Welcome to Chapel Hill UMC in Farmers Branch , TX
Open Hearts, Open Minds, Open Doors
Open Hearts, Open Minds, Open Doors
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September 2014: Update from Trustees

TrusteesThis has been a busy time for Trustees & we want to bring you, our congregation, up to date on our projects.

The new air conditioning in the children’s wing is installed and operating successfully and worth every hour and penny spent!

The new nursery is open and dedicated and has a nice, fresh look, thanks to many volunteers and the leadership of Melanie Willhite. Some volunteered time; others donated money and both were needed, so a huge thanks to all.

As many of you may remember, at one time Chapel Hill had a CDP school for our children with an enrollment of about 100 kids. Our membership was larger and there was a demand for such a program. Over the years, the demand diminished and eventually the school closed.

Fast forward several decades. Enter the GISD. When we were approached about renting space in our church, neither party ever anticipated the growth and waiting list they now experience. 

The GISD’s current rentals amount to approximately 10% of our annual church budget. They have paid for all expenses for renovation, including: paint, a new floor, a dishwasher, drapes and co-oped with Chapel Hill for the new playground. These are improvements to fixed assets that cannot be removed from the building if they terminate their lease. They maintain the improvements which saves us money and enhances our building.

In a meeting this summer, the Director expressed a need for another room by August 2015, which quickly escalated to November 2014, again due to growth. We had to move fast! The only room available was a single purpose theatre room with limited use over the past decade. This seemed to be the most responsible solution since it would not impact our Sunday School classes or teachers. At the last Trustees meeting, a vote was taken and the theatre room has been offered to GISD.

The Book of Discipline outlines the responsibilities of Trustees regarding usage, maintenance and rental agreements. Time brings change and change is difficult but we are committed to being good stewards of the church building and money; it may not always be what we want but rather what is good & responsible. We have lost a lot of our saints who contributed heavily but have gone on to a heavenly reward and we are left to wrestle with and conserve our reserves.

Our decisions are not made lightly, but prayerfully. We hope you support them and realize we especially acknowledge our children are our future and we are the village. So, let’s get busy and fill up that new nursery and all the Sunday School rooms in both wings and then thank God for the challenges ahead.

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EPHESIANS 3:18

I wish above all things that you may know how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ for you.