This month, the Church Council approved the 2012 budget in the amount of $627,337. This amount is less than the amount budgeted in 2011, and we spent less than the budgeted amount last year. However, this budget is $27,000 more than our projected income, based on our pledges and anticipated offerings.
While we did reduce the budgets of several areas, as a Council, we believe that any more cuts would be detrimental to the life of our church. We still have staffing, Education and other financial issues to address and the Church Council will continue to look for creative solutions to these needs.
Many life-transforming ministries are happening here at PUMC. We are reaching out to the people in Trenton through the Isles construction Work Days and service at Trenton Area Soup Kitchen; we are sending Mission teams to Appalachia and continue to support the fight against Riverblindness in the Congo. We have expanded our Worship opportunities to include our new Saturday Evening Worship Gathering and are increasing our small group opportunities with the introduction of the Spiritual Gifts exploration Cope by Faith (Cancer care group). We open our doors to many community and religious groups, including Boy Scouts, 12 step recovery programs, HUB and other Christian congregations. We want to continue reaching all people with these important ministries and be open to new ways we can nurture, teach, reach and serve in God’s name.
Please continue to keep the church Council and the min-istries of PUMC in your prayers as we move forward into 2012.
ex-trava-gant (adj.) going beyond reasonable limits, unrestrained, excessive
gen-er-os-ity(n.) the quality of being generous, willingness to give or share; unselfishness
change: to cause to become different, to transform or convert
Have you ever been described as someone who is extravagant? Have you ever been described as someone who is generous? On four Sundays in October we are going to examine what it can mean to be a person of extravagant generosity. You will want to be present for all four Sundays (October 9, 16, 23 and 30) to experience the impact of this four week series in worship.
There will also be a four week discussion/study group will begin on Sunday, October 9th at 5:00pm and continue through the 30th. A daily-devotional will be available to you either in small booklet form or sent to you via e-mail. Here’s one more word for you to consider in anticipating this upcoming four week series. The Extravagant Generosity four week series just might change and transform you – for the better (if you let it!)
If the stewardship campaign, New Year's resolutions, or the impending tax season have you wanting to do something about your finances, we have added several new books to the church library which can help you with the process. First, there is Enough by Adam Hamilton, the book that our last stewardship campaign was based on. Reverend Hamilton takes you through the pitfalls of our spending culture and the process of establishing spiritually sound financial practices. A DVD of the sermons which the book is based upon is also available.
We have also added three books by Dave Ramsey which offer practical advice and a tough-love pep talk for a wide range of financial and life issues, from setting up this month's budget to communicating more effectively with your spouse about your finances. Financial Peace Revisited explores how and why to change, while the companion book Financial Peace Planner offers worksheets and guidelines to put the changes into practice. And More Than Enough takes a wider look at how financial practices can be an indication of where our lives need to be changed, and how to implement that change.
And finally, there is Freedom of Simplicity by Richard J. Foster, who offers gentle guidance to living a simple, rewarding life in our complex world, including but not limited to our finances. Gain inspiration from his extensive use of scripture and early Christians to establish a firmer foundation for your life.
If you know of any other good books that we should add to the library, please let us know: pumclibrary(at)gmail.com