STATISTICAL INFORMATION

This past Sunday, May 10, John Miller, Church Council Chair, and I met with the Seekers Sunday School Class. One of the questions asked was about the growth of our congregation. In answer to that question, I find the following interesting:

Traditionally, church growth has been measured by an increase in membership. Platt Woods Church’s membership:

2007 -- 2,596 members
2008 -- 2,633 members

Before coming to Platte Woods Church, part of my job as Treasurer of The Missouri Conference was gathering statistical information for all of Missouri’s United Methodist congregations. I would then try to analyze the information. Over the 19 years I performed this task, I came to the conclusion that growing churches can be identified by several measures. Certainly membership is one of the measures. More importantly, I came to the conclusion that participation was as important a measurement as membership. Consider the following average attendance statistics:

2007
Sunday School average attendance.................309
Ongoing classes and learning groups................28
Short term classes and learning groups.............12
Youth (7 – 12th grade) in all other groups.......214
Worship average attendance...........................797

2008
Sunday School average attendance..................386
Ongoing classes and learning groups.................50
Short term classes and learning groups..............61
Youth (7 – 12th grade) in all other groups........225
Worship average attendance............................818

So far in 2009, we are averaging 878 persons in worship.

Financial support is perhaps another measure of the vitality of a congregation. Through this past Sunday (18 weeks) we are $53,518 ahead of last year’s (2008) giving. This support does not include giving for kitchen and dining hall remodeling or other capital gifts.

Are we a growing church? The statistics would indicate we are. However, perhaps the real question has to do with how we as a church and as individuals are reaching out in our community to share the love of God in Jesus Christ. Perhaps the real question has to do with how each of us is growing in our faith development. If we are growing as individuals and if we are sharing God’s love in our sphere of influence, we will be a growing community of faith.

Thanks to the Seekers Class for asking the question.

CAPITAL CAMPAIGN UPDATE

Many of our church members and friends helped with the debt reduction campaign here at Platte Woods United Methodist Church. As we are nearing the completion of paying off the debt on the newest addition to our church, I thought you might like to know where things stand.

On January 1, 2006, we owed some $3,324,000 on the educational wing addition. We owe $322,997 on the addition, which means we have paid off some $3,000,000 in the past 38 months. That is GREAT.

In reviewing the support provided, I find the following:

299 pledges were received totaling $2,012,436.
279 pledges have paid $1,568,217 (58 pledges paid in full).
We received $1,757,800 in unpledged support.
There remains $444,219 in pledges outstanding.

Our goal is to end 2009 being debt-free. In these economic times, that will be GOOD NEWS!

OF PANCAKES, BUDGETS AND CHURCH OFFICERS

This past Sunday was busy around Platte Woods Church.

This past Sunday, Chris Cakes served 442 plates of pancakes. Each plate had at least 3 pancakes, which means there were a minimum of 1,342 pancakes served. However, since it was an “all you can eat” event, and since the Boy Scouts had some 100 young men spend Saturday night at the church who joined us for breakfast, my hunch is each plate averaged at least 4.6 pancakes. So, I think it is safe to say we served over 2,000 pancakes. Using the 2,000 pancakes number, and since we served from 8:00 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. (4½ hours), we served on average 445 pancakes an hour. That’s making and serving over 7 pancakes a minute, or one pancake every 8 seconds. Of course Chris Cakes is able to handle such an undertaking, thank goodness! By the way our voluntary contributions for breakfast were $220.95 over the cost of the breakfast. This “profit” will be used by our Children Ministries program.

This past Sunday, I had the opportunity to speak to the Around 30’s Sunday School Class. My assignment was to share with them anything I felt like sharing. Having been a church bureaucrat for the 21 years before coming to Platte Woods, I chose the subject of “United Methodist Church Bureaucracy.” Although that sounds like a pretty dry subject, I had a good time talking about the way our church, district, conference, jurisdiction and denomination is structured. The class asked a lot of good questions. Two of the most important questions had to do with the structure and budget of Platte Woods Church. Do you know who our church officers are? Do you know the amount of the 2009 church budget? If you are interested in either of those questions, you can find the answers on the church’s Web site, where you will find a listing of OUR church committees with members. Under the Finance Committee you will find a link to the 2009 church budget. Thanks to Jennifer Simms, communications coordinator, for posting this information.

This past weekend – Saturday evening and Sunday morning – we had 914 individuals worship with us. Since our average worship attendance is 813 folks (2008 number), we had a very good “crowd.”

This past Sunday was busy around Platte Woods Church.

WHAT A YEAR IT WAS!

It is probably a bit late to be looking back on what happened in 2008, but as my mother used to say, “Better late than never.”

2008 was a good year at Platte Woods Church!

Consider the following:

• We averaged 818 persons at our weekly worship services, up 21 persons or 2.6% from 2007.
• 1,946 persons attended a Christmas Eve service.
• 1,571 persons attended Easter services.
• We have 2,633 members, up 37 or 1.4% from 2007.
• We have 225 youth group members, up 11 or 5.1% from 2007.
• We averaged 386 in Sunday School, up 77 or 24.9% from 2007.
• We were given $1,571,818 through tithes and offerings, up $129,389 or 8.3% from 2007.
• We paid off $481,410 in building debt, leaving us with $351,777 to pay off, which should be accomplished in 2009.

