Dear Rockport Family and Friends, 
 
Grace and peace to you as you receive this letter.  It has been a hard week.  On Thursday evening, members and friends of Rockport UMC met via Zoom for a Virtual All Church Meeting, where we discussed the current financial picture of the church.  At this meeting, we shared that it was the recommendation of the Rockport Finance Committee to close Rockport Early Childhood Center, pending a vote from the Administrative Council at the end of the meeting. This difficult decision was made final by the Administrative Council Thursday evening, after months of work and after exhausting all other possibilities. Rockport Early Childhood Center will close effective August 28, 2020 at the close of business. 
 
As many of you are aware, Rockport’s finances have struggled for the past several years, and the Coronavirus pandemic has accelerated an untenable financial situation for Rockport UMC and RECC.  The pandemic has also affected every aspect of the ministries we provide. Changing ratios in the childcare, lack of children to enroll, decreasing numbers of staff with increased responsibilities, an increased cost to supplies, our inability to meet in person – all of these things have altered the way we do ministry with our childcare center and our church.  After examining a number of options including the possibilities of increasing tuition, changing hours, and altering our childcare program, we could not close the growing financial deficit arising from this pandemic.  
 
Rockport continues to be deeply grateful for the ways that you supported the church and RECC throughout this pandemic. We need your continued support now more than ever, as we move forward in redefining our mission and ministry and serving our community as Christ intends.  
 
Praying and working with you, 
 


Rev. Lorrin Radzik, 
Pastor, Rockport UMC