NEW Mission & Service Music Video

We are excited to release this NEW Mission & Service Music Video.

Peppy music accompanies pictures and video from many of the ministries and programs that your Mission & Service gifts help to make possible.

What a difference United Church people are making in local neighbourhoods, across the country and around the world!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7cS6fBWRSLc&feature=youtu.be

To get involved and help support the Mission & Service of The United Church of Canada, go to united-church.ca/donate.

An Annual Meeting Sermon: Fruit-fullness - Galatians 5:22-25

So it’s Annual Meeting time again.  The time of the year when congregations pause to take stock.  It’s time to look back over the last year and predict ahead into the next year.  What did we do?  What do we hope to do?  It’s a time for evaluation.

How do we evaluate the health of a church?

Too often we only look at the ABC’s:

Attendance, Building, Cash.

How many of us are here on a Sunday morning?
What is the state of our physical building?
Did we end the year in the black? Or looking ahead, “How long will the money hold out?”

However…

Only using the ABC’s to evaluate our congregation is a problem. You see, the ABC’s are the mode of being and thinking of the culture around us. The culture of greed and isolation and power.
Only using the ABC’s to evaluate our congregation implies that the results and outcomes are entirely on our shoulders.
Only using the ABC’s to evaluate our congregation comes out of the belief that we are working FOR Jesus. It’s the industrial, business model. Jesus is the CEO. We are the managers or workers. Jesus tells us what to do. We do it. Or we don’t. We are accountable to Jesus, just like we are accountable to our boss. It’s our job to please Jesus. Like the bumper sticker said, “Jesus is coming! Look busy.”
Only using the ABC’s to evaluate our congregation leads to despair, and hopelessness, because when we are honest we know we are broken and are not up to the task.
Only using the ABC’s to evaluate our congregation is also a fickle endeavour. When the #’s are good, we celebrate and take the glory. When the #’s are down, we despair and give up, or jump ship for something better.

So let me suggest a different approach.

Instead of focusing on numbers and buildings and finances, let’s look for fruit.

Galatians 5:22-25 (The Message)

But what happens when we live God's way? God brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard––things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely. Legalism is helpless in bringing this about; it only gets in the way. Among those who belong to Christ, everything connected with getting our own way and mindlessly responding to what everyone else calls necessities is killed off for good––crucified.
Since this is the kind of life we have chosen, the life of the Spirit, let us make sure that we do not just hold it as an idea in our heads or a sentiment in our hearts, but work out its implications in every detail of our lives.

Instead of focusing on numbers and buildings and finances, let’s ask the vital question, “Are we bearing Fruit?” Are we bearing fruit (of the Spirit) for God’s Kingdom?

The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self- control. (Galatians 5:22-23a - NRSV)

Yes, fruit can be hard to measure. Measuring fruit requires more than just statistics and spreadsheets.

Measuring fruit requires stories, sharing, and community.
Measuring fruit requires a willingness to look with our hearts, not just our eyes or our minds.
Measuring fruit means asking questions like:

• What kind of a difference are we making in people’s lives?
• How are we drawing people closer to God and to each other?
• How has our church helped me to grow in my faith and live my faith?

Measuring fruit means believing and trusting that the results are in God’s hands, not ours.
Measuring fruit leads to a stronger reliance on God’s Spirit. Which is a good thing!
Measuring fruit means understanding that we work WITH Jesus, not FOR Jesus. Jesus, our friend, toils alongside us. It leads to an emphasis on prayer, discernment, and trust!

When we start watching for and expecting Jesus to be at work in our midst, and in each one of us, we find an assurance that we are not in it alone. It is not reliant only on our strength, or endurance, or abilities.

Measuring fruit, watching for and sharing these kind of stories results in hope, energy, and transformation.

So, as we evaluate, as we consider the health of our congregation at this Annual Congregational Meeting, let’s take a few minutes to explore how “fruit-full” we are.