My interpretation of these statistics is not as empirical. It is a feeling that our church is providing meaningful ministry in our midst to which people of all ages are responding. My hope is that we can continue to build on what happened in the past so that next year at this time we can once again say, WHAT A YEAR IT WAS!

AND ARE WE YET ALIVE?

And are we yet alive? That question is the title of a Charles Wesley hymn, #553 in our hymnal.

My answer to the inquiry is, “Platte Woods United Methodist Church is indeed alive!”

I am made aware of our aliveness almost every morning and afternoon as the Sunbeam children with their parents in tow report for class, and as the Parents Day Out children begin their time at the church.

I was made aware of our aliveness this past Tuesday evening as some 300 women attended the Christmas Tea. Participating as a server for the event, I got caught up in the grandness of the evening.

I was made aware of our aliveness last night at the Wednesday at the Woods and the Gingerbread House Auction. Having crafted one of the houses, I held my breath that somebody would bid on my creation. Thanks to the kind souls who so bid! By the way we served dinner to 158 folks with the auction raising some $1,600 for the kitchen.

I was made aware of our aliveness in the latest reporting of pledged support for the 2009 church budget. As of this morning we have received $1,008,142 of pledged support in 282 pledges. This is some $81,500 more in support and 10 more pledges than for this year. What is most impressive to me is the 83 new pledges we have received.

I was made aware of our aliveness in the end of November statistics. Our average worship attendance for the year stands at 793, compared to 772 in 2007, up 21 folks (almost 3%). Support of the church budget through the end of November totals $1,337,668, compared to $1,205,550 in 2007, up $132,118 (almost 11%).

And are we yet alive? My answer to the inquiry is, “Platte Woods United Methodist Church is indeed alive!” Thanks be to God for the vitality and energy of our community of faith!

COFFEE, COOKIES AND RADICAL HOSPITALITY

Have you been enjoying the coffee served here at Platte Woods Church? Did you know we now use only FAIR TRADE coffee? In particular, we use the Green Mountain Coffee brand of Fair Trade coffee. Use of Fair Trade coffee is being done at the suggestion of the church’s JPEG Committee.

What is Fair Trade coffee you ask? Quoting from the Green Mountain Coffee Web site (www.GreenMountainCoffee.com): “Fair Trade guarantees farmers a fair price which means they can afford to feed their families, keep their kids in school and invest in the quality of their coffee.” The Green Mountain Coffee folks go on to explain:

Fair Trade is an innovative, market-based approach to sustainable development. Fair Trade helps family farmers in developing countries to gain direct access to international markets, as well as to develop the business capacity necessary to compete in the global marketplace. By learning how to market their harvests, Fair Trade farmers are able to bootstrap their businesses and receive a fair price for their products. This leads to higher family living standards, thriving communities and more sustainable farming practices. Your choice to purchase Fair Trade Certified™ coffee empowers farming families to take care of themselves - without developing dependency on foreign aid.

Speaking of Green Mountain Coffee, several weeks ago I was invited to officiate at my nephew’s wedding in Rhode Island. Shirley and I drove to the Ocean State via way of Vermont. While in Vermont we visited the Green Mountain Coffee Company’s headquarters in Waterbury, Vermont. Waterbury is also the original home of Ben and Jerry’s ice cream. We visited those facilities as well. Both organizations are examples of companies doing business with socially and environmentally responsible business practices as a core value of their business model.

Speaking of coffee, did you know we served coffee and cookies to the some 1200 folks who voted at Platte Woods Church in last week’s general election? Jeff Denton coordinated the provision of approximately 80 dozen cookies (954 to be exact) and 5 pots of our 100-cup coffee brewers. Thanks to Jeff and all those who baked cookies.

Coffee and cookies are part of Platte Wood Church’s “radical hospitality.”

SUPPORTING OUR CHURCH

Dealing with church finances is always a challenge.

Asking Platte Woods Church members and constituents to make a formal financial commitment to support the ministry of the church allows the Finance Committee to develop a plan for how we are going to pay the bills. Then by carefully reviewing the income received the Finance Committee is able to responsibly conduct the business of our church.

Filling out a commitment card is an indication of the financial support intended to be provided by an individual or family. Certainly there are circumstances in which financial positions change in individuals’ lives. In such cases the church understands changing the commitment intended for the church.

The fall commitment card process has been a focus of our church during October. Commitment cards for 2009 have been received and continue to arrive.

Thanks to the dedication and generosity of the Platte Woods Church family we so far have received the following commitment for 2009:
258 commitments equaling $967,893 (as of 11/6/08)
75 new commitments
57 increased commitments

How does this compare to last year?
$41,189 more in commitments than 2008
75 new commitments received
57 commitments increased from 2008
14 fewer commitments received than 2008 (as of 11/6/2008)
91 commitments from 2008 have not yet responded (as of 11/6/08)

The Finance Committee will soon be finalizing the 2009 budget given these commitment results.

So, THANK YOU to those who have provided commitments to the Platte Woods Church. For those still contemplating making a commitment for 2009, please give serious consideration to contemplation. If you have any questions or comments, please let me know.

Dealing with church finances is always a challenge.