Welcome to Money Matters, where we share how your gifts of time, resources, and financial support directly strengthen the ministries of Elk Grove UMC. Every dollar supports ministry, and every volunteer offers time and spiritual gifts that help us serve as the hands and feet of Jesus in our community. We hope this update helps you see the impact of your generosity and that you will prayerfully consider your continued support of EGUMC.
So far this year, your giving has helped us make meaningful progress in accessibility, facilities, worship, outreach, and ministry support. We are choosing to tell this story from a place of abundance: noticing the gifts God has already placed among us, using them wisely, and trusting that shared generosity creates room for ministry to grow.
Thank you, for your dedication – for your prayers, presence, gifts, service, and witness to Elk Grove UMC.
Blessings,
Theresa Badley and EGUMC Finance Team
“Abundance is not something we acquire. It is something we tune into.”
– Wayne Dyer
Chairs
Most of pews in the sanctuary have been replaced with new chairs as part of an initiative for accessibility. This change allows for a flexible space that is safe and more inclusive, where people in wheelchairs and walkers can sit in any place in the lower part of the sanctuary, and where seating is sturdy and more supportive for all bodies. There is a combination of chairs with arms and chairs without, and for those who still love pews, a few rows remain in the back that cannot be removed due to the sloped floor.
Doors
Push button automatic doors have been installed on all restrooms, making all of the church restrooms accessible to all people. The automatic door buttons on the restrooms are complete except for some painting. These were installed with funds from the Beulah Grant program. Thank you to United Women in Faith for securing this grant. This use of outside the giving stream funds was very beneficial.
Windows
We are pleased to continue the use of funds from the Tom Smith bequest for facility improvements. Work on replacing the vintage single pane windows in the sanctuary building is underway. There have been a few disruptions in Bartholomew Hall and in the office while the work is in progress – we ask for your grace during the project. The exterior of the sanctuary building will be painted when the windows have been replaced. Our bequest funds remain at Stifel Investments.
Finance Team
I continue to hope that our long time treasurer Mary Popish will get to retire some day. Travis Baker has agreed to take on the role of treasurer in training with the goal of Mary stepping back around the first of the year. We plan a smooth transition, and the training has already begun. We thank for Mary Ann Blohm-Craig’s dedicated service to the church and the finance team, and are thankful for Travis’s and Mary’s time and energy dedicated to the training process. We will name a new Financial Secretary soon – the role will be handled by Travis and Finance Chair Theresa Badley in the interim.
This leaves an opening on the finance team for Financial Secretary. Financial Secretary is responsible for transferring the weekly donation information from an excel spreadsheet to Breeze, the church software, monitoring the donations are included in the appropriate church funds, maintaining our giving records and sending out giving statements. Excel knowledge is a must. If you’re interested, or know of someone who might be a good fit, please let me know.
The Numbers
Our finances remain strong, even as we continue to face the same economic pressures affecting households, businesses, and nonprofits. Income has increased steadily for three years because of your continued giving and support; but our normal operating expenses have also continued to rise. For January through June 2026, income totaled $157,406.73 and expenses totaled $185,209.52, resulting in a year-to-date difference of ($27,802.79), or a net difference of ($24,566.79) after the planned use of reserves. We do not view these numbers with fear, but with faithful attention: they show both the generosity already present in this congregation and the opportunity for continued participation in the ministry God is growing through EGUMC.
Stewardship & Growth
As a church, we know that income can be uneven, especially during the summer months when donations often slow. Giving statements for the first half of the year will be sent in the next few days with a reminder that the church’s ministries, facilities, and community commitments continue throughout the year.
The stewardship arm of the Finance Committee is also exploring alternative sources of revenue to support our ministries for the long term. Even in this economic climate, we continue to lead from abundance rather than scarcity, asking not only what we lack, but what we already have to offer—space, people, creativity, faith, and a campus that can serve the wider community in new ways.
2026 Year in Review (Jan-Jun)
Our Mission
Our Vision
To spread God’s unconditional love and Jesus’ teaching to love our neighbors through our faith and work in the Elk Grove community.
Creating an authentic Christ-centered community of belonging for all people that is accessible, safe, inclusive, and meaningful.
