“The F Word” - 2 Corinthians 9:6-15

Let’s watch this, to start:

[video of Fix Auto advert https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QONPTqvRFOc ]

Around the church the same thing happens. As soon as someone starts talking about a new roof, a new furnace, a new program or activity, the first thing that seems to come to people’s mind or out of their mouth is the F-word: Fffff-undraiser.

Happens all the time, doesn’t it?

We must be constantly vigilant, lest the F-word take over the life of your congregation and indeed, even our whole beloved United Church of Canada.

Now since I was asked to come here today to speak to you about stewardship, the issue of the overuse of the F-word is especially relevant.

After all, Stewardship is not the same as FUNDRAISING!!!

1) Fundraising:

You see, FUNDRAISING [click] is about trying to get a certain amount of money from people for a specific task or project.

We need a new roof. Fundraising may help you to accomplish that. You sell shingles or you set up the dreaded thermometer. No worries.

2) The danger in Fundraising:

is when a congregation starts to think about their finances mostly in terms of fundraising.

That will take them down one path and one way of thinking about people and money.

• they never have enough and always need more. 

• They believe that people are basically stingy and greedy.

It’s SCARCITY thinking. It’s bad theology.

As a congregation starts to focus more and more on fundraising, they follow a predictable path.

1. They keep planning new activities, but in reality everything becomes a fundraiser. Sure, they talk about how they’re building community, how these activities are fun, and how they bring in people from outside the church, but the real mark that an activity was a success becomes, “Did it make money?” and how much. Eventually, it’s not long after one fund raiser is over that they’re planning the next one. Like an addiction.
2. At the same time, they are always trying to come up with new marketing schemes to get people’s attention. One sure sign that a congregation is on this path is the increased use of the F-word during Sunday morning announcements. 
3. The people of the congregation start to burn out and leave. You see, more and more fundraisers eat up more and more time and energy and suck the passion out of people. How many of you joined this church in order to raise money and run fundraisers?

Over time, a congregation on this path changes from a church, which we know is “a group of people following Jesus and seeking to live out God’s mission to the world,” into a fundraising organisation or a restaurant/catering company.

When a congregation can only think about its finances in terms of fundraising, it has entered the death spiral.

But we're not going to talk about fundraising; the F-word.  This morning, we’re all about Stewardship. 

Stewardship.

So when you think of Stewardship, which words come to mind?
[gather suggestions]

As the saying goes, Stewardship is EVERYTHING. Everything we think, say, and do, after we say “I believe”!

Stewardship is a spiritual practice. It’s intimately linked to and the outcome of the Christian values of generosity, trust and thankfulness.

When a congregation is able to focus and teach on the spiritual practice of stewardship, then they move out of scarcity thinking. They put an end to the death spiral.

It’s like that section of Paul’s 2nd letter to the church at Corinth we heard read says:

God loves it when the giver delights in the giving. You show your gratitude [to God] through your generous offerings to your needy brothers and sisters, and really toward everyone. (2 Corinthians 9:7,13 - MSG)

Christian Stewardship recognizes that we are called as individuals and as congregations into God’s mission to each other and to the world.

One of the clearest, and easiest, ways we do that, to participate in God's mission, is by giving away the gifts that God has entrusted to us in order that other people can be cared for and come to realise that they too are loved by God, just like we are.

These gifts we give come out of everything that God has given us: our time, our talents and skills, and our treasure and physical resources. It includes our money, but it’s not limited to our money.

Generous “cheerful” giving is an important sign that a person has discovered just how much God loves them.

Generous “cheerful” giving is an important sign that a person has felt the love of God touch their own spirit and has been changed by that experience. In other days we would call that “conversion”.

Generous “cheerful” giving comes out of that conversion experience. After all, true generosity comes out of gratitude. Realising how much God loves you. How much God has done for you and how much God has given you. How God has come to be with you, in Jesus. How God continues to be with you, guiding, accompanying, and caring, through the Holy Spirit. And wanting to do whatever it takes, and using everything you have, to help other people have that same experience.

“We become stewards when we realize God’s grace in our lives. This inspires us to respond with gratitude and generosity."

