The Light of Christ

The Light of Christ is our semi-annual newsletter. It functions like a “State of the Church” update and will include reports from the chairs of our three fiduciary committees. As you read these reports and look at the pictures, give thanks and pray that the Spirit reveals how you are called to serve here next.

Pastor’s Report
The last six months have been some of the most fruitful in my 16-year ministry. In November, we welcomed 16 new members, baptized three people, and celebrated a beautiful All Saints Sunday. Altogether, we added 21 new members in 2024. But more than just filling the pews, we are witnessing a growing spirit of love for God and neighbor at PVUMC. Whenever I sit down with visitors, the overwhelming response I hear is, “We just felt so welcomed here.” The presence of God is tangible from the moment people walk through our doors. Thank you for being a congregation that embodies Christ’s love! Below are just a few highlights from this incredible season:

Advent & Christmas
During Advent, with our historic sanctuary adorned with poinsettias and garland, we once again hosted three interactive contemplative worship nights. Around the church, prayer stations invited people of all ages to reflect on the themes of expectation and incarnation. A heartfelt thank you to my wife, Heather, for curating these beautiful and meaningful spaces with such thoughtfulness and creativity.
Each week was well-attended, but what truly filled my heart was seeing our volunteers serve with such love and care. The suppers were delicious and abundant, and the warm ambiance made these evenings even more special.
Another highlight was our Christmas Eve offering, where this congregation generously raised over $1,800 to pay down school lunch debt for families in need at Pleasant View Elementary. This will be a tremendous blessing to those struggling to provide for their children.

Fellowship Hall Renovations
A special thank you to the Hunter sisters—Dawn, Maria, Daina, and Kristy—who, with the support of our Trustees, have been working diligently to update our Fellowship Hall. This fall, they painted the entire space from baseboard to ceiling and are now working on new windows, flooring, and added functionality. Their servant leadership is a gift to our church, and their efforts are already making a beautiful impact.

Pastor Anne
Last summer, Anne Culver was commissioned as a provisional deacon, and I cannot express enough gratitude for her presence in our community. She is my faithful partner in worship each Sunday and has stepped in to preach when needed. Beyond that, she is expanding our Congregational Care Committee, building a lay-led team to maintain our prayer list and ensure the needs of our congregation are met.
Anne also co-led our fall Methodism 101 course, which has been incredibly enlightening for many in our church. It is a privilege to support someone pursuing their call to ordained ministry, and I look forward to seeing how her Aging Toward Perfection small group unfolds.

Thriving Gatherings
Our small groups are thriving! The Thursday morning Bible study is growing so much that they may soon need to move into the Fellowship Hall. The Monday morning Men’s Group has expanded, now including a devotion and Bible study alongside their prayer breakfast.
The Tuesday morning Prayer Shawl Ministry is also flourishing, with plans to add a monthly Sunday night gathering. This group has expanded its mission beyond prayer shawls, now knitting baby blankets for the NICU at St. Thomas Hospital. It is clear that our church deeply values both fellowship and meaningful service.

Mission & Outreach
I cannot say enough about the incredible work Beth and Kenny are leading. The Fuel Program now provides nutrition bags to nearly 100 Cheatham County families each weekend. Beth has also been fostering a partnership with Second Harvest Food Bank, significantly expanding our ministry’s reach while reducing costs.
One of our key goals this year is to establish a food pantry near the Fellowship Hall, providing a resource for those in need within our community. If you feel called to be part of this vital ministry, I encourage you to join Beth’s team.

As I look back on these past six months, I am overwhelmed with gratitude for all that God is doing in our church. Each moment—from the warmth of our Advent gatherings to the generosity of our mission work—reflects the love and faithfulness of this congregation. We are not simply growing in numbers; we are deepening in spirit, in service, and in our love for one another. It is a joy to witness the ways you all step up to serve, support, and welcome others with open hearts. My prayer is that we continue to lean into this momentum, allowing the Spirit to guide us into even greater things ahead. May we remain faithful, joyful, and ever expectant of the ways God will move in and through us in the seasons to come. Keep up the good work, church—our best days are still ahead!

