October 2023
In the northern hemisphere fall is a season of harvest, a time of thanksgiving. We give thanks for the grace and goodness of God, whose generosity with us is amazing. In response, we look to offer the best of ourselves, of our lives and our labor, in support of God’s mission in the world. As we near the end of 2023 I want to be sure you know how your generosity and giving makes that mission possible.
At RHUMC we invest about $450,000, or 31% of our budget each year in worship. This includes not only our three Sunday services but other seasonal celebrations throughout the year. Worship helps us discover grace and hope for our lives as we gather around the stories of our faith, join our hearts in prayer, and lift our hearts in song. Your gifts provide the resources and support the people who provide stirring and hopeful worship to about 500 people each week, not counting Christmas and Easter!
We also invest in efforts to offer compassion and care in the changing seasons of our lives. We promise to welcome new life and new friends among us, as well as to care for those who have been faithful for many years. Whether in home or hospital, in times of illness or loss, our pastors and Congregational Care Ministers visit regularly with our church family and beyond, sharing Christ’s gifts of healing and hope. That amounts to about 21% of our budget this year, or a little over $300,000.
We are partners in mission with efforts to carry out Christ’s work with people near and far in times of crisis, natural or human disasters. This year we are supporting mission efforts with neighbors in the South Bay, with residents of Lahaina, with missionaries in Japan, in Nepal, in Appalachia and Central America. We also do our part to help carry out the work of our United Methodist Church in educating, training and supporting clergy, and supporting local, national and international leaders. In 2023 that comes to about $250,000, or 16% of our annual budget.
Children and families represent the largest single investment we make each year. About 32% of your gifts each year make possible a generous and hopeful mission in our community and beyond. This includes the people and resources we need to carry out a wonderfully successful Vacation Bible Camp, to provide Nursery and Sunday School for all of our weekly services, space and facilities in which to carry out those programs, and opportunities for hands-on mission for our youth through Sierra Service Project and other efforts. In 2023 we will spend a little over $470,000 in this important work.
On Sunday, October 29, we will celebrate what God is doing through RHUMC. There will be a Celebration Sunday brunch after both morning services, to which everyone is invited. After 3rd service we’ll enjoy Celebration Tacos! As we give thanks for God’s generosity with us in 2023 we have the opportunity to consider our generosity for the year to come. I hope you can join us!
Grace and peace,