Therefore, if you want to see real spiritual growth in yourself, in the other people in this congregation and in the people that God brings into your life who are not yet a part of this congregation (which is an important part of what a church is really supposed to be about), you need to shift your thinking from the F-word to the S-word. From fundraising to stewardship.

And because it’s not fair to suggest you do something and not give you ideas about how to do it, here are some ideas.

1. Provide a small group where people can share their experiences and come to see how much God loves them.
2. Create an opportunity during Sunday morning, at a Board/Council meeting, any time a group gathers, for someone to share a story of how they recently trusted God, what that looked like and how God used it.
3. Each year, encourage those whom the congregation serves to be intentional and make a decision about how generous they plan to be in the coming year. That way they will be less inclined to be caught up in “sob stories and arm-twisting”.
4. As a congregation, refuse to tell sob stories or use arm-twisting. Instead, inspire people with the stories of how you are involved with God’s mission and are making a real difference in people’s lives and invite people to be part of it and get involved.
5. Decide, as a congregation, to place a limit on the number of fundraisers you will hold each year. And stick to it! Trust God to provide! Then be willing to share what God has provided.

Amen.

Sermon – Inspired

This message requires two 4" x 5" lined index cards for each person in the audience and something for them to write with.

[start immediately after the reading of 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10 from The Message]

So I wonder how that felt.

Imagine with me for a moment.
You come for worship one day and the worship leader stands up at the beginning and says, “I have something special to share with you today. We have received a letter.”

The leader goes on to say that the letter is from a beloved and admired friend. In fact this friend is the reason that you are all gathered, because this friend is the person who founded your church. This is a really important person!

Are you with me? What are you feeling?

If that doesn’t do it for you, then maybe this will. Imagine with me.
You go to get the mail one day and in among all the fliers and advertisements, there’s an envelope. It’s from the Canada Revenue Agency. On the outside it says, “Confidential. Important.”

Are you with me? What are you feeling?

I suspect that for the people of the church in Thessalonica, receiving a letter from Paul was a bit of all of those feelings and maybe more. This letter comes from their beloved founder. The one who first shared the gospel with them; first told them about Jesus. I expect that when he was with them he had taught them. He had encouraged them. He had challenged them to change their ways and corrected them when they needed it.

What would the letter say?

Would it be more good news?

Would it be bad?

It had been a long time since they had heard from Paul.

So one day, a long time ago, someone stood up when the church was gathered in an environment of excitement and curiosity mixed with anxiety and apprehension and began to read.

I, Paul, together here with Silas and Timothy, send greetings to the church at Thessalonica, Christians assembled by God the Father and by the Master, Jesus Christ. God's amazing grace be with you! God's robust peace! Every time we think of you, we thank God for you. Day and night you're in our prayers as we call to mind your work of faith, your labour of love, and your patience of hope in following our Master, Jesus Christ, before God our Father. It is clear to us, friends, that God not only loves you very much but also has put his hand on you for something special.   (1 Thessalonians 1:1-4 - TM)

Whew!

Can you feel it?
Isn’t that nice. The Thessalonians must have felt pretty good about themselves from that greeting. “You’re wonderful. I think about you and pray for you all the time. God thinks you’re special, too!”

It must have been inspiring for them. Someone really important to them, that they admire, their founder, tells them, “You’re wonderful. I think about you and pray for you all the time. God thinks you’re special, too!”

Can you feel it?
I hope so.

I believe that it is true for people these days, just as I suspect it was true for those Thessalonians all those years ago. I know it’s true for me. We respond so much more to someone we look up to, someone important to us. Don’t we?

You know who those people are for you, don’t you?

A compliment from them and you’re walking on air, ready to do anything. And when they tell you what a great job you did on something specific? Wow! You know they noticed you, then.

It feels good, doesn’t it?

And I don’t know about you (although I strongly suspect) I know for me that that kind of recognition and appreciation makes me want to keep going. It makes me believe that my labour is not in vain.

It’s inspiring, isn’t it?

Well today I want to make a suggestion and lay a challenge before you, the church gathered in this place.
For some this may be easy. For others it will be a stretch. Either way, I’m pretty sure it will help you to grow in living out your faith.

Here’s what I want you to do. I brought with me a stack of index cards.