Sharing:

Share with 1 or 2 people near you how this church has helped you to live “fruit-fully”; more love, more joy, more peace, more patience, more kindness, more generosity, more faithfulness, more gentleness, and more self- control? As much as you can, please be specific and personal.

[give people ~5 minutes to share]

[after the sharing time, thank people for sharing. You may want to give them a moment to share a story of bearing fruit with the larger group.]

So as we also consider the ABC’s of life in this church, let’s not forget the stories of fruit-fullness we have also heard today.

AMEN.

Whose Money Is It? -Peace

There is an old joke that people share with ministers from time to time.  The church building has a leaky roof that needs repair.  The minister stands up to address the problem.  “People, we need to raise $10,000 dollars to fix the roof.  I have good news and bad news.  The good news is, I know exactly where the money is to repair the roof.  The bad news is, it’s still in your pockets!”

The church only wants me for my money.  That is a common accusation aimed at the church in general.  In all likelihood, every minister has been accused of this in some place and time when they preach about giving and money.
Let me address that and correct it.

1) There is no MY money.

There is only God’s money, which each of us has been given some of to use to help in God’s work of transforming and saving the world from itself.

So the church doesn’t want your money. It wants some of God’s money, of which you are in possession. (and yes, the distinction matters!)

And the church doesn’t want some of God’s money, of which you are in possession, because it doesn’t want you to have that money; or because it doesn’t trust you with it.  The church wants you to give, to be generous with what is God’s, that has been given to you, in order for the church to be part of and to help you be a part of what God is doing in the world.  God’s work of transforming and saving the world from itself.  When any of us chooses to be generous, we are participating in God’s great work; God’s mission.  We are helping to create hope and we are helping to create peace.

Here’s how it works:

Peace is not just the absence of conflict.  Peace requires justice.  You have likely seen or heard the phrase:  No Justice, No Peace.  Know Justice, Know Peace.

You see, greed kills justice.
Generosity counteracts greed and therefore creates a space for justice and peace.
Justice requires generosity.

We see many many examples of this when we examine the contrasts and issues that exist between the First world, in which we live, and the Third world.  As well as within each of those realities.
The legacy of colonialism, especially in Canada with First Nations people and residential schools.

Greed kills justice.
Generosity counteracts greed and therefore creates a space for justice and peace.
Justice requires generosity.

After all, generosity is really about how we distribute resources, isn’t it?  Generosity is about how we use the world God has created and given to us.  It takes us back to and comes straight out of the creation story in Genesis.  God created and gave to all of us.

Which means it’s not so much about us and them as it is about us and us.  (and again, the distinction matters!)

There’s a critical comparison to be made here between:

Rabid capitalism and individualism, in which a small number of people believe it is their right to accumulate the majority of the resources for their own use and their own good and lay waste to the planet in the process, increasing the divide between them and everyone else;

AND the Kingdom that Jesus came to proclaim; where no one goes without; where everyone has a place and has value; where the need to consume in order to feel complete and good has been ended because we find our completeness and wholeness in God’s love for us and in our serving and caring for each other.

And more than a theoretical comparison, there is a choice confronting each of us.  The spiritual practice of generosity is about making that choice.

So when we live generous lives, generosity for the sake of generosity, not out of some sense of duty forced upon us, or out of guilt, or to get something in return, when we live generous lives we are making the choice to follow Jesus and do the things that Jesus did, building a community centred on Jesus.  We are accepting the place that God offers us within God’s realm.  We are making true what Jesus said, “The Kingdom of God is among you.”  When we live generous lives we are doing justice which leads to peace.

Think about it!

1. If you are currently involved in a situation that is not “peace-full” how could an act of generosity bring peace? 
2. How generous can you be?  
3. In your praying and quiet time this week, ask God to help you be aware of opportunities to be generous.

