do much work themselves instead of paying vendors, and we have some incredibly generous anonymous donors who fund our wonderful meals, events, and decorations around the church. Thank you all for your generosity and hard work in helping our church grow and be a place where everyone feels comfortable and cared for. Please continue your generous giving so we may finish the year off strong.

And now, we begin to focus on next year. We have a challenge ahead of us as we work on keeping our spending at an acceptable level and work towards funding our 2026 budget that is currently being worked on by our ministry leaders and the finance committee. In our Book of Discipline, the finance committee is tasked with funding the budget, but in reality, it is everyone's job! Our Endowment Committee invests and oversees our $3.5 million endowment. We never touch the principal + COLA (Cost Of Living Adjustment) but the interest from our investments is available to us (by vote of Church Council) and we used a portion last year to fund property maintenance and repairs. We also anticipate growth in our facility use donations/income from our updated bunk rooms. And we will be asking for your 2026 pledges (estimate of your tithes and offerings) in the next few months.

All of this hard work requires "out of the box" thinking. Churches can no longer fund their budgets solely on tithes and offerings. The churches that thrive and grow are finding new ways to fund their budgets. So, for next year we are asking for your help. We need to source and apply for grants. Do you have experience with grant writing? If so, we need your help.

We will need to explore new avenues of fundraising and community partnerships. Is this one of your skills? Please let us know that you can help. We need to let people know about our amazing bunk rooms. Are you well connected or great with advertising and social media? If so, we need you! 

I believe the future of this church is bright. We are a loving place, where all are welcome, and we are a group of people who truly love God and one another. We can do this if we stick together, talk to and listen to one another, ask questions of the people who have the answers and commit to always having open minds and hearts filled with love. And above all, let's be in prayer together to discern where God is taking us in 2026.

42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved." (Acts 2:42-47)

Grace and Peace 

-Pastor Madeline