Dear Christian Friends,

This month we begin a Stewardship program titled "Faithful Generosity.''  Note that I said program and not campaign.  We are engaging in a process of increasing our faithfulness, and generosity is at the heart of our faith.  It is about discarding some old thoughts and learning some new ideas.

Generosity cannot be experienced if we believe we live in a state of scarcity.  Moreover, this idea of abundance (that moves us to generosity) cannot be forced upon anyone.  Abundance must be experienced from the outside-in.  No persuasive appeal, no colorful stories about the difference giving makes, no eloquent sermons about our many blessings, no stewardship program, none of this can accomplish much as long as the intent is to convince people of something they should believe and do.  Generosity, like scarcity, is as much a state of mind as it is an economic condition.  See, even some with abundant wealth believe they do not have enough.  Others, in what we think may be poverty, feel blessed.

If we casually review the recent history of this congregation we can see that we are a generous people, who obviously give out of our own blessings.  Soon after I arrived here the congregation decided to have a capital campaign to pay off the mortgage for the new building.  In a few short months we raised over $300,000.  Then, barely more than a year later, we took to raising another $140,000.00 to repair the roof over the sanctuary.  You might also remember that during the ?in-between time' we spent over $50,000.00 to upgrade the organ console and complete its total refurbishment.  Then we set about repairing our deteriorating bell tower.   Do you realize that in the last 4 years we have raised over ½ a million dollars to fund capital expenditures here in the church?

We are indeed a generous people.

Abundance, from which generosity comes, is a fact of life.  It isn't just an article of faith.  But abundance must be discerned to be learned,  seen to be believed, experienced to be credible.  Conditioned as most of us are by some sense of scarcity and not having enough, it is not immediately natural to shift our point of view.  But generosity cannot take root and grow in just any soil.  The ground of generosity - the key - is being aware of all that God has given us.

For you know the generous act of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty you might become rich. And in this matter? it is a question of a fair balance between your present abundance and their need, so that their abundance may be for your need, in order that there may be a fair balance. As it is written, "The one who had much did not have too much, and the one who had little did not have too little." 2 Corinthians 8:9-10, 14-15

As for those who in the present age are rich, command them not to be haughty, or to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but rather on God who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. They are to do good, to be rich in good works, generous, and ready to share, thus storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of the life that really is life. 1 Timothy 6:17-19

See ya in church,

Pastor Jon Fogle