Perhaps you'll remember the name Gene Tharpe, formerly a columnist for the Atlanta Constitution. He was a member of the church I served in Fayetteville and his daughter Jessica Wall and her wonderful family are members here. Recently I ran across a column that Gene wrote years ago (and I have many, many of them in my office) about holiday giving and the dangers therein. He gave the now typical warnings about asking for written material from solicitors, emotional appeals for charities that really aren't charities, saying "no" to the request for an immediate gift, and avoiding names of charities that sound almost like the established charity for the same cause. There were other warnings, but Gene knew his business twenty years ago.

    So let's speak for a moment about giving in your church. You will hear appeals and challenges here in the next few months. We still need money to finish the magnificent Restore to Glory! campaign. We enjoy the wonderful work done here (I never worry about the air conditioning on a hot Sunday any more) and now we must finish paying for what we have built. Some of us have not given at all yet and others have given gifts that do not represent our commitment to the church and its ministry. We need to get this done and the Finance Office will answer any questions we have.

    You'll also hear about our Foundation. We started it a few years back and we need to make it grow. Your gift to your church, a legacy gift, can help your church's ministry in perpetuity. You can make a gift to a specific cause (music, children, missions, youth, etc.) or to a general fund. We hope in the future to handle through the Foundation most of the ongoing maintenance on our complex and avoid any emergency offerings and even campaigns like Restore to Glory! You'll get some material soon about giving to the Foundation.

    Finally, the ongoing Operating Budget is always a profound way to address the challenges the world throws at us. This fall we will have a stepped-up campaign to highlight both our ministries and the opportunities to make a significant difference in the world. But especially in the coming weeks, remember that as we vacation and are absent from worship more than usual, the work of the church goes on, day in and day out. It has been reported by those in the know that no church in the area is as busy as ours. Did you know that we host over four hundred (400!!) events here every month? This is the best place and the best way I know to make a difference in our world.

    Gene's warnings do not fit us here, thankfully. Our funds are audited and accounted for on a regular basis. You can trust your church!

    And you can know that your giving makes a difference.

    I'll see you this Sunday.