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The Christ Church Community Update
Friday, November 19, 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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Greetings!
The Advent Angel Tree is up, and it needs to be decorated! Please bring a lonely and unused ornament from your collection this Sunday to put on the tree, and take your Advent Angel tag to make Christmas special for a child needful of Christmas joy.
More than 100 tags are on the tree with requests like a skateboard for 10 year-old Anthony or a Latina Barbie doll for 6 year-old Yamaris. Gifts are to be unwrapped this year, and returned to Christ Church by Sunday, December 5 at 12 noon.
Thank you to the 89 pledges to the 2011 Christ Church operating budget that we received last Sunday. Pledges thus far are 19% higher than last year, and our total pledged is $246,400 toward an ambitious goal of $480,000. If you've misplaced your card, you may also complete your pledge online by clicking here.
Parents Night Out this Sunday evening. RSVP here.
Long-time member Ilsa Schupak died this past Tuesday. Her funeral service, and celebration of her life and faith, will be at Christ Church next Wednesday, November 24, at 12 Noon.
The annual Thanksgiving Service is Wednesday evening at 7 PM
Timothy Safford
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November 21--Christ the King Sunday
9 AM--The Holy Eucharist, Hymns and Sermon10:10--The Forum: Where Scripture Meets Real Life
Bible Study of Luke 21:5-19
11 AM--The Holy Eucharist and Sermon, with special music for the commemoration of
Christ the King
Handel's Worthy is the Lamb
November 24, 7 PM--A Service for ThanksgivingCome Gather Together to ask the Lord's Blessing
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Sunday Evening, December 5 at 5 PM
Advent Lessons and Carols
A traditional candlelit service of scripture and music offered by the Christ Church Choir. A perfect service to bring family and friends to. Immediately following, parish potluck supper in Neighborhood House. Please bring a dish to share.
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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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