Growth is rarely easy—but it is always a part of God’s story. In Exodus, when God called Moses to lead the people into a new future, it didn’t happen all at once. There were questions, doubts, and hard decisions. But God’s promise remained steady: “I will be with you.” As we look toward the future God is calling us into, we find ourselves in a season of thoughtful, Spirit-led change. Like Moses, we are being invited to step into something new—not just as individuals, but as a church family committed to growing together. Over the past several months, our Finance Team, Staff Parish Relations Committee (SPRC), Vision Team, and Trustees have been working diligently to realign our resources so that we can not only sustain our ministry but expand it into the future. These faithful leaders—volunteers from among you—are leading us in a course correction to reduce our budget by $300,000 over the next 12–24 months. That’s a big task, but we believe it is possible with faith, clarity, and shared commitment. One of the major steps is a reorganization of our staffing structure. Some of these changes are already underway: • Jackie Long , who has faithfully served as our Facilities Director for over 23 years, will be retiring on August 1. Thanks to a creative staffing proposal, Jackie will continue supporting the church part-time in this next chapter. • Hannah Reeves will assume increased leadership as our full-time Facilities Supervisor. • Zack Mace , our part-time maintenance worker, will begin reduced hours starting June 1. • At The Table , our weekly video series will come to an end beginning August 1. These adjustments, along with increased giving, represent about $160,000 in annual financial impact. SPRC is also reviewing another $150,000 in possible savings. To be candid, we pray more of that $150,000 will be offset in new and increased estimate of givings for the 2026 budget. In the area of worship, our Music Ministry is also entering a new chapter. We are actively searching for a new Director of Music Ministry/Organist, a role that will continue to lead and nurture our traditional worship while helping us grow into future possibilities. In the interim, we’re grateful to welcome Tim Baker, retired Director/Organist from University UMC in Chapel Hill, who will help lead us during the transition. All of these steps are being made with care, prayer, and a strong sense of mission. This is not about simply reducing costs—it’s about investing wisely in a future that is faithful, flexible, and full of possibility. I’m asking you to do a few things: • Pray for your church leaders as they continue this work on your behalf. • Trust that your committees are working diligently with love for the whole church. • Engage in the life of the church as you are able—your presence and support matter greatly. In this season of growing, each one of us has a part to play. Some will lead, some will support, some will step into new roles. Together, we will continue to be the church—rooted in Christ, moving forward in hope. -Pastor Ray

Maybe you remember when you were little and growing from year to year. Your parent marked the door frame with each new year. Your appetite increased and you could eat a whole rotisserie chicken! Literally! One day you were reaching over the table top with your hands to find the candy bowl, and the next you were looking down into it (empty because your parents started hiding it better). And from time to time you would have an ache in your arms or legs or shoulders. “Growing pains,” you were told. It didn’t make sense, but then again how do you make a bone bigger except by stretching it out. Regardless, it hurt. Growing pains are a good thing though. They are physical reminders of progress and development. They are tangible signs that you are trying to fill more space in a growing environment. They hurt, but good things often do. You’ve read the letter by now about our financial challenges, and you’ve felt the changes to our church body. Now I’ll admit, it’s easy to see these as markers of death. We hear about how we live in a post-Christian world; how so may churches are losing members and property and more; and we see a world that doesn’t see the value in church life as it used to. It’s so easy to see these pains as inevitable and a sign of the end… But that’s human-you thinking. Human-you knows we all have an expiration—an end. Human-you sees pain and tries to avoid it. Human-you doesn’t like this pain. But friends, we just got done celebrating Easter. We celebrate the resurrection and life anew of Jesus Christ, and if you are paying attention, you know that resurrection is for you too. That death is not the end of you either. You are human, yes. But you are also divine! So church, would you start thinking like the divine being you are? Because divine-you knows pain in a new way, or rather an old, old way. Divine-you knows pain means you no longer fit in the space you’ve been occupying, that you are outgrowing the environment around you. Divine- you knows that you’re about to be asked to do something bigger and you’ll need to be bigger to do it. Divine-you knows that your Holy Parent in God loves you and is creating you new today with as much care as when you were first created. Divine-you knows that these too, are growing pains. Not meant to mark your end, but instead… your new beginning. Friends, I believe in the future our community will look at us and say with curiosity, “My how you’ve grown!” And we will respond by saying, “Thanks be to God!” -Pastor Stephan