[hand them out so everyone gets 2]

Today, I want you to be Paul. I want you to inspire someone.

In that greeting to the Thessalonians, Paul also mentions calling to mind "the work of faith, the labour of love, and the patience of hope in following our Master, Jesus" that he knows the Thessalonian church is living out. Catch those 3 phrases:

• work of faith;
• labour of love;
• patience of hope.

We’re going to take a few minutes right now, and I want you to think about someone who is a part of this congregation that you have seen (first hand) doing some work of faith, a labour of love, or showing the patience of hope, in order to help strengthen this church. It doesn’t matter how big or how small the thing was they did. All that matters is that you saw them do it, or you experienced what they did. It has to be personal.

And I want you to write a brief thank-you to them on ONE of your index cards for what they did. Be sure to start with their name and sign it with your name.

Go!

[pause]

That’s step #1.

Step #2. Sometime this week, I want you to hand deliver that card. (I told you this would be challenging for some of you!)

That’s step #2.

Now I suspect you are wondering with fear and trepidation what you are to do with the other index card.

Over the course of this week, I want you to write a short note to someone who is NOT a part of this congregation for whom you want to acknowledge their value and show your support for them which will thank them and inspire them. From manufacturers to farmers, those in retail, and those who help move products and materials from there to here.

Again, write something to thank them for their work and tell them that you appreciate them; and be sure to put your name on it. Maybe hand it to them at their job, or leave it where they will find it later.

Just as Paul was for the Thessalonians, so you can be for each other and for the people in your wider community. An inspiration. A blessing. As you do the work of faith, the labour of love, and show the patience of hope, in following our Master, Jesus.

AMEN.

“You have a purpose”

Psalm 67 

Let’s begin this week by spending 1 minute in silence. While it is quiet, I want you to take an inventory. I want you to recount all the ways God has blessed you over your life and all the ways you are being blessed now, in the present.

Ready? Go!
[pause for 1 minute]

I hope that makes you feel good and helps you recognise how blessed each of us really is. Having likely recalled things such as: houses, families, friends, food, children, trips taken, vacations had, jobs and employers, cars, adventures, church, and the list goes on, I also hope this little exercise encourages you to be thankful to God; recognising where our blessings come from.

We each have so much to be thankful for.

And not just the physical stuff; although there’s plenty of that for sure. We are also blessed in emotional and spiritual ways. We are part of a supportive community. We have given love and received love. We have heard the gospel and believed. We have the Holy Spirit to lead and guide us. We have scripture to teach us and reassure us. We always have Jesus’ presence with us. All these blessings from God.

But do you ever stop to wonder why?

Why should God continually cause us to be blessed?

Is it because of something we have done? Some people may believe so. “Because I am a good person and try not to do too many things wrong, God has rewarded me with blessings.” The problem with that thinking is, where’s the cut-off point? At what point have I done enough that is either good, to cause blessing, or bad, to inhibit blessing? And what about those people who are truly evil, yet seem to be as blessed, or more so, than the rest of us? And if my being blessed or not blessed is all dependant on me and my behaviours, then isn’t God just some kind of huge cosmic vending machine?

No; and no. Our being blessed is not because of something we have done.

Well, maybe our being blessed is because of something that we believe? Again, some people, many people, believe this to be the case. “I am a Christian, therefore God blesses me. After all, I believe in God. I believe Jesus died for me. I try to live the Way Jesus taught; so God blesses me.” However, there are plenty of Christians around the world, and even here in Canada, that I would not consider particularly blessed. Those who are persecuted for their faith; who have their property confiscated from them, or are tortured or killed because they are Christians. Those who are starving and homeless. Those who have AIDS. Those who have had to flee their countries because of war and live as refugees. Those people have just as much faith as me, some probably more so, yet they don’t seem very blessed. And again, like believing that being blessed is the result of something we have done, what about all those people who are not Christians, but who are still blessed? There are a lot of very faithful Muslims and Buddhist, Hindus, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Pagans and Atheists even, who are blessed like we are. What about them?

No, our being blessed is not because of something that we believe.

Well, if my being blessed is not because of something that any of us have done, or something that we believe, what is it about? Why should God bless any of us?

I find one answer to that question in today’s Psalm reading. Psalm 67. Listen.

