Wednesday’s Thoughts on the sermon
When we think about our church and our support of the church it usually involves money. Preachers are concerned this time of year and most of us have difficulty with stewardship sermons. What if we don’t make our budget? What if we don’t finish the year with a positive account? What do we have to cut and what will the cuts mean to us?
I really enjoy this time of year. In a way it’s a vote for the future of the church, and, no matter how much comes in in pledges, it is a statement of support from the membership. I count on the fact that we will do the best we can. I believe the members of this church is confident we are moving in the right direction. There is passion for the ministry of the church and wide ownership among the members.
In the sermon Sunday I’m going to talk about some of the people I have known who have given so much of their lives to the church that they have become an inspiration. What I intend to focus is not what they give to the church, but what they receive when they give to the church.
Most of us when we look back on our lives and we think about the things that have been important to us we call up those times when we were able to do something that made a difference to some institution or cause in which we believed. Giving on this level to the church does more for us than it can do for the church. Stewardship is much less about the total of the pledges than it is about the transformation of those who have pledged.
I would like to hear from you. When did you give something of your life that turned out to mean more to you than that to which you gave? What is the biggest gift you ever gave yourself when you supported something bigger than yourself?
If you have thoughts to share publically, please leave a comment with this post. For personal thoughts write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net I look forward to hearing from you.
Charles
