Reflections By Rev. Dan Bogre

Dear Friends and Family of RRUMC,

Paul says in Ephesians 1:15-16, “I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love towards all the saints, and for this reason I do not cease to give thanks for you as I remember you in my prayers.”

Paul starts most of his letters with words just like that. They are words of thanksgiving, prayer, and faith. He says that he cannot stop praising God for the people of Ephesus when he hears about their incredible faith in Jesus Christ.

I wanted to start my letter with Paul’s words because that is exactly what I am feeling and doing when I think of your faithfulness, generosity, and love for Jesus Christ and his mission at RRUMC in 2023. As I put this Circuit Rider article together on January 10, 2023, I now know the financial numbers for the end of 2022 and for where we are headed in 2023.

We have finished 2022 with a nearly $10,000 carry-over. We once again finished in the black. The numbers

for 2023 look just as promising. We have received 228 “Estimate of Giving Cards” for a grand total, so far, of a little over $807,000. That is an average of $3,540 a card.

The total amount and average per card are the largest that we have ever seen at RRUMC. Those numbers, which represent your faithfulness, generosity, and love, are the reason that I opened up this article with the same words that Paul had for the people of the church at Ephesus.

I keep wanting to convince myself that I should no longer be amazed by what God does in and through the people of this church. The fact is that God’s grace is still amazing grace. I realized that I never want to get used to it. God is amazing. What God does in this church and through all of you is still SO amazing. It is for that reason that I started with THANK YOU. I pray for you. I thank God for you. When I say that we cannot do what we do at RRUMC without you and your generosity, I mean it.

There are so many other things that make this congregation amazing besides your financial support. I could list Twice Blessed Free Store, Story Church, Upward Sports, Car Cruises, VBS, Cleveland Food Bank, Community Meals, Gifts of Music, our worship and ministries for children and youth, and so many more, because they are all a part of what you have helped to make a reality year in and year out.

This Circuit Rider article this month is just one big THANK YOU to each and every one of you. As Paul said, for this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in Jesus Christ, I have not stopped giving thanks for you. You folks, the congregation of RRUMC, always have been, always are, and always will be - AMAZING! Thank you.

Peace and Blessings,

Rev Daniel F. Bogre