When I look at everything our congregation is doing today—from *online worship* and *Friday Morning Prayers on Facebook* to planning our new community garden, *“The Garden of Eatin’”*—I often wonder what our ancestors would think. Could they have foreseen these ministries? More importantly, did they know their *faithful generosity* back then would create such an amazing ripple effect for us today?
In his letter to the early church, the Apostle Paul wrote: “I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth” (1 Corinthians 3:6). That timeless truth is our guide.
*Our job is to plant the seeds and water them.*
Our gifts—of time, talent, and treasure—are precisely these seeds. They require intention, time, care, and attention to grow.
*🌱** Generosity: An Act of Hope*
Generosity is a spiritual practice. As we recognize the abundant gifts God gives us, our desire to share them with others naturally grows. The act of planting a seed is an act of hope and love for future generations.
· *Five years from now:* We may see powerful new ministries grow.
· *Twenty years from now:* Some of our children might be in the pulpit.
· *One hundred years from now:* Our descendants will be worshipping and serving in ways we can’t even imagine, all because of the seeds we plant today.
We may or may not be around for the harvest, but we must do the planting.
*🧭** Our Path to Sustainability*
This *Sunday*, we begin a crucial journey together exploring our church’s *sustainability*. We will engage in a discussion to understand our strengths, challenges, and community needs, asking vital questions like:
· What is going well?
· What do we love about UMC in Wayne?
· What is our greatest challenge?
· How can we grow our ministry and impact in the community?
· What does it look like for UMC in Wayne to nurture disciples and fulfill our ministry budget?
To move forward with vision and purpose, we need your commitment. Our budget is a reflection of our priorities for today and our vision for tomorrow. The *pledge card* (attached) helps us build that budget with intentionality.
*I invite you to think and pray about how you’d like to support UMC in Wayne in your weekly or monthly giving, so that our collective gifts can sustain us not just in the coming year, but for many years to come.*
Please return your pledge cards *next Sunday, November 23rd,* *at our* *Thanksgiving Service.*
I’m looking forward to seeing you there!
Blessings,
*Pastor Ninabeth Metcalf*
United Methodist Church 99 Parish Drive Wayne, NJ 07470 973-694-3260
UMC-in-Wayne-2025-Stewardship-Letter-from-the-Pastor.pdf