A Word from Pastor Courtney Mackey
Dear Friends of Laguna Beach United Methodist Church,
Grace and peace to you in the name of Jesus. Recently, we launched our 2026 stewardship campaign: More Than Able - Reach In, Reach Out, Reach Up. “Now to the one who is able to do a measurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work with us…” – Ephesians 3:20-21. This is our promise and our invitation: God’s power at work in us can do far more than what we can plan on our own.
Why this matters?
When we give, we are not simply balancing a budget - we are partnering with God to root people in faith, to serve our neighbors, and to lift worship that proclaims God‘s glory. Our 2026 financial goal is $385,000, a 10% increase over last year. These resources will fund four quarterly focuses for 2026:
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Q1 Rooted in Grace (Reach In): strengthen discipleship, small groups, and pastoral care.
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Q2 Serving with Purpose (Reach Out): Deepen community partnerships, Serve Laguna Day, and local outreach.
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Q3 Living in Abundance (Reach Up): expand worship arts, spiritual formation, and revitalization of our church campus.
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Q4 Celebrating God’s Glory: share our testimony, give thanks, and prepare for the next season.
What I hope you will do:
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Pray - Ask God how you’re being called to participate in this season. Secret what it means to trust God for “more than we can ask or imagine”.
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Pledge - Our pledge period runs from now through Commitment Sunday, November 16, 2025. About 75 giving households, our goal requires deepening our commitments and welcoming new partners. A helpful target is an average pledge of about $5,000/year or—equally good—the combination of a modest increase and a small growth in households.
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Serve - Give your time and gifts of talent. Sign up for small groups, worship and tech teams, outreach events, and more. Stewardship includes time, talent, and treasure — and each matters deeply.
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Give - You may pledge annually, monthly, or weekly; make one-time gifts; and designate additional gifts toward capital needs. We also welcome planned/legacy conversations.
I’m grateful for your faith and generosity. I have seen, again and again, how God takes what we place in God’s hands and does more than we imagine - healing relationships, renewing worship, and meeting neighbors in need. Join me in trusting God to work through Laguna Beach UMC in powerful ways next year. If you would like a pastoral visit or to talk confidentially about your stewardship, please call the church office (949) 499-3088 or email me at pastor@lbumc.org. Thank you for praying, pledging, and serving.
With gratitude and hope,
Rev. Courtney J. Mackey, Senior Pastor
Laguna Beach United Methodist Church
Holy God,
It is not always easy to give what we have.
We count pennies.
We weigh the pros and cons.
We calculate what we have given before, And we remind ourselves what we are giving now.
And yet,
Even though it can take work for us to practice release,
We trust that you can take these gifts,
And use them to build a more beautiful world.
For that is who you are.
You are forever building castles out of sand, Disciples out of people, and new life out of cautious gifts.
Right what is wrong.
Balance the systems of injustice.
Use these gifts to build the world that we can only imagine
But you can bring forth.
In Christ's name we pray, Amen.