Only Two Sermons? Year C -Transfiguration Sunday 2 Corinthians 3:12-4:2

The story is told, of one Sunday morning when the congregation was gathering for worship. The minister was mingling, saying hello and being friendly, when one of the congregation, a man known for being straightforward and speaking his mind, approached the minister and asked a question that would change that minister's life. “Which is it today?” the man asked. “Pardon?” asked the minister. “Your sermon,” the man asked, “Which is it today?” Again the minister uncertainly responded, “Pardon me? I'm afraid I don't understand your question.” “Well,” the man went on, “Your sermon. Which is it? I've been listening to you for some time now and it seems to me you really only have two sermons. “Work harder” or “Give more.” Which is it today?”

Ouch.

I guess it can feel that way though, can't it? Every time you turn around someone wants you to do something, or help with this event, or sit on this committee. I remember hearing a group committee person trying to recruit a parent to be a leader in scouting. “It's only 1 hour a week!” Funny.

Likewise with our money, isn't it? How many “opportunities” each month do we get to give money to a worthy cause? I think Canada Post makes a substantial amount of money delivering those opportunities to us.

It seems like more and more, we are asked to do and give, more and more.

And yes the church can be guilty of that, as well. Too many times, if people are honest about why they back away from a church, or are hesitant to get involved in the first place, the answer has to do with the belief that they are only wanted for the resources they bring.

Think about it. When you imagine new people coming to your church, are you thinking about which positions they would fill? Or how soon is it appropriate to give them offering envelopes? (or better yet, get them signed up for PAR!)

Congregational leaders suffering from burn-out. People on committees feeling trapped and unable to get off because of guilt.

I know of a church who had this unofficial rule, “You can't get off the Board, unless you die or get pregnant.” Hard to get a break, eh?

Many churches have a rule that sets a fixed term on committees, after which you MUST take a year off of all committee work. It's part of trying to learn from other situations and take care of people, so they don't get stuck on committees forever and feel overworked. Yet I'm sure, there are still times when it can feel like all the church wants is more time and more energy and more work.

So, while I'm trying hard NOT to make this a “work harder” message, I want to think with you today a bit about what's behind the church's never ending need to get people to do things.

Maybe your church has a few positions open on its committees or Board? You may be worrying about activities that won't happen this year without more people involved?

One reason that a church may seem to be constantly trying to get people involved, is because in order for certain things to happen, you need people to do them. We're good at communicating that one. Without people's willingness to help, things won't get done. That's a very basic reality, and probably the main reason which the church portrays for its never ending recruiting drive.

Another reason that a church may seem to be constantly trying to get people involved, is because of the rules. This goes hand in hand with the last reason. “The Manual says” we must have such and such a committee, so we need people to sit on it. “The Manual” is the United Church rule book. So we look at people with this helplessness in our eyes and claim it's not our fault that we're asking them, and would they please consider it. And there is great hand wringing and moaning and gnashing of teeth.

Now both of those reasons for constantly trying to get people involved are real and true. In order for things to happen we need people to do them. The rules say we must do certain things certain ways and so we need people to do them. However, neither of those reasons really gets at the heart of why we as a church spend so much time and energy trying to get people involved. Neither of those reasons is good enough.

After all, if they were, we'd have people lining up to help and we'd have to turn them away. Our committees would be full. On Sunday morning, a person would stand up, make an announcement describing a need for people to help, and before they sat back down the need would be filled. But it doesn't seem to happen that way, does it?

Talking about need doesn't do it. Talking about need doesn't do it, because people don't tend to give toward need. And when we're talking about such a precious commodity as time there has to be more to it than just need.

It has to have meaning. It has to help people. Bottom line, it has to make a difference. The word we use in the church to describe activities that help people and that make a difference, is: ministry.

Why does the church spend so much time and energy trying to get people involved? It's because we believe, no we know, that the best way for a church to help people grow in their faith as Christians is by involving them in ministry. And that's our purpose as a church, to help people grow in their faith and become strong disciples of Jesus Christ; which in turn will transform the world around us.

2 Corinthians says it this way: “And all of us, with unveiled faces, seeing the glory of the Lord as though reflected in a mirror, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another; for this comes from the Lord, the Spirit. Therefore, since it is by God's mercy that we are engaged in this ministry, we do not lose heart.” (2 Corinthians 3:18-4:1 – NRSV)

Unfortunately, all too often that purpose, that reason for involving people, seems to get lost or forgotten in the need. When we return ministry as an avenue to faith growth back to the forefront, it places everything we do in a different perspective.

