Something’s Gotta Give

The 2025 stewardship campaign started on Sunday, October 13th, and will continue until Sunday, November 17th. There are a few different ways to make a pledge. You should have received a brochure in the mail with a pledge card attached. An electronic pledge form can be found on our website (www.sumct.org), and paper pledge cards are available in the sanctuary as well. If you prefer to speak to someone directly about your pledge, you can contact the church office, the clergy team, or our stewardship chair, Greg Freidline.

Over the coming weeks, regular messenger articles will inform the congregation about where the church spends money and how that impacts our community and the greater world. This includes how the Methodist church works, such as how we don’t receive from the Conference but rather give to the Conference. Also, there will be information about giving amounts as the campaign progresses.

As we announced in church on Sunday, the theme of this year's stewardship campaign is “Something’s Gotta Give.” The church has been running deficits in the years since the pandemic, and while we are returning to our attendance levels pre-pandemic, our pledging has not rebounded. We’ve been able to cover those deficits with cash on our balance sheets, but the savings account cannot weather another year. As Gene mentioned in his letter last week, this has been compounded by the rising costs of goods and services we are all experiencing.

While additional gifts and unpledged donations are deeply appreciated, those incomes are challenging to build budgets around. Pledging immensely helps the finance committee put forward a realistic and attainable budget for the coming year.

As we embark on the stewardship campaign in the upcoming weeks, it is essential to take a moment to reflect on the numerous achievements of the Simsbury United Methodist Church. From providing a welcoming and supportive community to supporting many important causes, our church has accomplished a great deal, thanks to the generosity of its members. By choosing to pledge, prayerfully, during the upcoming campaign, we can ensure that the church has the resources it needs to continue to grow, thrive, and make a deep and meaningful difference in the lives of those around us and in the world.

Stewardship is the heart of our church, reflecting our commitment to God’s work and each other. Your generosity sustains our ministries, supports those in need, and maintains our sacred space. Every contribution, regardless of size, is a testament to our shared faith. As 2 Corinthians 9:7 says, “Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”

Greg Freidline
Stewardship Chair

You can click here to pledge online.