Board of Trustees Update: Caring for Our Church Home

written by Phillip Stephens, Chair of Trustees

The Board of Trustees at Auburn First United Methodist Church is charged with the care and stewardship of the church’s buildings and grounds. In practical terms, Trustees help ensure that our facilities are safe, functional, welcoming, and ready to support worship, fellowship, education, and outreach. From repairs and maintenance to equipment upgrades and improvement projects, the Trustees work to care for the physical spaces that support the life and ministry of our church.

Social Hall with New Projector Screens and New Lights

So far this year, we are pleased to share that a number of important projects have been completed. Among the most significant was the completion of indoor and outdoor lighting upgrades through a $26,000 utilities grant. Additional work included mitigation of asbestos found in previously installed carpet glue and replacement of hallway carpets, replacement of the kitchen garbage disposal, and upgrades to the school wing sump pump system.

In the social hall, projection screens were replaced and upgraded, and the PA system was restored to working order with the addition of wireless microphones and Bluetooth capability. Plumbing issues in both the kitchen and restrooms were addressed, new signage was installed throughout the building, roof gutters were cleared, and missing downspouts were repaired. We also upgraded the church Wi-Fi and phone systems while reducing costs by 30 percent. In support of the Monday night supper ministry, a refrigerator was repaired and a new freezer was added.

Newly Painted Hallway thanks to the PPP Group!

Several additional projects were completed in partnership with the Prayers, Punchlist, & Pastries (PPP) program. These included cleaning furnace rooms, creating additional storage capacity, painting the main hallway walls, courtyard gardening, repairing the trash dumpster gate, repainting the outside wall in the kids’ courtyard, replacing furnace filters, cleaning ducts, cleaning the refrigerator intake vent, and spring weeding of outside planting beds.

We are grateful for all who have shared their time, labor, and resources to make this work possible. These improvements help Auburn First UMC remain a welcoming, safe, and well-cared-for place for ministry and community life.