Financial News

Financial Update, November 2023

Margaret Howe, Finance Chairperson

Financial Update, September 2023

Margaret Howe, Finance Chairperson

Summer is almost over by the date on the calendar – however the temperatures are not yet sure!

As you all know, Pastor Grace added Modena to her portfolio and now preaches at both churches each Sunday – that is why sometimes she needs to leave quickly after New Paltz worship.

How does this new appointment impact our New Paltz financial overview? After reviewing the compensation package and the statistics from each church, New Paltz will pay 69% and Modena 31% of those pieces which are shared. What is shared: Salary, Health, Pension, and Parsonage Expenses. New Paltz is the billing church for the above expenses. The Modena expenses will not be part of our local church budget and monthly financial reports. However, they will be paid by us with an additional tracking for the Modena church. Each month Modena sends a check for the fixed expenses (salary, health, pension). Each month I send an invoice to Modena for the parsonage expenses (electric, gas, water, internet/phone, furnace maintenance, etc) and Modena sends us a check. During the first two months – July and August – this worked out very well.

This change has resulted in our monthly expenses being slightly reduced each month. We need to be good stewards of this relief for us. This summer we fell behind in our committed income. I am hoping and expecting this will be made up during the fall.

As you know, we currently do not do any big “fund raisers”. Last year the opportunity existed to purchase soup each month – we make for the fresh food give-a-way and if you want you can order. I believe this will happen again this fall. Last year we had pie sales – especially for Thanksgiving and Christmas – perhaps this will happen again this year and we could increase the sales. However all of this will only happen if we have the help to make it happen.

In recent years, we have invited you to give via “adopt a bill”. We have one person who each month gives to pay for the church internet – so we can have our zoom on Sunday mornings. We have one person who adopts the annual elevator maintenance – so we can be sure to be handicapped accessible from the sanctuary to the social hall. Is there a bill you would consider adopting – annual furnace maintenance, a gas bill – especially in the winter, electric bill, quarterly water bill. There is always a gift to our apportionment payments. We are not desperate – however we are not as comfortable as we should be.

Some good news is that 12 step groups have started to return to our church for their weekly meetings. My thought is that we could have more people using our church for meetings – either on a regular basis or a one time situation. We have not had a concert in our building since before COVID. Camerata will not be returning as they have determined not to continue as an organization – we have over 20 years of annual concerts from Camerata Chorale. The Poné Ensemble has not returned to the sanctuary. We have a great concert space for small concerts and should be looking for the opportunity for this kind of use.

We know how important we are on this corner of Main and Grove. It is visible at the monthly Fresh Food Give-a-way. Ask those who fellowshipped at the August event. It is visible when we see people stop and rest at the picnic tables on the church lawn. It is visible with new families with children who have entered our community on Sunday morning. It is visible with the new monthly young persons group. It is visible with the monthly food supplement to seniors and the ABC Center. It is visible with the winter mitten tree on the corner. It is visible with the networking our pastor does in the community. It is visible – the light is visible – let us make sure we work to keep it so!

Earlier in the year, we started some discussions on financial visioning and, in my opinion, had some good discussions – however we have not followed through. I think some of this is because the conversations were/are difficult and require some deep thinking and research and prayers. Let’s try again!

May we continue to be the children of God creating safe places where all are accepted and welcomed, connecting the needs of people to the presence of God, and transforming the world through Christ. Let the light glow brightly!

With love, Margaret

Financial Update, June 2023

Margaret Howe, Finance Chairperson

It is almost summer – I begin this report on the day after Annual Conference. I was not able to go – as many of you know I begin cancer treatments this week – it is a long story – hoping that these treatments will do the work and those little cancer cells which have spread will disappear – prayers appreciated. I will continue to carry on with my daily activities – might have to take a few more naps! Enough about that! Let’s move on.

As you know, effective July 1 Pastor Grace will be adding Modena Memorial UMC to her portfolio. At Annual Conferences Bishop Bickerton appointed all pastors to not only the churches but to the community. And we all know Pastor Grace and the New Paltz church are very involved in the Community

What does this new appointment do to our New Paltz financial overview? Pastor Grace has been given a salary which covers the two churches. DS Karen Monk, the SPR Chairs and the Treasurers of the two churches met to review the compensation package.  DS Monk wanted both churches to know that Pastor Grace is a full time pastor for both churches. What impacts us financially is that the compensation package is split between the two churches. This was determined by reviewing all of the statistics of the two churches. New Paltz will pay 70% of the salary and health insurance and pension while Modena will pay 30%. New Paltz will serve as the billing church – Modena will provide a check to New Paltz for their portions. In addition Modena will pay towards the parsonage utilities. Pastor Grace’s reimbursement account will be as she spends the money and paid by the specific church for its purpose. The two treasurers are meeting later in June to set up all of the particulars and see no concerns. This change to the salary and benefit costs will reduce our budget a bit.  It now becomes our job to be sure we manage these resources properly. I will give you numeric details in the next Newsletter and the July Treasurer’s Report. Prayers to Pastor Grace in this new role and to the congregations of New Paltz and Modena

Now, in the meantime, thank you to those who have continued your financial support of our New Paltz congregation. Please continue to keep your commitments current – especially as we enter the summer months.

