Stewartstown United Methodist Church

The entire United Methodist Church is encouraged to study  This Holy Mystery: A United Methodist Understanding of Holy Communion.  You can download the study or read it online by clicking on the image above.

Plan For Funding Ministry in 2008

Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.   Each of you should give as you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.  And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.                  2 Corinthians 9:6-8  

God has called us to together  as a congregation to worship, to study, to pray, to make disciples, and to reach out in ministry and mission with  deeds of love and faith.  

Members of the Stewartstown United Methodist Church share a life of faith together.  That covenant is expressed in the vows of membership to support the church through our prayers, our presence, our gifts and our service.  

On your behalf, the Funding Ministry Team has held a ministry planning retreat in December of 2007.  They have collected Ministry Action Plans (M.A.P.) from the congregation.  These M.A.P.s have been reviewed by our church council and approved as steps we believe God is calling us to go in service in 2008.  

The following headings and descriptions are a summary of  what it will require to fund these planned ministries and missions in 2008.   As a part of this congregation, take time to carefully and prayerfully make a connection between your faith and your giving in support of this Plan for Funding Ministry in 2008.  

On April 6,  we will have a commitment Sunday, when you will be asked to indicate your  support for these ministries and missions for the current year.   A luncheon is also planned for that day.

What follows are a summary of our 2008 Plan for Ministry and Mission categories:

Local Ministry  $11,755       

Christian education, confirmation, curriculum, vacation bible school, bibles, Upper Room, summer church camp, church library, music, cantata, piano/organ tuning, gown cleaning, instrument upkeep & repair, SUM Fun, The Link, worship supplies, retreats.  

Mission Support  $5,400

Jim Keech - Missionary, GYTTE  Mexico mission, York County Council of Churches, other missions during year.    

Staff   $217,785

Providing worship and music leadership, pastoral care and counsel, administrative support, visitation (PT), youth leadership (PT),  organist (PT), services of a treasurer (PT), and building sexton (PT): salaries, benefits, and social security costs.  

Physical Property  $75,100

Weekly cleaning services, utilities, maintenance, lawn care,  snow removal, property  taxes.  

Administrative  $14,358

Postage, office supplies, copier rental, copyright licenses, advertising, offering envelopes, auditor.                                 

Miscellaneous $4,200

Stewardship and funding ministry expense.  

Share in the Ministry of Central Pennsylvania Conference  $59,151           

Central Pa. Conference Benevolence Fund – World Service ministries, Africa University, Black College Fund, Higher Education Scholarship Fund, district mission  projects, new church development, urban ministry, Neighborhood Center in Harrisburg, benevolent homes support,  United Methodist Home for Children in Mechanicsburg, U.M. Russia Theological Seminary.   Connectional Ministry  –  annual conference meeting, conference administration, Stewardship Foundation, CPC Board of Trustees, Bishop and District Superintendent support. Clergy Support  –  seminarian support (MEF),  equitable salary support for small membership churches,  pensions for retired clergy, health insurance, clergy moving expenses.  Property & Liability Insurance  –  cost of insuring our building, contents and property.  

When you give tithes and offerings on Sunday, these gifts support the ministries and missions outlined above  (SUMC General Fund).

Throughout the year there are additional ways to give.  These represent seasonal  missions and other giving that is not funded through the General Fund.  Individual designated gifts support this kind of outreach.  

Seasonal Offerings and Designated Gifts

These are funded through direct, designated giving and are not part of the General Funding Ministry Plan – such as Benevolent Homes, Christmas Offering, Pastor’s Discretionary Fund, Dorcas Ministry, Easter Outreach, Family in Need, Food Bank/Pantry, HOPE, Habitat for Humanity, Helping Hands for the Homeless, Holy Grounds Camp, Human Relations Sunday, Mission Central, Native American Awareness, New Life for Children, New Missions/Haiti, New Orleans Stockings, Olivia’s House, One Great Hour, Passion Play, Project KAREN, Samaritan’s Purse, Thanksgiving Offering, Those Who Serve, Transient Relief, UM Student Day, UMCOR, World Communion Sunday, York Rescue Mission and Youth -  $48,000.00  

Finally, we have completed a  campaign to renovate the Fellowship Hall , the Sanctuary, the Kitchen, etc. At the start of 2008 our indebtedness on this was around $98,000.  Currently, our Trustees are making payments on the interest of this loan as well as making small payments on the principal.  However, this loan is an obligation that was taken on at a Charge Conference by the entire congregation.  We all still share a responsibility to pay down this debt, since we all share in the benefit of these improvements. Please use the monthly Capital Funds Campaign for the Future envelope found among your  offering envelopes, or the envelope in the pews.

Campaign for the Future

Indebtedness— $98,000.