“I Love my Church.”
These words moved me when I heard Don Magnus say them last Sunday in a 56-second video that is worth much more than the minute it takes to watch.
He testified to the joy of serving and giving to something you love. It was only fitting that after the 11:00 service, we consecrated our new Birds Nest maintenance building and, in a surprise moment, revealed two commemorative stones with brass plaques affixed to them (Thank you, Dave Gray). One of the stones honors all of those who have served as Yardbirds, beautifying and repairing just about anything that needs it around and inside our church building. The other stone dedicates the new Birds Nest to the founders and leaders of the Yardbirds over the past 35 years: Don Magnus, Bob Bontz, Jim Murrell, and Tom Durdin.
Founding Yardbirds Don Magnus, Bob Bontz, Jim Murrell, and Tom Durdin stand beside the newly dedicated plaques at the Birds Nest maintenance building, honoring 35 years of faithful service.
It was a short but deeply meaningful recognition of this group who love their church—and they represent a host of others in our church family who give and serve with the same spirit.
Last Sunday, we received pledges for more dollars for 2026 ministry than we did on the first Sunday of our stewardship emphasis a year ago. A lot of people brought their “batons”—their Estimates of Giving—and handed them off into big baskets down front while praying at the rail for what God will do through our church next year. We also received gifts last week for our Free to Grow debt elimination campaign. With funds in hand, our remaining debt now stands at about $72,000. In April it was $750,000. It’s what happens when people who “love their church” serve and give with joy.
I am confident that we will be debt-free by Thanksgiving week, November 23, when we are scheduled to burn our mortgage note. I know we can overcome, by the end of the year, the deficit that we, like most churches, face this time of year. I also know that we can fund all that we feel called to do in ministry in 2026. All it requires is for the 600 families who call FUMC Plano their home to say with their heart’s giving, “I love my church.”
And as we’ve witnessed again and again, God is more than gracious to meet our every need.
See you Sunday as we talk about prayer that matters.
Connecting God and Grace to Self and Community,
Matt Gaston
Lead Pastor
