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First Congregational Church, U.C.C., One Church Street. South Hadley MA 413-532-2262
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STEWARDSHIP AT CENTER CHURCH
What is stewardship, and who can be a steward? How does a Church Stewardship Campaign differ from a fund-raising campaign? What is your relationship with God? Do you view your pledge as taking 10% out of your income, or do you rejoice at being able to keep 90% of what God has given you?
How do we learn to be stewards?
Can our children be stewards? How do we teach them to be good stewards of the gifts that are given them?
Let no one despise your youth, but set the believers an example in speech and conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.
1 Timothy 4:12
Want to have a transforming experience? Come to church to find other people who are searching, like you, for the best way to look after the gifts we have been given of body, mind, friends, money, even things.
STEWARDSHIP 2008
They said to him, “But we have only five loaves of bread and two fishes.” Jesus said, “bring the bread and the fish to me.” Then he took the five loaves and the two fish and, looking to heaven, he thanked God for the food. Jesus divided the bread and gave it to his followers, who gave it to the people. All the people ate and were satisfied. Then the followers filled twelve baskets with the leftover pieces of food. There were about five thousand men there who ate, not counting women and children. Matthew 14:17-21Dear Member and Friend of Center Church,
The parable of the loaves and fishes teaches us about Living Into Abundance. Thousands of people--Jesus and the disciples have five loaves and two fishes and yet at the end of the meal after feeding the crowd of men, women and children, there are twelve basketsful remaining. People shared what they had and there was more than enough.
This is an inspiring time for our congregation! Our new Senior Pastor, Reverend Lori Souder, is settled and well underway with her work here. With a new pastor we share new energy, new ideas and new vision for our ministry together at Center Church. In this year’s Stewardship Season, we have the opportunity to affirm our blessings and activate these new ideas and visions through our financial support. Because of the national financial crisis, it will be more important than ever to think about pooling our resources. No one can do this alone; we need everyone!
As we approach this year’s Stewardship Sunday, think about what you have—your talents and your treasure—and how sharing what you can do and what you have will allow all of us to live into abundance as a church community, as a local community, as a world community.
It is time for us, ALL of us, to pool our resources and be in partnership. There is much to do within our church of people and buildings, and we have much to do in the community. We may think we only have five loaves and two fish, but if we share what we have, all will be satisfied.
Dates to remember
• Sunday, November 9th - Stewardship Luncheon after worship We’re planning an inspiring and entertaining event you won’t want to miss.
• Stewardship Sunday on November 16 Bring your pledge to church that day.
Live Into Abundance! Generously support the ministry of Center Church by considering your current pledge. Can we have 100% participation? Can you increase your pledge by 10% or more?
Be part of the joyful multitude at Center Church and live abundantly!
Faithfully,
Center Church Stewardship Committee
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 | Together we can do it!
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Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. All people should give what has been decided in our hearts to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times; having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. –Corinthians 9:6-8 One of the criteria for defining a healthy church is how well the congregation supports the vision and dreams of the church through the annual budget.
What can we do? Working together, moving forward, Center Church’s ministry will be sustained with abundant generosity. Together, moving forward in faith, we continue our ministry at Center Church!
Pledge VS. Plate, Marriage vs. A Date There are many ways we can support the church with our dollars, and none of them are bad! From time to time we support special offerings. Many of us have chosen to remember the church in our wills. More routinely, we either drop cash in the offering plate on Sunday or make a yearly financial pledge or letter of intention to the church. Every dollar, no matter how it is given, helps equip Center Church for ministry. But making a Pledge serves you and the church better. Here’s why. From a practical standpoint, pledging (knowing how many dollars will be offered for the year) helps our Board of Trustees devise a more accurate financial plan for the year. Plate income isn’t planned income. So plate can only be roughly (and conservatively) estimated as we allocate resources for the year. In a sense randomly giving to the plate is like dating. It’s fun and you try to date as often as you can, but you don’t want to get too “serious” or throw yourself entirely into the relationship. Pledging, on the other hand, is much like a marriage! You have prayerfully committed yourself to a relationship with this church. You have made a promise, a covenant, to be there through thick and thin, good and bad. Pledging is an expression of your faith in God, this congregation and the United Church of Christ. Make a covenant with Center Church. Together, Moving Forward, we are committed to equipping Center Church for ministry!
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