Trustees Report
The PVUMC Trustees are looking forward to a productive 2025 and beyond. Topping the list of projects for now is the land purchase/sale on Highway 49. The church held a Charge Conference in January and the sale was approved unanimously. We’re looking forward to closing and attaining these funds. The Trustee Committee will be using those funds for upcoming improvements to our church building and properties, while maintaining mindfulness of the possibility of emergency maintenance issues of which the Trustee Board would need to keep a reserve ($30,000) in place for those eventualities.

We look forward to the following projects in 2025:
1. Further improvements to the Fellowship Hall including new flooring, windows, an indoor pantry and minor kitchen upgrades.
2. Using the storage shed adjacent to the Fellowship Hall for a large food pantry. This would require electrical, HVAC and insulation installations and/or renovations.
3. Bathroom renovations in the Fellowship Hall.
4. Upgrades in the Sunday School Wing.

As was mentioned previously, an emergency fund would be maintained which would include enough funds to pay for HVAC units, plumbing repairs or our insurance deductible in case of a major emergency. These types of issues/expenditures are often unexpected and usually have to be handled quickly.

Respectfully,

Tony Easley, Chair of Trustees

Finance Report

We may look back at 2024 and decide it was a watershed year for us as we found our footing for what type of church we wanted to be. Or rather, what type of church God wanted us to be. We began 2024 with a dire forecast. Our budget deficit was $25,000, a huge deficit considering the number of members we had at the beginning of the year. But we were determined to keep our focus on serving our community, primarily through the FUEL program and holiday boxes. And little by little, we cut away at the deficit.

We became a 2nd Harvest Agency Partner, which provided almost 50% of the food needed for FUEL plus a food grant with a value of almost $2,500 for the 2024-2025 School Year. Outside organizations donated food and money to the program, in addition to what was received from church members. There were many other things that just fell in place, a little more rent, a little less in expenses. The Conference put a moratorium on pension payments for 2024 and 2025, which is approximately $5,000/yr. in savings.

But perhaps the biggest surprise was the fundraisers. Over $10,000 was raised, which was more than expected. So many people worked to make them a success but special thanks to Dawn Brading and Trina Chance for spearheading the rummage sale and the auction. Then, to top everything off, we received donations to pay our connectional commitment in full, something we didn’t even budget. We received so much support from the conference and other UMC churches in 2023, it was very rewarding to be able to do this.

As we move into 2025, our financial picture is better, but our budget still has a deficit of $2,000. Included in the budget is $8000 to be raised through fundraisers. Please pray about this and if you have an idea, get with someone on the finance committee. They will see that you have all the support you need.

After many years of faithful service as the Financial Secretary, Bill Hunt is stepping down. Bill has done a wonderful job and will be missed, but this gives someone else an opportunity to use their gifts. We are looking for one or two people to replace him. Bill and his team of counters are responsible each week for counting and categorizing all monies received by the church and depositing the money in the proper accounts. The Financial Secretary sends out giving statements at the end of the year. Training will be provided. If you are interested in this position or know of someone who you think would be good, please let Lynn Seifert, the new Finance Chair, or Bill know.

It has been a privilege to be the Finance Chair for these past several years. I would be remiss if I did not thank each person who has been on the committee during that time. Your input has been invaluable. I have enjoyed working with you. Thank you.

Sincerely,

Beth Bostwick, Outgoing Chair of Finance Committee

Staff-Parish Relation Report

The Staff Parish Relations Committee is pleased to report that things are going well within our congregation, and we are grateful for the steady and faithful leadership of Pastor Steve. His dedication to our church community has been a blessing, and we deeply appreciate his guidance, compassion, and commitment to our spiritual growth. In light of his invaluable service, the committee has unanimously requested that Pastor Steve be appointed to continue his ministry with us for another conference year. We look forward to the continued work God will do through him in our church.

Best,

Jessica Harrison, Chair of SPRC