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STEWARDSHIP CAMPAIGN INTRODUCTION– SEPTEMBER
10, 2006
What a crowd…I guess you all heard
that I was conducting a half hour session on Stewardship this morning! For those
of you who last saw me in church, you might recall that for once in my life, my
wife was speechless, and I was called upon to finish her tribute. I am tempted
to return the favor.
Rally Sunday is traditionally the kickoff of our Stewardship Pledge Campaign and what a way to start… with the transition of our pastorship, beginning with our welcome today of Reverend Weinhold.
Our first letter was mailed to you on Friday. We will be presenting Stewardship Moments in coming Sundays when several of our fellow parishioners share with us what the Church has meant to them. We will also hear from others about various church functions to understand the value they bring to us and the support they need from us to continue.
Two more letters will be sent out with pledge cards and the Pilgrim Stewards will again make house calls to share our friendship and faith, and to gather outstanding pledge cards following Stewardship Sunday, which is on October 22nd.
Realize too that your pledge is in two parts…one for the continuing support of our infrastructure and all our church based staff, services and programs…and another for Outreach. Consider using the latter aspect as a primary way to support local charities and suggesting to all your telemarket requestors that you give through the church and that they should present their requests to our Outreach committee to consider the merits of their needs.
Our
stewardship campaign is faith-based, which means that each person or family
should pledge according to their faith and expectations for
You should know that your Commitment is confidential. Our committee has no knowledge of your pledge amount nor do we have individual goals based on your car, your boat, your house or even your good looks. The Trustees do need our pledges in order to plan for the coming year. Nothing can be planned without our pledges. Returning your pledge card is critically important.
Our theme this year is Faith, Change and Commitment. Change is constant…Faith and Commitment are not, but we can learn to make them stronger by our actions. We survive Change through Faith, and our Commitments are both a reflection of our Faith and a means to build it. By your pledge, your Commitment shows and builds Faith by supporting our mission as Christians. We need to learn this by doing it.
Our theme is appropriate, but I was recently struck by the words of Winston Churchill…We make a living by what we get; we make a life by what we give.
Seeking to live as Jesus taught is not easy, nor do I always follow His path. But by having a commitment to giving we become centered and are brought back to the path. In starting my new business, I committed to tithing my earnings. I know it is late in my career to do so. Though I don’t expect the remainder of my career to have a major impact upon the masses, nor to amass a great fortune, I hope to do well and to share accordingly. My good fortune, my ability to serve others is a gift of God…He only knows why he gave it to me. But I hope to use it faithfully.
When I consider why I am doing this; asking my fellow friends and parishioners for support for our church, I am reminded of my childhood pastor’s words when I was searching for the meaning of life while I was basically selling soap for Procter & Gamble. (I have since forgiven this same minister for his attempt to convince me that dogs do not go to heaven!) BUT, anyway…He suggested then that I could sustain my life by working for a living, but that I might search for meaning within the church. It has taken me a long time to realize that wisdom. There is so much happening here where people seek understanding and knowledge, search for and fulfill their faith, comfort one another in times of need and fill their hearts and ours with joy and hope and love.
So,
please, consider your pledge carefully. Give what you believe in your heart to
be what you want to give. But whatever you decide, large or small, please show
your commitment as a member of our church community by making your pledge. Thank
you.
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