The Chimes: October 8, 2009

October is historically stewardship month here at Christ Covenant. As your Treasurer, I want to share my thoughts with you about stewardship.

I love numbers! I love working with the figures! I love to see those debits and credits add up to zeros at the bottom of the page. I work really hard on forecast spreadsheets and charts for your Board. And as I proudly distribute and begin to talk about my charts and numbers, I can see each of them slowly begin to glaze over and stare at me blankly!

But for the month of October, we are going to talk about stewardship and how it affects people. How giving your time, talents and finances makes this community a better place. I want us to think about giving, as so much more than just dollars and cents.

For instance, do you remember the first time you entered these doors and knew it was your home? Do you remember how you felt when you took communion for the first time in MCC? Or even those of us that have been here for a while, think about the last time you saw someone crying in the pew, obviously overcome by what was said in service or how communion touched them very deeply; someone's giving made those things possible. Because someone gave to this church, we are able to sit here today!

So as we go through this month, I would like for us to think and pray about how much God can do with our gifts. Some are able to give more than others and, of course, we want everyone to give as much as they can, but the amount is not as important as each and every one of us taking ownership of our church and what it can accomplish! The gifts are not as important as your faithful commitment to how we choose to use God's abundance in our lives. This month's emphasis is, "Pray, Plan & Pledge".

Pat and I don't have a lot of money. We work hard. But because we are in ministry, our livelihood depends on people and their willingness and ability to give. And in this economy, that has been difficult, but we have a faithful base of people that help to support us and our ministry. So we usually have enough and for that we both are very grateful.

But we didn't get here by waiting for people to give or even for God to open doors. We planned for this, we knew that going into ministry would mean that we would have times when money would be scarce. We knew that going into ministry and leaving our "regular" jobs would mean no more 401(k) or benefits. We looked at our situation realistically, prayed and made a plan. We cut our household expenses to the bare bone. We paid off everything we could and THEN moved into ministry. We knew we were giving our lives to a dream, a Godly dream but none the less a dream, and we planned for it. We continue to plan and work for it every day. And I wouldn't have it any other way! Our ministry has been and continues to be blessed and so do we. God is Good!

I am not telling you this to blow my own horn or to make you feel sorry for me. I am saying that giving and stewardship are a spiritual process that becomes a lifestyle.

Because my livelihood is dependent on people who give, I think I may have a unique perspective on the subject. I truly want people to PRAY about what they are committing to do. I really want people to PLAN and commit to what they say they are going to give. I depend on those PLEDGES to be there every month to pay the bills. And so does our church.

So with that in mind, I want to challenge each of you to spend time praying about what you can give. Take the time to analyze your budget and determine realistically what you can give. Make a plan, pray again and then pledge to your church.

Please remember, GIVING is a spiritual process that becomes a way of life.

The life and work of your church depends on you.

2010 Pledge Cards are available in the narthex.

Peace,

Carolyn Marshall
Treasurer and Member
Christ Covenant MCC