Be gracious unto us, O God, and bless us;
And let the light of your face shine upon us;

THAT your ways may be known upon the earth,
Your saving power among all nations.

Why are we blessed? We are blessed in order that God’s ways and God’s saving power may be known everywhere. We are blessed as an example, as a teaching aid, as a witness to who God is and what God is about. We are blessed in order that people can come to know how good God is; that God wants only good and healthy things for us. We are blessed, in order that through those blessings we can help people come to faith; to recognise God’s love for them; then in turn to live lives in line with God’s intentions and God’s will for them and for all people.

According to this Psalm, that is the purpose of our blessings, and in turn, that is also our purpose. We are never blessed just for the sake of being blessed. We are never Spirit filled just for the experience. We have a purpose whenever we receive a blessing from God, that God’s ways and God’s saving power may be known everywhere.

Kind of puts that inventory of blessings that I hope you made at the beginning of this sermon in a different light, doesn’t it? If what this Psalm says about blessings is true, then instead of us being proud of all the ways God has blessed us, instead of using our blessings as a way to justify how we live or what we believe about our status with God; if what this Psalm says about blessings is true, then we need to consider how we have used those blessings to fulfill the purpose God has also given us: that God’s ways and God’s saving power may be known everywhere.

Let me finish with the last words of Psalm 67:

The earth has yielded its harvest,
And you, our God, have blessed us.

Your blessing, O God, be upon us.
May all the ends of the earth revere you.

Think about it:

1. How are you using God’s blessings to fulfill your purpose: that God’s ways and God’s saving power may be known everywhere?

2. Who do you know that really seems to live up to God’s purpose for them, regardless of how blessed they are or aren’t?

3. In your prayers this week, thank God for the blessings God gives you and ask God for direction and courage to use them for the purpose they were meant.

AMEN.

NOT A SERMON!
But hopefully still helpful!

A colleague passed this link to me and I pass it along to you.

Church Marketing Sucks!

Don't be dismayed by the title.
Personally I think church marketing is all about creatively sharing the stories of how we are making a difference in people's lives for the gospel and God's mission and inviting them to come and be part of it!  That definitely does NOT suck!

So check it out!

Here's a  Sermon Time ‘drama’ about the Mission and Service of The United Church of Canada.  It was originally written by The Rev. Matthew Penny.  It has been adapted by The Rev. Dave Jagger. (me!)  Have fun with it!

Characters needed:

Preacher- Should be dressed in robes. Look ministerial!

Mission & Service Enthusiast - should be a person who can be truly enthusiastic about sharing the stories.

Three ‘characters at the table’ - These should be casually dressed and a toque would be a good idea on at least one.  (think a cross between Bob & Doug Mackenzie and Statler & Waldorf the old men in the balcony from The Muppet Show)

For the role of Enthusiast you will need to choose 3 stories from the current Minute for Mission book and summarize them briefly.  It is best to choose stories that have meaning to your congregation.  You will also need to find the names of Pastoral Charges in your Presbytery or Conference who receive mission support grants (your conference office can help with that).

The scene opens with the minister about to preach in the pulpit. At the table in the middle of the stage, or at the front of the church are the three ‘curmudgeons’. They have to look the part and be willing to be a little critical of everything at the outset. They have their coffee cups out and appear to be dissecting the sermon during coffee hour after worship. A place at the front from which the Mission & Service Enthusiast is going to pop up from time to time with Mission & Service information. Timing in this play is important.

---------------------------------

Preacher: (a pompous attitude might be helpful) ... then today, let’s talk about Stewardship. One old saying is that the Stewardship of our resources is everything we do after we say, “we believe.” I want the congregation to know that this passage about the sheep and the goats, a parable told by Jesus, is really about the division of people who are faithful in giving to the church and caring for others and is probably designed to encourage those who don’t seem to want to ‘get involved’ with the care of the world and the care of other people. What we need to do as a congregation is realize just how important other people are.... (When done his bits the minister should quietly move aside so as allow the focus to be on the others.)

First Curmudgeon: Did you hear that bit o’ preaching this morning in church?  Going on about how we are to spend our money? It was dis-gusting. (draw out the ‘dis’ bit). I mean, if the preacher really wants the church to do O.K. he should spend all of his time out there visiting folk and praying at the hospital over the sick and not worrying about how much money I give to the church.

