October 10, 2011
Dear Friends,
October is “Stewardship Month” at Hart
United Methodist Church. It is that time of year when we re-examine our giving
and commitment to the church and ask again how much of ourselves we are willing
to give. It is also the time when we re-evaluate
our church budget and diligently work to fund all the ministries of the
church.
As we continue to grow in our faith
and live out our call as Christian disciples, we have to ask ourselves deep,
critical questions: are we living out our baptismal covenant and caring for
those both within and outside our church—the homeless, the hungry, the
powerless, the broken in spirit? Are we proclaiming the Good News of Jesus
Christ to all we encounter? Are we continuing always to know Jesus more closely
and to follow His example of faithful living?
Are we tithing and financially supporting the ministries of our church?
Our
individual stewardship of God’s resources is an important indicator of whether
we have placed God first in our lives. The best way to gauge our faithfulness
is called “Percentage Giving.” The scriptures hold up for us the standard of
giving 10% of our income, known as a “tithe” – and Jesus praised those who went
beyond this. Hart United Methodist Church encourages people to build up to a
tithe. As many of us were taught when young: “Save 10%, give
God 10%, and have 80% to live on and enjoy.”
This month, my family will be looking critically at
our giving, and I encourage you to do the same.
Look over your annual giving and see what percentage of your annual
income it equals. Is it 3%, 5%, 8%? Knowing the percentage you give, pray about
your giving and seek God’s leading. If you are currently giving 2% of your
income, can you raise it to 3%? Or from 5% to 6%, or from 8%
to 10%? If you are already tithing, can you give a little
more?
In
a couple of weeks, you will be receiving a letter from the finance committee
with an “Estimate of Giving” card where we will ask you
to “estimate” how much money you will give the church in the year to come. It is an estimate which can be changed (up or
down!) as one’s circumstances change. This is not a legal obligation; it simply
enables our church to make a responsible ministry budget for the coming year, a
budget that is within our projected means.
When
you receive that card, please take some time to pray over it and really seek
God’s direction. On October
30—Stewardship Sunday—you will be invited to bring your card to church where it
will be collected during worship, or if you prefer, you can mail it back to the
Finance Committee.
In
this coming year, my family will commit to giving back to the church at least
10% of our income, because we believe in the value of, and want to support, the
life-changing things God is doing in our community through the ministries of
this church. And we will be doing it electronically—thanks to a new program the
church will be offering this year: Electronic Giving. All you have to do is fill out an EFT
(electronic funds transfer) form, and through the West Michigan Conference
Treasurer’s office, your tithes and offerings can be deducted from your bank
account and given to the church. It’s
safe and secure, and it is perfect for families who may be like mine—used to
using bank cards rather than cash or checks.
More information about the electronic giving will be included in the
letter you receive near the end of the month.
Stewardship
is one of the central disciplines of our spiritual life. As a teenager I heard
a motivational speaker who talked about stewardship this way: “You can tell what matters to a person by where they spend their time, their talents, and
their money.” What matters most to you? Moreover, Jesus said, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
(Matthew 6:21) This year, ask yourself where your heart is. As we grow in our faith and
trust, we discover that our self-giving – giving of our time, talent and
treasure – is one of the deepest possible joys. For as we thankfully share what
God has given, we follow Christ’s example.
I
also believe wholeheartedly that one cannot out-give God. There is no limit on how much we should give,
because we know that all we have is from the Lord. Every blessing in our lives is a gift, and with
that gift comes a responsibility to use it wisely. I know from personal experience that when I have
been faithful to my giving and have given joyfully from the heart, I have been
blessed beyond measure.
Whatever
you are able to give this year, the most important thing to remember is to give
from the heart. Do you remember the New Testament story about the widow who
gave all she had—her last two coins—to the temple? Jesus praises her gift. But it is important
to note that it was not the amount of the widow’s giving that was important to
Jesus. Rather, it was the spirit in which she gave. She gave all she had from her heart. Likewise, Jesus is calling us to do
the same.
I
look forward to journeying with you through this Stewardship month. If you have
questions or would like to talk more about giving, please contact me. I would
love the opportunity to grow in faith with you.
Blessings,
Rev.
Rebecca Wieringa
top