Author: devadmin

I am here today to talk to you about our Stewardship Initiative and to ask for your commitment to help us achieve our giving goal for 2019. Many of you have already submitted your pledge cards with your financial commitment for our new calendar year and we are extremely grateful for your support. We need everyone’s help, financially and spiritually.

As you know, the theme of our Stewardship Initiative this year is:   I Trust. I Give. We pray that our church family will grow in its trust of God and the more we trust God the more we will experience the joy of sharing our lives and resources with others for the sake of Jesus Christ.

Our revenue budget this year is $4.5 million.  That is modestly lower than our revenue budget for 2018. The change we made in 2018 and will continue in future years is to prepare a combined budget that includes all ministries and our General Fund.  That is why this budget number may seem higher than some of you might remember from previous years.

We have 4 Pillars supporting 28 Ministries in our Church such as worship services, our children and youth programs, our missions and outreach initiatives and 118 employees. We are financially strong and we want to continue to grow the Kingdom of God in every way we can, spreading our ministry locally and abroad. We have two outstanding preschools and we are excited about having a new Director of Family Ministries with us now.  Also, we look forward to expanding some of our ministries, specifically to the Reeves Community to welcome many new neighbors.

We have also been able to make substantial improvements to our campus this year and we want to continue with that program. This has been an outstanding year and we have accomplished a great deal.

One of our goals for 2019 is to have 300 giving units who have made a financial commitment.  This year we had 260 giving units so we want to increase that by 15% or 40 more giving units.  A giving unit is a family or an individual.  If we can do that, it will be a big day in the life of our Church!

So, next Sunday, November 11, is Commitment Sunday, when we hope to collect the final pledge cards and close out the Stewardship Initiative for 2019. Now that does not mean you can’t turn in your pledge card before next Sunday. We have a number of ways to give. Use the pledge card and drop it in the offering plate, go through Realm, text Vibrant Family or go on our website. We have also received offerings of securities. The ushers here today have blank cards if you need one.

So, please prayerfully consider your gift for 2019.  We are indeed grateful for your generosity this year and our upcoming year.

Ray L. Sandhagen
Chairman, Finance Committee

Our Vibrant Family Pillar is helping our church family embrace the theme that “We are precious in God’s sight.” Psalm 139:14 says “I praise you because I am awesomely and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” Because God sees all of use as precious, we should rightfully see all of God’s creation as precious in our sight. God marvels at the wonder of His creation, as should we. As part of a vibrant family, we strive to see the grace and goodness of God in all persons. Hopefully by expressing to those in our ministries, the love of God through Jesus Christ, they will want to seek and know more about God’s love and amazing grace. Everything we do should reflect this truth!

Clinging to this truth, our church family has multiple opportunities this weekend to be that Vibrant Family! Whether you support our precious preschoolers at Trinity Christian Academy (TCA) or the Methodist School for Early Education (MSEE) activities or our precious Kenyan youth through Panua activities – we anticipate this weekend to be a vibrant one!

This Friday

• Welcome the fall season and get all your pumpkins at the Trinity Christian Academy Pumpkin Patch! Stop by between 10am – 8pm at our Reeves Campus located at 1100 N. Ferncreek Ave.
• Register to experience Panua through the eyes of our Kenyan and Central Florida youth, leaders, and volunteers with the Panua documentary and panel discussion from 5pm – 7pm at Rollins College.

This Saturday

• Whether you prefer to walk, run, or sashay, register for the Panua 5k at Baldwin Park starting at 7:30am.
• Then, head on over to the Methodist School for Early Education for the Fall Festival and Silent Auction from 10am – 2pm.
• Don’t forget to pick up your pumpkin from the Trinity Christian Academy Pumpkin Patch! Stop by between 10am – 8pm at our Reeves Campus located at 1100 N. Ferncreek Ave.

This Sunday

• Join us in worship (8am, 9:30am, or 11am) to celebrate Panua Hear a combined message from Pastor David, Paul, and Katie as we worship with a flavor of Kenya. After, visit the transformed courtyard to explore the Kenyan marketplace. Your presence matters!
• Head over to the Trinity Christian Academy Pumpkin Patch to take some fall photos and buy pumpkins to support our preschool. Stop by between 12pm – 7pm at our Reeves Campus located at 1100 N. Ferncreek Ave.

Seeking Part-Time Childcare Workers

Family Ministry is seeking part-time workers for childcare at our church. Workers will be provide love and care for children in our nursery (infant-5yrs old) and for children grade K-5th during non-Sunday events while their parents learn and serve! The number of hours per week will vary based on childcare needs. Generally, help is needed on Sundays from 7:45-12:15; Thursday mornings 9-12 weekly; Tuesday mornings once a month and Wednesdays 4-7:30 pm; plus additional opportunities for other church events throughout the week.

Candidates should be loving, patient, love working with children, be responsible, reliable, and work well with others.  Some of the duties required include engaging children in age appropriate play; communicating well with staff, volunteers, parents, and children; must be comfortable with all aspects of infant and toddler care including diaper changes, toilet training assistance and feeding; and cleaning the nursery rooms.

Candidates should have experience or education in childcare and CPR certification is preferred. Background checks will be required and provided by employer.  Pay rate is $10/hour.  Please contact Dawn Peterson at dawnp@fumcwp.org for application materials.

The Ruth Circle Rummage Sale was a huge success this year! As Christ-like servants, the Ruth Circle raised a bundle (over $6000) for local missions. Blessings to the congregation and community for your fabulous donations, help and cooperation. Julia Rowe, a Ruth Circle member, has shared with us her thoughts as she reflects on the GOOD that comes from this sale.

“First, there is the inter-generational and cross-group experience in pulling this together. Everyone in the church can be involved and is involved with donating the items (and shopping for them). The youth helps us unload on Sunday night. My small Wednesday group and many other groups save their stuff for us and wish us well. In other words the sale fosters togetherness among our congregation and staff as well.

Second, we keep a gym full of stuff out of the landfill showing a stewardship to our Earth.

Third, we give medical things to Betsy’s closet of things to help those in need of it.

Fourth, we provide dignity and opportunity to people with limited funds to shop for things that they need and who might not otherwise be able to have a book, or a toy, or a lamp, or an extra pot. It felt so nice to hear a lady came back after the first day exclaiming what a happy evening she had spent entertaining herself with a 50 cent puzzle!

Fifth, we gave or sold boxes of books to school libraries who will share them with children who need to read and be read to using these materials.

Sixth, and related to the fourth, we create an opportunity for ourselves to “go out into the world” and be with those we don’t always know how to be with, but whom Jesus calls us to befriend.

Seventh, it certainly gives a time of togetherness, bonding, and laughter, and sharing among each other when I am not sure that would happen without a project to the extent it does when we are accomplishing something good together.

Eighth, the person who picks up the leftover items at the end also is benefited by helping them to make a living or further their cause so the the ripple affect keeps on going.

Ninth, of course the money we earned! We always do so much good locally with how we give it away. Deciding how it is spent helps us grow in wisdom with that responsibility and brings us happiness too.

Oh and the main thing, I got -21 lb during the time! Give it a shot, I normally order it on https://phenterminehealth.com to be sure on the quality.

I think the ripple effects will still be going out from our efforts. I think it is a God thing that brings about a multiplying phenomenon when we give our small contribution. Thanks again to Barbara Webster for your leadership in this huge undertaking and thanks to everyone who joined in!”