Second Curmudgeon: Well, I was a bit surprised to hear him talk about the congregation being like a bunch of sheep and goats. Imagine what our church would be like if all we did was worry about treating people like livestock. And what about the United Church being the inclusive church? (put emphasis on word inclusive) That man should not be saying anything that even hints at one person in the church not being just like all the others. Aren’t we the United Church and aren’t we the ones who are supposed to be all the same.

Third Curmudgeon: All the same! Just a minute there. Do you think that every person in every United Church has the same problems and difficulties? I don’t want to be the same as you. In fact I don’t want you to be the same as me! Some people do need a little help from time to time you know.

Enthusiast:  [insert a brief story of the work of Mission & Service to provide support for people]

Second Curmudgeon:  Well yeah, there are people who need some help from time to time, but I still don’t see why the minister ever has to mention money in the sermon. Don’t we get enough letters from the Finance & Property committee and articles in our church newsletter and invites to go to some event where they ask us for money, money, and more money. I tell ya, to go to church these days you have to shake hands at the door and keep one hand on yer wallet! 

First Curmudgeon: Yea, yea, ya got that right.

Third Curmudgeon: Oh yeah, Oh yeah.

Preacher: And friends, what Jesus is saying in this passage is that we have to be aware of what we are doing and who we are doing it to. Sometimes we ignore people, fail to be the caring community and don’t even realize that we may be doing damage to the world without even knowing it. That’s why both the sheep and the goats in Matthew 25 didn’t even realize that they were either helping or hurting other people. Did you know that in this country, most people spend about $60 per month on coffee and snacks and less than $50 per month on their church? 

When this is said, all the people at the table should turn to look at the preacher. They should mumble and grumble about that.

Third Curmudgeon: Well you know, if some people would just quit spending their time at the coffee shop or Bingo Parlour then things would work out. It’s them kind of people that don’t know when to quit.

First Curmudgeon: By the way do you want a ride to Bingo, Bingo on Wednesday for the 9 o’clock? 

Third Curmudgeon: No, I got a cousin comin’ over and she wants to go to London to the slots at the Western fair grounds.

Second Curmudgeon: I’ll go, Lord knows it’ll be noisy around here Wednesday night, what with the Weight Watchers in here and all those little girls in Sparks and Brownies running around.

Enthusiast:  [insert a brief story of the work of Mission & Service to provide outreach mission help]

First Curmudgeon: I got to wonder about a preacher who’s always goin’ on about the need to care for other people. It bothers me that... well... he ... uh... just seems to... 

Second Curmudgeon: I know exactly what you mean. He’s just so....well.....

Preacher: And what Jesus meant when he said the sheep and goats would be divided was that God would look upon the people and point out how little some had done to help others and how much others had done without even being aware. It’s not that the goats, those who didn’t help, left so much out of their lives. It’s obvious from the story that they did not purposefully deprive the little ones of food or clothing or help in some way. It’s just that they were so caught up in themselves that they forgot how to be helpful to others. Probably it’s more a matter of attention.  We have to be shown sometimes the folly of our ways and then, when this happens, we can get on with life, now with our eyes open.

First Curmudgeon: That preacher just.... well...

Second Curmudgeon: Yeah, I know what you mean. He’s just such a.... well. Mmm... 

Third Curmudgeon: This is getting to you guys isn’t it? You are starting to understand what that story from Matthew 25 means aren’t you. You two are starting to be changed. 

Second Curmudgeon: Now just a minute. I know that we’re supposed to be, like, good to other people. But that doesn’t give the preacher any reason to make us feel guilty. How does he know what I do with my money and who I give to? Is he nosey? 

First Curmudgeon: I know that being a caring person in this 21st  century means things will be different than they ever were. I know that sometimes we have to give money to help others.  But do I have to hear about that in church?

Enthusiast: [insert a brief story of the work of Mission & Service locally]

First Curmudgeon: I really do have a soft spot for people that are in trouble you know. That’s why I work at the church Bazaar and the Yard Sale. Why I even bought one of the Choir’s CD’s and sent it down east to my mother. I sure don’t want to be one of those people who gets lumped in with the goats. Do you think God really wants to judge us, like that story says? 

