Even before I was appointed to Rome First UMC, I knew the church’s motto: Love God. Love
People. Serve the World. I loved our motto the first time I heard it, because it clearly and simply
describes what followers of Jesus are supposed to do.
Since coming to Rome First in July, I’ve been amazed again and again by how sincerely our
church strives to live out these words. That’s why it seemed like a natural fit to approach
stewardship season through the lens of our motto.
This Sunday, we’ll kick off our stewardship series, More Than a Motto: A Guide to Generous
Living. We’ll look at what Jesus has to say about money and the role it plays in our lives. It’s
been quite a few years since we’ve done a full stewardship campaign, but it’s a must for two
reasons.
First and foremost, stewardship is a spiritual issue. How we allocate our time, money and
talents is a reflection of who we say God is and the role that God plays in our lives. As your
pastor, my primary role is to help all of us live more faithfully. I include myself in that work,
because the Holy Spirit is still transforming me, too.
Additionally, our current financial situation makes it clear that we need to prayerfully focus on
stewardship. As the graphic below illustrates, we are about $76,000 short of where we need to
be for 2023.
I’ll note that we — like many churches — receive several large annual gifts at the beginning of
the year, so the first quarter always reflects above average giving. The second and third
quarters better reflect our average giving. Over the last few years, we have spent a large chunk
of our reserve fund to take care of some very necessary capital needs, including new roofs,
parking lots and HVAC units. Because of those expenses, our reserve fund is low, so we need
to prayerfully consider our giving.
The generosity of this congregation can be seen throughout our campus and community. We
have a legacy of caring for and sharing with others. Thank you for what you continue to make
possible! Your gifts can and do make a difference in the world.
In the next week, you’ll receive your 2024 pledge card in the mail, and we will also have them
available in the Wilder Center and in the narthex outside the sanctuary. We will celebrate
Thanksgiving on Nov. 19 by placing our pledge cards in the offering plates during worship. If
you cannot be in worship on Nov. 19, please feel free to bring your pledge card by the church office, mail it in, or place it in the offering plate during another worship service. Pledging helps our Finance Team plan for the year ahead, so your participation is very helpful.
Our motto continues to motivate and inspire me. I hope it does the same for you. Together, we
can live out these commands in ways that change the world. I’m proud to be your pastor, and I
can’t wait to see what God has in store for us in 2024!
Blessings,
Valerie