May we continue to be the children of God creating safe places where all are accepted and welcomed, connecting the needs of people to the presence of God and transforming the world through Christ.  

With love, Margaret

Financial Update, March 2023

Margaret Howe, Finance Chairperson

Happy Spring – I am writing this on Monday afternoon – just before the season changes to spring – and well after the due date the Newsletter committee wanted it.

The message for the new year – is that we at New Paltz UMC are so rich in so many things. As you know I preached this past Sunday – and struggled and rambled about how I was working through the Lenten Series of Transfiguration and Transformation. And so I see our church Finance going through this same process. We will work and watch and listen and learn to see how NPUMC can live into the changing of the vessel and the essence of what financial stewardship will look like over this year and beyond.

At the last Administrative Council Meeting, we approved the 2023 Operating Budget. It does have a deficit – although not as large as last year. We did not eliminate any budget lines and there were increases in the pastor salary and certainly utility costs. And, the bright spot is that several of you increased your committed giving for the year.

The visioning and doing and dreaming and changing of some paradigms (hmmmm – transfiguration and transformation – the vessel and the essence) will make us stronger and more focused on the mission and ministries of what makes us who we are and want to be – children of God – creating safe places where all are accepted and welcomed, connecting the needs of people to the presence of God and transforming the world through Christ (the NYAC Mission Statement).   

A very short message about a very important topic.  I love my church and I am committed – hope you will join me – as together we build the Body of Christ.

With love, Margaret

Financial Update, January 2023

Greetings beloved members and friends of New Paltz UMC. We made it through the financial calendar year 2022. It really is not easy writing about finances – churches do not like to talk about money – and yet we always need money for the missions and ministries of our church.  And so I repeat … How do you begin an article on finance time after time – when the message is often that we need more money – which is true – however the important message is that we are VERY RICH!  And the attitude must be one of plenty and not scarcity. 

At the end of this message, there is the Treasurer’s Report for 2022. As I said in previous articles, we would meet or close the gaps if certain things took place. We ended the year with a small surplus which becomes the money to pay salaries in January. Our Expenses were below what was estimated because we did not pay the Trustees their full amount; Pastor Grace did not need her full reimbursement amount. This amounted to $7,350 which was almost the amount of the surplus. On the income side, the committed dollars were about $10,000 below the budget. We had folks unable to complete their committed giving. However, the identified giving (not committed money) and the adopt-a-bill made up that difference exceeding what had been budgeted. In addition, we had several members who gave to make sure our Apportionments to the Annual Conference were paid. So, in summary we did okay. We had approved a $10,551 deficit budget and ended the year with $7,122.

What I have to say here and now is – we have approved a deficit budget for the last several years. That is not healthy – nor is it sustainable over time – and the time is now to address these issues.  I suspect we will adopt a deficit budget for 2023.

The important issue is that we are talking about this and have embarked on a Financial Visioning outlook for New Paltz UMC – where we will look at long and short term ways we can create revenue streams to make sure that we remain on the corner of Main and Grove for years to come.  This visioning and doing and dreaming and changing of some paradigms will make us stronger and more focused on the mission and ministries of what makes us who we are and want to be – children of God – creating safe places where all are accepted and welcomed, connecting the needs of people to the presence of God and transforming the world through Christ (the NYAC Mission Statement).

I love my church and I am committed!

With love, Margaret

Financial Update, November 2022

It really is not easy writing about finances – churches do not like to talk about money – and yet we always need money for the missions and ministries of our church.  And so I repeat … How do you begin an article on finance time after time – when the message is often that we need more money – which is true – however the important message is that we are VERY RICH!  And the attitude must be one of plenty and not scarcity. 

I said in the July Newsletter that by this time I hope the gap to the end of the year is at least planned.  That gap will be met if:

• Folks meet the commitments made to the budget

• Folks continue to think about adopting a bill
  • Internet has been adopted for the whole year
  • Elevator/Lift yearly maintenance was adopted
  • Adopt money for whatever bill in various months
  • November Liability Payment was adopted
• Apportionment Commitment
  • One individual committed $8000 to Apportionments over the year and that will be fulfilled
  • Other gifts to Apportionments have been received
• Here is where you could help to assure our Apportionments are met – make a “13^th month commitment” and target it to Apportionments

Currently we are not doing any meals at the church – and we all miss eating and fellowshipping together – and we all know that those gatherings for food were also ways income was added to the church budget. Know that we are rethinking how to make up that loss of revenue.  There might be something coming in December – keep your eyes alert for the news!

