Dear Friends in Christ,
"Whether it recognizes it or not, the world is solely and entirely the world of Christ. The world is to be called to this, its reality in Christ."
Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Ethics
Jesus listens to us, and we Listen to the Word of Life.
Jesus gives us life, and we Give our lives in witness and service!
Giving our whole lives includes giving of our financial resources. As Christians, we practice the four-thousand year old biblical tradition of tithing -- the proportional giving of the first ten percent of our income to the work of the church.
This practice was first instituted nearly 4,000 years ago when the Holy Spirit inspired Abraham to give the first ten percent in gratitude for the first recorded hostage rescue of his nephew Lot (see Genesis 14:20). Jesus affirms the practice of tithing, but expands it in the Gospels to include the giving of justice, mercy, faithfulness and love (see Matthew 23:23 and Luke 11:42). The claim of God is on our whole lives -- not just money, and not just everything but money.
Please click through the Stewardship Links shown on the left and pray about your meaningful and sacrificial contribution to the Church of Christ Jesus. We hope you'll be able to make sense of your giving at the same time as you try and make sense of the cross this Lent. The two are profoundly related. Remember you are dust; and to dust you shall return. Take up your cross and proclaim the Good News of the Gospel of Christ!
Grace, Mercy, and Peace to you in this season of Lent.
Your Stewardship Team
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Thomas said to him, "Lord, we do not know where you are going; how can we know the way?"
Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but by me.
John 14:5-6 |
