Dear Friends and Family of RRUMC,
I hope that this article finds all of you full of joy and grace and peace. Summer is now behind us and the kids are back in school. Our nursery school is up and running again and it is so good to hear their voices in the hallways and their laughter on the playground. That is just part of the beautiful rhythm of life. I pray that, as you transition from the end of summer into the fall rhythm of your life, you are seeing Christ right in the midst of your story.
The church too has its beautiful and life-changing rhythms. Summer has soloists for special music. We have 100 kids running around our church for Vacation Bible School and summer car cruises filling our parking lot. Those are all now in the rearview mirror as the changing of the leaves is now upon our doorstep. Bible studies are cranking up. Chancel and bell choirs are back. Paul and I put the robes back on for Sunday services and so much more. The rhythm of the year is always on my heart and mind. The fall also means we enter the Consecration Sunday, or stewardship, time of the year. That too is a beautiful part of the church’s rhythm. We watch God work through all of you to overwhelmingly support the mission and vision of the church to help people meet Jesus Christ in the midst of their story.
Every time we approach this time of year, I am reminded of a person in the Gospels who was talking to Jesus. In Mark, chapter 9, a man brings his son to Jesus to be healed. His son has been possessed by a demon since childhood. Jesus tells him if he believes, then he can heal his son. That man cries out, “I believe! Help my unbelief!” I am in my 13th year at RRUMC and every year this church comes through in regards to the financial gifts it provides. And yet, every year, I hear Jesus say, “If you just believe, then the resources will be there for the budget I have planned for RRUMC.” Do you know what I respond with every year? “I believe! Help my unbelief!” I understand that man’s feelings when dealing with the healing of his son.
I know that we are doing incredible work. I have watched people come to Christ here. We have welcomed new members, received confirmed youth into our church, baptized countless numbers of babies and children, and yet I still feel the power of unbelief. I share that with you to help you understand how much I love this church, its worship services, its ministries, and most of all, ALL OF YOU. As we come to Consecration Sunday on November 10th, I will once again put my faith, hope and trust in God as he works his miracles through all of you. As you know, we do not ask you to give to a budget. We invite you to prayerfully ask what God is calling you to give to the life and ministries of RRUMC in 2025. Whatever that financial amount is that you and God, through prayer, decide to give becomes the budget for this church in 2025. It is like the farmer trusting after the seeds are planted. They trust God will send enough rain. They trust God will send the sunshine. It all comes down to their trust in God.
That is how I once again approach this Consecration Sunday season for 2025. I will put my faith, hope and trust in God. We have never finished with a deficit in the 13 years I have been here because of the faith, hope and trust all of you put in God. Please pray for me to have that same faith, hope and trust that you have. I know that God has amazing plans in 2025 with Upward Sports, Car Cruises, VBS, Bible studies, youth and children’s ministries, Twice Blessed Free Store and the whole Story Church campus. We cannot do it without you and the faith, hope, and trust you have in God.
I thank you in advance for the overwhelming generosity you continue to shower upon this church and its ministries. “It’s all about the story! We exist to help people meet Jesus Christ in the midst of their story.” We are doing that because of you. I believe! Now help my unbelief! Thank you.
Peace and Blessings,
Rev. Dan