Income/Donations (Jan - Jun 2026) $157,406.73
Expenses (Jan - Jun 2026) $185, 209.52
Difference -$27,802.79
Planned Use of Reserves $3,236.00
Net Difference -$24,566.79
Connectional Ministries
Family Outreach
Worship
Support Services
Connectional Ministries
Total spent 2026 – $15,740.00
Every year, we are asked by the Annual Conference to give 10% of our income/revenue to the Conference work. This means that, unlike some denominations that have a top-down approach, where the larger administration of the denomination gives money to individual churches, we are a denomination that does a bottom-up approach, the local churches support the greater denomination. This “tithe” as it is called goes not only to the regional Annual Conference, but to the wider denomination which reaches all over the world. This is what it means to be a connectional church.
Additionally, we have given to Katherine Parker, our covenant missionary in Nepal. In August 2025, we voted at Church Council to continue this annual support, which is not something we budget for, but something we take extra offerings for. We generally ask if each member will donate $10 to our financial contribution to Katherine Parker. We were blessed to have Katherine Parker visit our church in May and share about her work in Nepal.
Worship
Total spent 2026 – $15,740.00
It is no secret that the music program is a highlight of our worship experience. Every Sunday, our band, playfully known as the “Holy Misfits,” and our choir share gifts of song and rhythm that deepen worship and strengthen our life together.
Family Outreach
Total spent 2026 – $11,205.00
One of our church’s primary goals continues to be a focus on young people and families – because when we focus in this way, we are focusing on the whole church, which allows us to thrive and grow in the future.
Our Sunday School program continues to be led by Kelley and Martin Popish through Christian Education, and the number of volunteers has increased to support the growing number of children who attend. Many volunteers were trained in CPR and First Aid in March.
The Sunday School program will resume soon after a summer break. Volunteers will be trained in Safe Gatherings, fingerprinted and take mandated reporter training as well.
So far in 2026, Sunday School volunteers have already logged over 150 service hours, reflecting the dedication required to support this growing ministry.
Our youth group continues to grow and has taken on more activities as the youth become more dedicated and involved.
Hospitality, also part of Family Outreach, has expanded beautifully as a ministry of welcome, fellowship, and care. Each Sunday, the congregation shares coffee and bagel fellowship after worship, and the Finance Committee recommended to Council that Hospitality become a budgeted line item for 2026 to help fund potlucks, new membership classes, and small groups.
Support Services
Total spent 2026 – $40,680.69 (Facility)
The bulk of Support Services funding supports church facilities. The church is home to many 12-step groups, community organizations, and important county services such as WIC, and hundreds of people visit our campus each week. The installation of chairs in the sanctuary creates another flexible space for community use, including monthly jazz concerts that began in May.
One of our Church Council goals for 2026 is to consider how we might use the rest of our campus, including the commercial buildings to the east that we own, in missional ways. This might be to house new ministries, or it might be in a revenue stream to support our current ministries. Your voice at Church Council meetings is important to move forward.
Total spent 2026 – $95,551.30 (Staff)
Support for all areas includes the cost of a full-time pastor and a 30-hour-per-week Administrative Assistant. The Administrative Assistant coordinates facility use, creates the Sunday PowerPoint, prepares and sends communications, serves as a liaison with companies and organizations, helps ensure church safety during the week, and assists with many financial tasks.
In 2026, pastor’s salary included salary and health insurance for Pastor April Sousa. We also paid moving expenses for Pastor Sejoon Jang. This unanticipated cost will be partly reimbursed by the conference.
The California-Nevada Annual Conference vision statement—Following Jesus, Thriving in Community, Healing the World—captures what Elk Grove UMC is living into as a beacon of hope in Elk Grove and beyond. This ministry is possible because members and friends give generously through prayers, presence, gifts, service, and witness. Thank you for continuing to practice abundance with us—not as a slogan, but as a way of seeing God’s provision, sharing what has been entrusted to us, and making space for more people to experience belonging, care, and hope through EGUMC. Please prayerfully consider your financial contribution so this ministry can continue serving our church, our neighbors, and the wider community.