Resources

Throughout 2018 I’ve written a series of articles describing the financial process our church uses. The goal was to help you understand this process without getting bogged down in lists of numbers.

But the numbers are important and the Finance Committee has been watching them carefully throughout the year. Out of a budget of $359,000 we ended up being only $1,200 short. Thanks to everyone for your generous giving that help us to do God’s work here in Wausau and beyond!

As a finance committee we try to be good stewards of the money that you entrust to us, but we also need to be good stewards of all the resources the church has. One of the resources we have to work with is the endowment. Over many years, church members have made significant contributions that have been invested through the United Methodist Foundation. Many of these funds have specific designations, such as for pastoral housing, organ maintenance, or college scholarships. Other funds don’t have such restrictions and are available to use as approved of by the Finance Committee, Board of Trustees and Ministries Council.

Unfortunately, we have been relying on these funds more than I, and other church leadership, likes to see. Of our total income in 2018, $45,000 came from the endowment (and we’ll need to take the $1,200 deficit from there, too). Even in good years this is beyond the earning potential of the unrestricted funds and could lead to severely depleting our endowment accounts.

 

 

First, we should be thankful that we have enough resources to be able to worry about how to spend them. Our forefathers and mothers gave us gifts that we are able to use as we face the changes we as a congregation are going through. Now we need to look at how we approach the coming years as faithful followers of Christ. Our desire is to build on what we already are as a congregation to make ourselves a stronger community within the Wausau area. Our involvement in MCCI is a major part of that. We need to prayerfully work toward growing our congregation. Will that resolve our financial future? Not necessarily, but it will help us become a stronger church, which will be better able to weather the unknown future. And with the gift of the endowment we have some buffer we can use to tide us over as we grow in a new direction.

 

Wes Ebert, Chair of Finance Committee

 

 

Tax Preparation Help Available

 

Would you, or someone you know, like some free professional help with your taxes? The AARP Foundation is offering free consultation for those with low to moderate income (emphasis on age 60+). Appointments are required. Call 715.298.5734 (Jan.17-April 5) weekdays, 9am-1pm to schedule.

Dates and locations for the help include:

UW Extension, 212 River Dr.
Feb. 5 - April 11
Tues-Wed 7:45am - 12:15pm

Merrill Enrichment Center, 303 N. Sales St.
Thurs., Feb. 14 & Thurs. March 14
9:00am –2:00pm

Mosinee United Methodist Church, 607 13th St.
Thursday March 21st
10:30am-1:30pm

Some of you have faithfully been writing checks to pay down the loan on the church’s parking lot. Thank you, thank you, thank you! Yes, we’re still taking funds for this excellent cause. You can write a separate check, or write a single one and identify how the money is to be split. Either way, we appreciate your contribution toward the physical structures of our church. Thank you, again!