Now, helping with the roast beef supper becomes more than just helping the church make money. It becomes a way to build supportive relationships among ourselves. It becomes a way to bring people into our building to see how disciples of Jesus get along and enjoy each other, so that if they are looking for a faith community, we’ve given them a good reason to choose us.

Now, giving two years on a committee becomes an investment in your faith life and the faith life of other people. It becomes a way to get to know two or three fellow committee people on a deeper level, to support each other and care for each other. It means growing in your faith by helping build up your church.

So instead of always talking about what the church needs, maybe it’s time to start talking about what the church provides. Even better, hearing stories from each other about how getting involved made a difference in other people’s lives, but also in each of ours.

That’s really why the church spends so much time and energy trying to get people involved. It's because we know that the best way for a church to help people to grow in their faith as Christians is by involving them in ministry. It's definitely not just “Work Harder” or “Give More”. It's “grow closer to God; be more like Jesus.” In order to live fully, thankfully, and joyfully.

Think about it!

1. What ministry at your local congregation are you currently involved with?

2. How has your church helped you to grow in your faith?

3. In your praying or meditating; ask God to continue to transform lives through your church.

Give A Gift With Meaning

As United Church of Canada folks, we receive many opportunities to give and be generous. It’s up to each of us to decide how we will give and whom we will support. Fair enough.

So here’s a home grown way that you can give a gift, make a difference, and feel confident that it will be in line with your values and our mission as a church.

The new Gifts with Vision (giftswithvision.ca) catalogue is now online and ready to help you lovingly celebrate your special occasions and make a difference in the world –with no excessive packaging and no exchanges.

• For someone who is always helping you out with a building project—make a gift of a bag of cement for a new cultural centre built by Indigenous peoples in the Philippines.
• For the inspired cook in your family—make a gift to help students enrolled in a program to teach culinary skills to enhance their employability.
• For all those nieces and nephews—make each one a gift that will put a graphic novel about the impact of residential schools into the hands of a student or an educator.

Why not give everyone on your gift list something that is memorable and meaningful—to you, to them, and to the people who will benefit from your generosity? There’s something for everyone.

This year, give a gift with meaning.

Think about it!

“Stick It!!” Deuteronomy 26:1-11 - Year C - Thanksgiving & Lent 1

The culture we live in tells us that we don’t have enough and need more (capitalism). Our culture creates in people an attitude and the behaviours of scarcity and fear and greed, rather than an attitude and the behaviours of abundance and generosity.

In his ground-breaking book, Holy Currencies, Eric Law equates all forms of currency to water. (see p.9) He speaks of the currencies of money, time and place, relationship, truth, wellness, and gracious leadership. When water ceases to flow and move it becomes stagnant and diseased. It is only healthy and life giving when it flows. So too for the holy currencies. Greed and hording results in division and death. Generosity and sharing bring life and peace.

Video clip of TV commercial “Stick It!”

[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DYz770nMoco ]

A few years ago, an internet domain company called Go Daddy aired a commercial that made a big impression. In it, a woman who had started her own business, using Go Daddy, went around to all the people in her life who had expected her to fail and told them to, “Stick it!”

I think that we as a church need to get better at saying, “Stick It!”

Practise saying it. [repeat after me and say it a few times, getting louder and more emphatic]

As followers of Jesus, we need to say “Stick it!” to the culture around us.

Maybe you’ve heard the phrase “you are to be in the world, but not of the world”? People say it and claim to be quoting from the Bible. I can’t find that exact quote, but I did find the idea.

1 John 2:15-17 (The Mesage -alt)

“Don't love the world's ways. Don't love the world's goods. Love of the world squeezes out love for God. Practically everything that goes on in the world––wanting your own way, wanting everything for yourself, wanting to appear important––has nothing to do with God. It just isolates you from God. The world and all its wanting, wanting, wanting is on the way out––but whoever does what God wants is set for eternity.”

