Tuesday Morning, September 6, 2011 * Giving Together

September 6, 2011

Beloved:

“How very good and pleasant it is it is when kindred give together in unity!”  Okay, so technically the lyric is live instead of give but good and pleasant definitely describes the way UBC’ers have given together the past several weeks.  Just over $18K was given in July and August.  Combined with recent spending reductions, our undesignated cash balance has returned to solid ground.  Should this giving pattern hold, we will be on track to fulfill our 2011 financial commitments.  Maintenance is always the more challenging part but I have every confidence in your renewed and continued faithfulness!

Alas, all this talk of money.  Many people, including me at times, find it anxious, frustrating and wearisome.  “It’s not what I come to church to hear, do, think about . . . .”  are the honest sentiments of some; sentiments I often share and to which I am sorely tempted to cater.  But I can’t ~ and we can’t.  Truth be told,  I suspect that deep down all of us want to be different, to live differently.  We want to give more or give more consistently.  We want to do church well.  We want to reach new people and grow in faithfulness, in service and in numbers, hopefully in that order. 

Can people change the way they live?  By their own wit and strength – probably not.   With confidence in God’s promises and dependence on God’s  word?   Absolutely!  

My prayer for our church these days is for WILLINGNESS; that each and every one of us and all of us together will grow more and more WILLING to do whatever it takes to be the best, most faithful community of believers we can be.  That friends, is not fundamentally a financial goal but a spiritual goal with financial requirements.  These financial requirements are the avenue by which we have arrived at a new opportunity and invitation to grow into a new way of being and doing church.  I am so excited and energized about our life together.  My prayer is that you are too. 

         Don’t forget!  Potluck Wednesday Night Supper tomorrow at 6 pm.  Everyone is invited!  Bring something yummy to share.  peace & prayers, ~pastor annette

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