Dear Church Family:
At the first Council on Finance and Administration meeting of the new year, the challenges and opportunities that face us in the coming year were discussed and shared. It was reinforced that while FUMC Escondido consists of three very diverse worshipping bodies, we are all members of one church and one congregational family.
Our church has set the goal of $715,000 in giving for the 2022 fiscal year. This is an increase challenge of 10-25% to help us continue to engage in vital local, global, and connectional ministries; to provide upkeep and care of our aging church facilities; and to support our pastors and staff. At this point in the year, we are considerably short of that goal. As disciples our financial stewardship is a meaningful act of faith as we grow in our relationship with Christ.
If you have already made a commitment towards the 2022 budget, we thank you for your generosity. If you have not, we are asking you to prayerfully consider the blessings that God has provided to you and your family. We read in Leviticus 27:30, “‘A tithe of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the Lord; it is holy to the Lord.” Please take a moment to reflect on this verse and others from scripture of God’s call to his disciples. You can recognize those blessings in a financial commitment by completing and returning a pledge card, or by going online to https://linktr.ee/fumcescondido.
COVID has made it difficult for all of us to connect with each other and there have been many changes and adjustments that have been made. It is obvious to us there are members of our church family who are physically absent, and we miss you. We pray that you and your loved ones are doing well and that you have been staying connected through our in-person worship services or online. We are gradually emerging from the pandemic and are offering more “in-person” opportunities to grow in discipleship.
We thank you for your pledge, commitment, or tithe. God calls us to be good stewards of all we are given – creation, relationships, our bodies, our talents, our money, and other material gifts of all sorts.
Sincerely,
The Council on Finance Administration Committee