In this early spring season, we are excited to get outside and enjoy the wonders of all God has given us. This is the time we start reminding parishioners not to forget their offering when they are away from us on Sundays. We share the reasons we need our “C.A.M.P.” in church. Yet Capital, Annual, Missional, and Planned giving are all different in focus, use, and timing. While capital campaigns are short term goals to make improvements, annual giving sustains our ministries. Missional giving reaches outside the church while planned giving are gifts or bequests that reach outside our lifetime to make a difference. We need them all at church for all we do and support. God blesses us by providing much in which to offer thanks.
Yes, in this early spring season we are excited to get outside and enjoy the wonders of all God has given us. We can go also beyond our base “C.A.M.P.” if we think of stewardship differently. For instance, the diocese in Wichita has “four pillars of stewardship—hospitality, prayer, formation, service.” They remind us that what we give is not just time and treasure. It is also a generosity of inclusiveness, relationship, learning, and helpfulness.
Stewardship this year—let’s start reminding ourselves not to forget our offering wherever we are on Sundays and throughout the week. In what ways can we improve, sustain, reach and go beyond what we have to offer? We need not just to know, but also to do a generosity of “hospitality, prayer, formation and service” to get outside ourselves. May you enjoy the wonders of all God has given us, including a refreshing spring in our church.
P.S. Want to learn other ideas about stewardship? Come hear from Rev. Dr. Clayton Smith, Executive Pastor of Generosity, for the Church of the Resurrection in Leawood, Kansas. He will be speaking at Country Cupboard in Lewisburg on April 23, 2016 from 9:30 AM to 3:00 PM. Register NOW at www.umstewardship.org/events.
For more information contact Phyllis Bowers at (local) 717-766-5376 or
(toll-free) 1-877-619-5974 or e-mail pbowers@susumc.org
