This is a common perception that is often reinforced by the frequent pleas for donations to worthy causes and even the weekly "passing of the plate."
When this concern is voiced, it's often with the idea that the church is asking for money for itself.
However, there are plenty of weekends and seasons when the need to fund the body of Christ isn’t even mentioned.
True, we take weekly offerings. And we have opportunity to respond to the various needs of Hurricane & Earthquake relief, support music, missions and other groups in our church.
But only once a year do we ask you to think about the year ahead and what God is leading you to do about the “hard reality” of funding such a great organization such as ours.
Our “Stewardship” program is simply a time to consider our use of money in a prayerful way.
We do this with great care and reliance on God for we know that “the love of money is the root of evil.” 1 Timothy 6:10.
Notice that this does not say that “money is the root of evil,” but it’s the love of the stuff that sets us up for a fall.
In fact, the love of anything above all other things can lead us into evil.
We are all called to love God. We are called to make God #1 in our lives. We lose our way when we love other things more than God.
That’s why this Stewardship Season is such an important one. It helps us put our priorities back in place.
It challenges us to examine any “slippage” in the focus of our love.
On Nov. 5 & 6, we’re gathering together for worship and catered meal.
We are urging each and everyone to come and hear about God’s power when it gets control of our money.
The meal that follows each service is our way to say: “Thank You!... and Thank God for You!” in all the ways you support our congregation.
And it will provide a way for you to make an “estimate of your giving” for 2006.
This is important because our Finance Team will then go to work to match up our income with the hopes and dreams all our leaders are having about God’s work here.
Our leaders have already pledged to challenge each other to a 10/10 Challenge… working to see a 10% increase in their pledges as well as seeing if there are some of that who could “step up” into “tithing.” (Give 10% of their yearly income.)
We hope that you can join them in this 10/10 Challenge....
We know that God has blessed us all in many abundant ways. We’re looking forward to how God will be blessing us through your giving in the coming months.
Please keep our whole church and all our leaders in your prayers.
How goes it with your soul? …and what scripture has stayed with you lately?
What would others around you say they learned about
Christ from you this week?
Grace and Peace,
Pastor Terry
P.S. We’re double checking, but it looks like we’ve given away over 20% of the moneys we’ve received to missions, benevolences and apportionments outside our church. Wow! We’re a “double tithing” church!
Recent Comments