So on this Thanksgiving Sunday, let me tell you, fellow followers of Jesus, about one of the best ways to be subversive and counter-cultural and say “Stick it!” to the culture around us.

Generosity is a way to tell the culture to “Stick it!”

Generosity is a powerful way to show that we belong to a different culture: the culture of Jesus. The culture of God’s Kingdom.

The culture claims that many people have no value:

• no value because they are poor and cannot contribute to the economy,
• no value because they are old and past their working prime and a drain on the health care system.
• no value because they have physical or mental health issues and they scare us or confuse us and we’d rather that they just were out of sight,
• no value because they are always told that their suffering is their own fault, and if they just worked harder everything would be fine, and therefore that they actually deserve their lot in life,
• no value because they are different from the way the people around them look or speak or think or behave,

Telling and showing those people that they do in fact have value in and of themselves, because they too are created in God’s image and out of God’s love. Caring about them as well as for them. Practicing generosity with our material goods and with our lives, our attitudes, our spirit.

That’s telling the culture of scarcity and fear and greed to “Stick it!! We don’t believe in you. We won’t live your way. We won’t put our faith and hope and trust in your Way. Your way only leads to death.”

And if we want to be intentional about telling the culture to “Stick It!!” here’s something we can do all the time, all year, not just at Thanksgiving, when even the culture is talking about generosity.

The concept of Tithing.

In the Bible reading from Deuteronomy today we heard the beginnings of the idea of the tithe.

“You are to take some of all the firstfruits of what you grow in the land that God, your God, is giving you, put them in a basket and go to the place God, your God, sets apart for you to worship God.” (Deuteronomy 26:2 –The Message)

You are to do this as a reminder of who you are, and what God has done for you. You are to do this as a way to help those who do not have, just as God has done for you. You are to do this to be more like God; to be generous. You are to do this as a sign that you are different from the cultures around you. (To tell those cultures to “Stick it!”)

Traditionally, the tithe has been 10%.

I like to think in terms of giving away a specific proportion on a consistent schedule. And although I’m going to use money as an example, this will work with anything.

Consistent Proportional Giving:

1) Pick a proportion.

10%, 5%, 3%. It doesn’t matter. It’s a starting point.

Then, maybe annually, you increase your percentage amount, until you get to 10%.

2) Give it away regularly.

Most people give at the same rate they earn. If you get paid monthly, you give monthly. Like PAR for the church, a monthly way to be regular in your donating.

What’s great is, this also works for all the other kinds of generosity we practice in addition to giving away money.

• Generosity of time. On average, 16.8 hours a week is 10%. (24 hours/day X 7 days/week /10 percent) 11.2 hours, if you take out an 8 hour night from each 24 hour day.
• Generosity of possessions. Imagine taking an inventory of your clothing and then giving away 10% of it to the local thrift shop or other social service agency. Or 10% of your furniture. We know it’s coming. What about 10% of your Christmas decorations!
• Generosity of food. Go home and count the cans in the cupboard. Do the math and give 10% to the food-bank. Or calculate 10% of your grocery bills for a month and donate that to the food-bank.

You get the point.

And the point to all of this is not to make you feel guilty or drive you into that place of work harder, but to invite you and encourage you to make real what you believe. To live more fully in the Kingdom of God that Jesus came to proclaim. To trust God, and to do the things that Jesus does

To tell the culture around us to “Stick It!!” and then to “celebrate with all the bounty that the Lord your God has given to you and to your house.” (Deut. 26:11b – NRSV)

Happy Thanksgiving!

AMEN.

Mission & Service Snippets

Promoting the Mission & Service of The United Church of Canada EVERY week in your worship bulletin doesn’t have to take up all your extra space.  Use these free, short, inspirational and informative Mission & Service snippets available at http://www.ucrdstore.ca/media/upload/file/d11009_m4m_2016_snippets.docx  Simply download the Word document and then copy and paste into your worship bulletin.  They also work well for newsletters or other promotional materials.  Give them a try!!  