As we move into 2023 we will have a Financial Stewardship Campaign in January as we have done the last few years – this is to identify that which you commit to the Operating Budget for the year 2023.  Details of that will come with the event.

Now the challenging part – those fun(d) raising dollars!  What should they be and what would they look like. It is time to think about finances with both short and long term goals – always keeping mission and ministry in the forefront. There was a long – serious – productive discussion at the November Ad Board Meeting.  NPUMC will take a deep dive into financial discussions as a WHOLE CONGREGATION – Saturday, January 21 has been reserved for a “day of financial visioning and financial stewardship”. We will discuss long and short term goals – look at some models of doing finance work differently – have an opportunity for your craziest idea to be out on paper – a time to dream – both realistic dreams and perhaps putting some legs on those crazy dreams!  Please do come and be part of this adventure.

Remember we are part of a Cooperative Parish and have observed that there are many possibilities! We are in a different place and time! We will be doing more with the churches in our Cooperative Parish! And who knows what that future will feature! Let’s be sure we have our eyes and minds and ears and hearts open to what the Lord presents to us! And so…keeping alive our Wesleyan heritage of doing no harm, doing good and staying in love with God.  Mark your calendars – we will gather together to ask the Lord’s blessings on NPUMC and keep the lights glowing on the corner of Main and Grove.

Financial Update, July 2022

from Margaret Howe, NPUMC Financial Secretary

I could begin this article with the same first two paragraphs as the last newsletter – so I will…..

How do you begin an article on finance time after time – when the message is often that we need more money – which is true – however the important message is that we are VERY RICH!  And the attitude must be one of plenty and not scarcity. 

Our income at the moment is entirely from US – you and me – the members and friends of New Paltz United Methodist Church. And, we are doing okay.  We are not current with commitments, however, I have faith that those gifts will come.

We do need to think about filling the gap – what might that be?

We continue to have some folks who Adopt a Bill each month and we do have some beyond the $600 per month pledge to Apportionments.  We are at the 6 month look and I do not want to get to October and November and not have that gap planned.  I encourage all who made a commitment to make sure you are current. 

Here is the challenge: if you have an idea about a fun(d) raiser, email to the church the idea and how you think it might work.  When received the finance team will review and then present to the administrative board and we will see what happens!

Here is challenge #2: we are in need of really cleaning things up and out at church.  I think there may still be boxes of books from previous book sales stored (if I am wrong and there are not then this is not a challenge).  Let’s bring those books up on the lawn on a designated day and have a book sale.  Cost would be donation.  At the end all books will be donated to library fairs or disposed of properly.  The result: a wee bit of money and less stuff! If we have these books we need to set a date and MUST have volunteers to do the lifting and moving.  I can be a volunteer on the lawn, I physically cannot lift.  Thoughts as we care for our church.  Perhaps we could sell a picnic lunch on the lawn that day?

We are in a different place and time! We will be doing more with the churches in our Cooperative Parish! And who knows what that future will feature! Let’s be sure we have our eyes and minds and ears and hearts open to what the Lord presents to us!

As John Wesley says and we say too

            Do no harm, do good, and stay in love with God.

Financial Update, May 2022

from Margaret Howe, NPUMC Financial Secretary

How do you begin an article on finance time after time – when the message is often that we need more money – which is true – however the important message is that we are VERY RICH!  And the attitude must be one of plenty and not scarcity. 

Our income at the moment is entirely from US – you and me – the members and friends of New Paltz United Methodist Church. And, we are doing okay.  We are not current with commitments, however, I have faith that those gifts will come.

The cash flow for the Operating Budget is in satisfactory condition because over the years we have been good stewards of our financial gifts to New Paltz United Methodist Church.  And we have an amazing Planned Giving design/strategy.  Thank you Dan Ruback for your smart care of our financial gifts over the years which allows us to see some benefits each year without disturbing the investments.  I do not know many small churches who have what we have.  Interested in making the church part of your will; interested in gifting some of your annual required IRA withdrawal to the church; interested in knowing some of your options, speak to Dan.

The above being said – that cash does not continue for the whole year.  So, we will continue to look at what fund raising might happen – as food ministry at New Paltz UMC has taken a different and VERY important and beneficial road.  Thank you Food Supplement Program and Fresh Food Giveway – and our new garden at Jackson’s property.

A few people asked me about our Central Hudson bill – with all the news about Central Hudson’s billing system issues.  Yes, we are/were a victim of improper billing – in addition to the increased costs that Central Hudson predicted.  Currently we are in the recovery mode!

A bit about the Ukraine money you have gifted.  As the last Newsletter noted, there are two areas where money could be donated – and 100% of the money goes to Ukraine.  Through March and April you had donated $1025 for Ukraine – I divided the amount equally between the two.  Thank you for your gifts!

And the scripture for us might be Philippians 4:6  – Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God………May it be so……