Stewardship 2027: The Five Marks of a Methodist

"Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name" Psalm 100:4 

As we move into the fall and holiday season at Haygood, I give thanks for God's gracious work in the life of our church. 

Each day, I witness the impact Haygood has on our community. From touching lives through our food drives, deepening our faith through small groups and Sunday school, receiving inspiration from our worship, the work of Christ is alive. Our stewardship theme this year is the "Marks of a Methodist: The Fruit of a Living Faith" based on a book by Steve Harper. We are proudly part of the United Methodist Church and embrace our Wesleyan roots. Our 2027 stewardship journey will guide us in five daily devotional practices that help us produce the fruits of a living faith. 

A Methodist: 1. Loves God. 2. Rejoices in God. 3. Gives Thanks. 4. Prays Constantly. 5. Loves Others.  

This church continues our legacy of loving our neighbors as we saw in the recent concert we hosted in our sanctuary. We welcomed the Kyiv Symphony and Orchestra and the Georgia Boy Choir who sang about shared faith in Christ. Half of the people in attendance that night were from our larger Atlanta community. That same week, we also packed 30,000 meals through Rise Against Hunger!  

As we prepare for 2027, our operating budget will reflect the growth and renewal we have experienced by the grace of God in our church. We have new staff members who are bringing new ideas and ministry offerings to our church. In fact, we have a record number of 28 children who have signed up for our Advent play, and our youth group is taking a fall retreat to Camp Glisson for the first time since I have been here. We continue honoring our legacy while keeping an eye toward the future. To maintain our 1948-built facilities as spaces of radical hospitality, we must address essential repairs and maintenance. And, like everyone else, we are experiencing inflation of many existing costs.  

As we look ahead to the coming year, we invite you to consider making a financial pledge to the church’s operating budget. A pledge isn’t a contract - it’s simply a heartfelt intention to give. What makes it so valuable is that it allows our leadership to plan responsibly and steward resources wisely, ensuring we can continue to serve our community with care and purpose.