How to quickly raise more money at your next fundraising event.

Here are a couple of suggestions from The Fundraising Authority organization for how to quickly raise more money at your next fundraising event. 

Supercharging an Event You Hold Every Year

If your non-profit [read:  CHURCH!] is working hard to increase the amount it raises from a fundraising event you hold every year, there are two approaches you should be targeting.

Target #1: Getting Previous Attendees to Come with a Friend

Want to sell more tickets to this year’s event? One great way to do that is to make a concerted effort to get last year’s attendees to come again, and this time, to bring a friend (or, to get a couple that came last year to come again, and to bring another couple along with them).

How do you do that? You ask! Start by sending a letter (before your invitations or advertising go out) telling last year’s guests how important the event is to your work and why you want to hold an even bigger event this year.

Then ask them to consider another person or couple that they could invite to come with them to the event this year. Consider following up these letters with a call from your team reiterating this message in a gentle way. Then, send out your invitations.

Some non-profits have found success offering two-for-one ticket deals for a year or two to help boost an event. Other organizations have spent time reaching out to guests from previous years who failed to attend the most recent event to try to get them back and engaged with your organization.

Target #2: Adding Revenue Streams

Consider adding new revenue streams to your event.   Things like silent auctions, live auctions, dessert sales, etc. can boost your bottom line without adding lots of new expenses.

Be sure to only add one new activity per year, and if the return from the activity isn’t worth the time and stress of adding it to the event, drop it the following year and try something else.

Think about it!

Faith in Numbers - Matthew 6:24-34 - Year A-8th Sunday after Epiphany - Year A–Proper 3 (8)

There was a time long ago, maybe you remember it, when each year the local congregation would publish the list of names of all those who donated money, along with the amount they gave.  I’ve seen some of those lists.  Can you imagine your congregation doing that now?

We joke about those “good old days,” but maybe we don’t really want them back.

On the other hand, maybe they knew something that we have forgotten?  Faith and Generosity go together.

Of course, what generous looks like will vary from person to person and family to family.  A $20 gift to the church is very generous for some families.  For other families generosity should look like $200, or $2,000, or $200,000. 

Generosity is one measure of faith.  Only one, but a strong one.  No matter how much I read scripture and study the Bible, no matter how many committees I am on, no matter how many times I attend worship, if I have not learned to be generous with my money and my belongings, Jesus still has some work to do with me.

That’s why I believe it’s important for congregations to teach their members about consistent, proportional, giving.

Consistent:  give on a regular basis.  Likely on the same schedule as you get paid.  Weekly, every other week, monthly.  You decide. 

It’s why I’m a huge fan of PAR (Pre-Authorized Remittance).  PAR forces us to think about our giving for the upcoming year.  Then PAR makes it easy to give consistently, because once a month the amount you have decided to give is automatically (and painlessly) moved from your bank account to your congregation’s bank account.  Simple!  PAR also works for giving to the Mission & Service of The United Church of Canada. 

Proportional:  give a proportion of your income.  Biblically, we’re talking 10%; the tithe.  However, if that spiritual exercise is not where you are right now, then pick a different percentage.  Start with 5%.  Ideally calculated on your gross income, but net after taxes is good, too. 

The point of consistent, proportional, giving is to be intentional.  Make a commitment and carry it out.  You’ll feel good about succeeding.  You’ll feel good about giving.  AND, you’ll learn the spiritual values of generosity and trust. 

That’s what I hear Jesus talking about in the Bible reading we heard today.  Jesus knows we all have a little ADD in us.  We can’t focus and serve in two different directions at once.  “No one can serve two masters” (Mt. 6:24a - NRSV).  The more our trust is placed in God, then the less our trust can be placed anywhere else.  When we learn to trust God more and more completely, then our need and our desire and our tendency to worship our stuff becomes less and less a part of who we are and how we live. 

