Stewardship
Pass It On
It only takes a spark to get a fire going, and soon all those around can warm up in its glowing;
that’s how it is with God’s love, once you’ve experienced it,
you spread God’s love to everyone, you want to pass it on.
~Kurt Kaiser
Our stewardship campaign is kicking off with the theme, “Pass It On.” As soon as I hear the opening chords of this hymn, I am transported back to church camp – sitting by the campfire, in the mountains, singing with friends. I loved the music, but also the message – that we are meant to receive God’s love and pass it on. Years after my camp days, there would be a movie released with a similar concept: Pay It Forward. The crux of the film’s message is that changing the world can start with a single kindness. One person does a big kindness for three different people and asks each of those three not to pay anything back, but to pay the gift forward by doing big kindnesses for three people in turn. To pass it on. If each kindness done leads to three more kindnesses, which each lead to three more, and so on…imagine how far those kindnesses could go. Imagine what good they could bring to the world.
We could all do with a little kindness just now. And the best way I know to create kindness for ourselves is by sharing some with others. So many of you have told me how much you loved last year’s stewardship campaign and the chance to be secret stewards – going around doing something kind for another person without getting caught. This year’s campaign builds on that idea ofsecret stewards and expands it out a little from our own church walls. In the next stewardship letter, each household will receive two little cards – each with an uplifting message. I invite you to read both cards. Keep the card you need right now, the one with the message that feeds your soul. Then put the other one in your pocket or wallet or briefcase or purse. Walk around with it for a few days or even a week or two…until you come across the person who needs that message to feed their soul – whether that is a family member, friend, co-worker, classmate, someone in line at the grocery store, the barista at the coffee shop, or a person on the street. Once you find the person who needs the message you are carrying, give them the card. Pass it on.
We also have the opportunity to pass on kindness to our congregation and the world. You have already been giving through your financial support of our church’s mission in our community and in our world. The Stewardship board and I thank you so much for the contributions you have made. We have been able to do important work because of your gifts. We would like to ask each family to prayerfully consider making a pledge for your financial giving for the coming year. Of course, we understand that life circumstances can change. Please know that pledges can be adjusted at any time. Pledging will simply allow us to see where we are and plan for where we might go. Your giving will allow us to continue and even grow our missions of caring for our children and youth, utilizing and sharing our facilities, standing with migrants and refuges, showing forth love and justice, and supporting our community, world, and people in need. There is so much we can do when we gather our gifts together and pass them on to the world.
Thank you again, so very much, for your generous support of our church’s mission and ministry.
Blessings,
Rev. Kirsten Linford