Standing Together in a Season of Rebuilding

“Our steps are made firm by the Lord when he delights in our way; though we stumble, we shall not fall headlong, for the Lord holds us by the hand.” (Psalm 37:23-24, NRSVue)

We find ourselves in a season of rebuilding and renewal at First United Methodist Church of Florence. The past few years have brought unprecedented challenges—from the COVID-19 pandemic that disrupted our in-person worship to the denominational discernment process that led some members to seek other faith communities. Through it all, we have remained committed to being a place where God’s love is experienced and shared.

The combination of decreased membership and increased operating costs has created a significant challenge. Even after making substantial cuts to our operating budget, we're projecting a budget shortfall of approximately $200,000 for 2025 between our contributions and expenses.

Many of you have generously contributed to our designated funds, particularly our Building Fund, which has allowed us to address some long-deferred maintenance issues. These improvements are crucial investments in our future, helping us create more efficient systems that will eventually reduce operating costs.

Our beautiful facility, with buildings that have served our community for generations, requires constant maintenance. Here are a few things that continue to need our attention:

• The sanctuary and the educational buildings need new roofs due to active leaking, and preliminary estimates have the costs at over $650,000 

• Annual property insurance costs rose $20,000 last June, and we’re anticipating another increase this June

• Monthly utilities have exceeded $13,000 for the first three months of this year despite all our efforts to reduce usage and increase the efficiency of our systems

• Ongoing maintenance of aging HVAC systems is necessary to improve efficiency and extend equipment life

While we’ve taken steps to address these building issues, our General Fund—which covers day-to-day operations, ministries, missions, and staff salaries—lacks the necessary funding to meet our obligations comfortably.

We witness signs of growth and renewal each week as new people visit our worship services and become part of our church family. This is cause for celebration! However, rebuilding takes time, and we need those who can stand in the gap until our resources grow.

I’m asking you to prayerfully consider how you might increase your support of our General Fund in one of these ways:

• Increasing your regular giving

• Making a special one-time gift

• Fulfilling any outstanding pledges

• Moving from occasional to regular giving

I remain deeply hopeful about our future. Our congregation continues to be a beacon of love and compassion. We stand together, supporting one another through life's challenges and celebrating the joys. The path ahead is bright with possibilities as we work side by side, creating meaningful connections and making a real difference in Florence. We're building something beautiful together—where everyone belongs and matters. And when the journey feels difficult, we draw strength from each other and the assurance that we are never alone. Truly, God is with us!

In the coming weeks, our Finance Committee and Church Council will provide more specific information about our financial needs and opportunities to help. They will outline concrete steps we can take together to strengthen our financial foundation while continuing our vital ministries.

Remember that every gift, regardless of size, makes a difference. As Wesley reminded us,

“Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can.”

Thank you for your faithful support and being part of this beloved community.