After all, it’s really hard to worship money and place your faith in your bank account, if you’re willing to give your money away for God’s work. 

As our generosity increases, our trust in God increases.  As our trust in God increases, then we start making different choices about using the stuff we have; being more focused on God’s purposes.

Remember, your money is the tool that makes it possible for you to change lives.  The money you give to your church, both locally and to Mission & Service, is the tool that makes it possible for your church to change lives.

And that’s the rub, of course.  And this point is critical!!

The purpose of your church is not to be a fundraiser.  Your purpose is not simply to cover the budget each year.  That’s not to say that fundraising events are bad, or that you shouldn’t support the next church dinner.  But raising money is not your purpose.

The purpose of your church is to change lives; to make a difference in your community, directly and through the lives of the people who are engaged in God’s work.  The church is the one place whose mission is to bring people into life-changing relationships through Jesus. 

That’s what we do when we attach ourselves to God’s mission.  We change lives for the better.  We celebrate God's presence, live with respect in Creation, and love and serve others.  We seek justice and resist evil, and we proclaim Jesus.  We help people, and ourselves, to grow in the likeness of Christ and to grow closer to God. 

How cool is that?!

I think it’s worth celebrating!!  I think it’s worth telling people about!!

I think it’s worth supporting with our gifts of money, as well as time and energy.  Because without all three (money, time, energy), it’s much more difficult to be the church God is calling you to be; the church God needs you to be; for the world that God loves.

Think about it!

1.    How much money are you planning to give to your local church and the Mission & Service of The United Church of Canada this year?

2.    If you haven’t got an answer to question #1, then pray about it and find one.  It’s good for your spiritual health!

3.    In your praying or meditating, talk with God about what deeper trust could mean for you.

And so it begins...

As your new Stewardship & Gifts Officer for Hamilton & London Conferences, the statement to the right under my picture nicely sums up what I see as my main purpose in this new ministry.  Helping congregations to model healthy discipleship in order to make healthy disciples and healthy congregations.

It’s quite simple, actually. 

When good stewardship practices, including stewardship of finances and other possessions, are a normal part of what the leadership of your congregation teaches and models, then the rest of your congregation will also grow to do the same.

It’s about intentionality.

This Blog is one way that I intend to be intentional about helping you and your congregation grow in your stewardship and grow in your faith.  Each month (so check back. Or better yet, subscribe) I will be posting a Stewardship sermon here.  These sermons have been preached before, so they work.  PLEASE!  Use them as they are, or tear them apart and rewrite them to fit your context.  I'll also include a key scripture reference and the lectionary date for that scripture.  But don't be bound by that.  I'm not!  Use them when they best suit.

Now that’s not to say that if you preach them you will solve your congregation’s stewardship challenges, but as I said before, the more the leadership of your congregation teaches and models good stewardship, then the rest of your congregation will also grow to do the same.  These sermons can help you with the teaching part.  The modelling stewardship part is up to you.

To that end though, here’s an idea to start with…

It’s time to have “the talk”!

Tell me, other than “How much will it cost to run the church this year?” or “Will we make the budget?” when was the last time the members of your church’s Board or Council had a good honest discussion about why they personally give to support the mission of your church? 

That kind of conversation may seem intimidating at first, but experience has found that when the leadership of the church can have “the talk,” it turns out to be quite energizing. 

Suddenly, instead of only talking about numbers and finances and a spirit of scarcity, people are talking about what matters to them.  They are talking about what God is doing in their lives through the church and how that experience has made a difference to them.  They are talking about the importance of their faith.  And they are hearing the same from their friends and fellow disciples. 

Cool!!

Of course, if you’re the Minister or the Chairperson or the Treasurer, or whomever gets to lead “the talk,” then you'd better be ready to go first!

So how about it?  Why not start out the fall season of beginnings by investing some time at your church’s first Council or Board meeting to talk about why you each give?  By building intentional stewardship time into each meeting of the leadership of your church you model healthy discipleship.  Which in turn helps to build healthy disciples.

Which is really what’s it’s all about!

Think about it!