Second Curmudgeon: I think it’s like this. God wants us to keep an eye on the world. Not just our little piece of it, but all of it.

Third Curmudgeon: We can’t do that. How am I, one person, whose best part of the day is getting together with friends over a cup of coffee, to go out and save the world? If that preacher expects me to go to Africa and preach to the heathen then he’s got another thing coming.  Some nerve! Why don’t we just look after the people in our own church? 

Preacher: In essence what Jesus is trying to point out is that God resides not just in our imagined views of heaven. God is not just some robed deity sitting on a throne and watching the world, judging how we behave. God is watching, yes, but God is watching from the viewpoint of the poor, the naked, the sick, the imprisoned, and dare we say it now, the uninformed, the hated and the lonely. God is in the soup kitchens, the food banks and exists in the people with funny accents, the ones with HIV, the ones who need our love. It is not that we are to change all this, but we each can help those who do care to do their work. We can be the ones who assist the battle against HIV in Africa. We can help those who work on the front lines with the poor. We can assist those who counsel the new immigrants and those who reach out to the people living on the streets.

Second Curmudgeon: Well now. I don’t know about you two, but I think that today I’m going to make an effort to help all those people. I’ll be a sheep. When the other two jibe at this one she/he should look surprised and a little upset.

First & Third Curmudgeons: Baaaa, Baaaa,

Third Curmudgeon: I wonder if he/she’ll be the black sheep of the family?

First Curmudgeon: Naw, he/she is more like a shepherd?

Third Curmudgeon: A shepherd?

First Curmudgeon: Yeah, he/she likes to fleece people!

Second Curmudgeon: Now come on you two. Wouldn’t you like to feel good about doing something in your life? Wouldn’t you like to give up a coffee or two just to make a difference in someone’s life?

First and Third Curmudgeon: (in shock) Give up a coffee?!

First Curmudgeon: Heretic.

Second Curmudgeon: Yeah. Maybe. But if each of us just started to give a bit of our money to the Mission and Service of our United Church, that would make a difference.

Enthusiast: Churches supported by grants from Mission & Service within [local] Presbytery/Conference include: [list here].

Did you know about campus ministry at Universities across Canada? They have excellent programs for students and faculty at many of these facilities.  Students are supported at times of stress over exams or loneliness as this may be their first time away from home for an extended time. Some may require grief counseling if a close family member or friend has passed away during their absence from their home environment.  This may be a student’s first major experience with studying or working with students from foreign countries. Through campus ministries students will celebrate special holidays together and be introduced to customs and traditions of different cultures.

Preacher: In essence Jesus does not threaten us in this passage. He encourages us. God in Jesus encourages us to love one another as Jesus has loved us. This judgement of the nations passage is not an end of the world scenario. It’s about people being shown that in the places they least suspect it, they will find God. It shows us that we can help by being caring for those who exist around us. We don’t have to do great things all the time. We can do small things with great love. God encourages us. Reach out.

First Curmudgeon: I’m convinced. I’m going to start my giving to Mission and Service right now!

Second Curmudgeon: And you know what, I’m going to do mine through PAR.

Third Curmudgeon: Through what? PAR? Does that mean you only give on the golf course? 

Second Curmudgeon: No, No. It means I’m going to ensure that the money is there for the church all the time, not just when I remember to give a gift. I can always give more, but this way it gets to where it’s needed and they don’t have to worry about it. 

First Curmudgeon: And you know what? We don’t even have to give up cream in our coffee. We can make a difference and we can begin anytime. That’s what the preacher meant isn’t it? God is always looking for us to act. And so we will.

Enthusiast: You too can discover how to make a difference in the lives of many people who need help here in our own area and all across the world through Mission & Service.  As a congregation of the United Church of Canada, we are part of Mission & Service. Please join me in giving it your support?

Preacher: God in Jesus demonstrates a special concern for the suffering of the world. When we stand with and on behalf of the least, there we will find Christ and discover what it means to be a community of faith. Jesus came for the mending of creation and in him the poor, the oppressed and outcasts experience God’s liberating and saving love.  Thanks be to God.  Amen.