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The Christ Church Community Update
Friday, November 11, 2010
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Whoever you are, and wherever you
find yourself on the journey of faith, you are welcome at Christ
Church, as you are, to receive the blessings of God so freely given.
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Sunday November 14
One Service, 10 AM
Celebrating 315th anniversary of the founding of Christ Church in 1695
Please bring your completed stewardship pledge card, or complete a pledge card online.
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Greetings!
Worship this Sunday will be awesome. Parker has spent a lot of time in the Christ Church archives, and the service is full of music written for Christ Church over three centuries (the opening hymn was composed by a parishioner on the USS Arkansas, and we'll sing an adaptation of a familiar Easter hymn composed in 1763 by then organist Francis Hopkinson who then took up politics and later was one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence).
With one service at 10 AM, we have the joy of our entire congregation worshiping as one body, and that's a perfect way to celebrate our 315th anniversary. So many who've gone before us have provided for Christ Church, so we bring our pledge cards this Sunday declaring our financial support to the operating budget in 2011, ensuring that we begin our 316th year strongly and faithfully.
All pledgers will have received their cards in person, or through the mail. You may also complete your pledge online by clicking here. If you wish to become a pledging member of Christ Church, cards will be available Sunday, or you can pledge online.
This Saturday is a parish workday, much needed to make the church sparkling for Sunday. As well, we have a ton of bricks (quite literally) to move, and if you like raking, bring your favorite rake and leaf collection bags with you. All ages are welcome. RSVP here.
And The Bridge meets this Sunday at 12 PM. RSVP here. Info on The Bridge here.
Timothy Safford
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Why Give Proportionally?
Christian stewardship is the "generous and consistent offering of time, talent and treasure for the mission and ministry of the Church at home and abroad."
When we give our time, we give our talent. Of course, it takes treasure, too. As we consider what financial resources to commit to Christ Church in 2011, I ask that we all remember we aren't giving to a budget; we're giving thanks to God for the blessings of creation, and the privilege of being part of it.
Truly, financial stewardship should be about a proportion of your financial resources, not an amount. If you take the current you contribute to the budget, and divide it by your income, and that tells you the percentage, or proportion, of your giving. For example, if you're giving $3,000, and your income $60,000, you are offering 5% in gratitude to God. Does the proportion you give honor your talents that God has blessed you with?
Maybe you are giving 2%. Prayerfully consider 3% Make the journey to the tithe, or 10%. We all live complex financial lives, and when it comes to percentages, "one size does not fit all." But there is true joy in giving proportionally, and increasing that proportion as able.
I urge us all to calculate the percentage of our giving, because to do so is an important spiritual practice. Truly, when we give a portion of what we have, rather than an amount, much of the financial anxiety of pledging dissipates.
Timothy Safford
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