A Financial Narrative for February 2019
We’re already well into 2019, but I’d still like to report on our budget for this year.
The finance committee presented a balanced budget to the Ministries Council last month and it was approved. We kept the expenditures as low as possible while still enabling us to perform our ministries. This means that there were no salary increases for staff, and Pastor Jayneann even volunteered to take a pay cut for the year.
Unfortunately, we also saw a significant cut in pledges for the coming year. It’s not that people are giving less – you’ve all been very generous. It’s a process I learned about recently called “deficit attrition.” We’ve had members move or pass away, but we haven’t increased our new giving units enough to make up for the difference. The consequence is that even with the significant revenue we will receive from the Y using part of our building for the next 6 months, our income is still down from last year.
How then did we manage to balance the budget? What we did was to increase the amount of money we show coming out of the endowment. As I said earlier, and as was discussed at the ministries council, this is not sustainable. It is our sincere hope and goal to not need to use all these endowment funds. One way we are addressing this is through the MCCI, looking at ways we can grow the church and our faithfulness to meet our needs as a community of faith. This is a long term process, but it can provide hope for the future of our congregation in so many ways. On a smaller scale, we are starting to sell SCRIP, which can provide a steady stream of revenue.
But the most positive hope for this year’s financial success is you! In 2018, we showed a deficit of over $3,000 for the month of January, but this year we had a positive balance of over $2,000 for the same time period. Yes, it is for only one month (and it’s before all of February’s snow!), but it is an encouraging start to what will be a challenging year for our finances.
About This Guest Writing
Do you have a recent faith story you feel led to share? Has God touched your life in a way that begs to be repeated? If you would like to put something in an upcoming edition of the Messenger, speak to Mike Zahn. Maybe we can include your story in the coming months.
Texas Roadhouse Dine-to-Donate Sundays
Enjoy a meal while raising money for your church. Bring in your church bulletin or newsletter and give it to your server along with your receipt. Then from your total, you receive 10% back.
Wednesday Night Live
Thanks to the generosity of many, but most recently, one church member’s generous gift, our Wednesday Night Live meal fund is in a much better financial place.
Thank you, Everyone!
A seven-week class to help adults reduce falls and stay active. In this interactive weekly class, learn about balance
and strength exercises, safety at home, and ways to be strong and steady wherever you go. Classes are held at the Aging & Disability Resource Center of Central Wisconsin, 600 Stewart Avenue Suite 25.
For information, call 715.261.6070
A contribution of $10 for the full 7-week session is suggested, but is not required to attend.
Our Elected Leaders 2019
Ministries Council
Mike Zahn, Wes Ebert, Sara Roquemore, Bonnie Goertz, Bruce Brandenburg, Kirsten Hornby, Jerry Evans, Ray Nowaczyk, Margaret Getzin, Sharon Gisselman, Barb Ritchie, Dick Rayborn, Arthur Chang, Jen Marzu, Jayneann McIntosh, Martie Pahris
Lay Leadership Committee
Jayneann McIntosh, Sara Roquemore, Mike Zahn, Bonnie Goertz, Dan Marzu, Gary Getzin, Yvonne Firary, Nancy Bogumill
Staff Parish Relations Committee (SPRC)
Kirsten Hornby, Sara Roquemore, Mike Zahn, Jason Fandrey, Bonnie Goertz, Jane Dovenbarger, Dottie Nietert, Jayneann McIntosh
Board of Trustees
Bruce Brandenburg, Mike Zahn, Barb Maguire, Pat Higgins, Jon Goertz, Margaret Getzin, Roger Mittenzwei, Timm Fischer, Terri Flath
Finance Committee
Wes Ebert, Mike Zahn, Martie Pahris, Stan Schacht, Jen Johnson, Betsy Duginski, Ken Attoe Audit Committee: Monica Dvorak, Tom Bogumill Investment Team: Dick Rayborn, Bob Keener, Bruce Brandenburg, Barbara Hunger
Scholarship Team
Jayneann McIntosh, Paula Hauber, Bonnie Goertz, Mark Johnson, Debbie Martin
Wills & Memorials Team
Jerry Evans Nancy Runner, Anita Gerber, Darlene Kell, Sandy Schmoldt, Andrea Zastrow
Worship Design Team
Margaret Getzin, Meagan Fandrey, Vicki Nowaczyk, Martie Pahris, Lin Strong, Kurt Hornby
Missions Ministry Team
Ray Nowaczyk, Wes Ebert, Tom Kelley, Betsy Larson, Dick Rayborn, Sara Roquemore
Welcome & Communications Team
Sara Roquemore, Gwen Carey, Bob Firary, Yvonne Firary, Nancy Flath, Diane Misoni, Barb Ritchie
Aesthetics Team
Sue Kissinger, Nancy Bogumill, Beth Burke, Don Kissinger, Lynn Reichert, Maggie Schoenfeld
Care Ministry
Mary Ann Dykes, Bonnie Goertz, Diane Misoni, Maggie Schoenfeld, Arlene Trull
Memory Café
Mary Ann Dykes, Nancy Flath, Carole Machek, Mark Milne, Alice Schacht, Stan Schacht, Charles Schoenfeld, Maggie Schoenfeld, Nancy Turner Personal Needs Closet Steering Gail Cain, Barb Hunger, Tom Kufahl, Jamelle Milne
Webmaster Jon Goertz
Facebook Coordinator Jen Johnson
(The Chairperson of each Committee or Ministry Team is the first-named person on each list, excepting Care Ministry, Memory Cafe and PNC Steering.)
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!
Beautify the Church Office
Did your Norfolk Island Pine get too big for the room while it was outside all summer? Would you like to gift it to a location where people will truly appreciate it? The church office is looking for just such a plant. Call or email Joan at the office to talk about giving your plant a new home.
Help Your Church Do Ministry
Would you like to give of yourself to the church but don’t know how? Do you have a secondary laptop (Windows 10 or newer) at home that you could gift to our ministries? This could be your way to serve the First United Methodist Church is in need of one (or possibly two) laptops. The “Volunteer” computer in the office is old enough that it can’t do the work asked of it. The laptop attached to the projector uses Window 3 and does not support newer PowerPoints or videos.
Mission Giving Without Pain
UMW collects Kwik Trip bottle caps, pull tabs and “box tops for education” for missions. Kwik Trip caps go to Harbor House, a UMW sponsored women’s shelter, “box tops for education” are sent to Redbird Mission in Kentucky, and pull tabs are sent to Ronald McDonald House. For your convenience there are collection baskets in the parlor. And remember, aluminum cans are collected for our own mission trip.
|
