FROM THE PASTOR’S
DESK
It is new.
It is
different.
Yet it
carries the same message.
It is
special worship services.
It is a
guest leader and preacher.
It is a
time for reflection and response.
It is a
celebration fellowship meal after each service.
It is an
opportunity to make a thoughtful, prayerful financial commitment to the
ministry of Jesus through Christ’s Church.
Consecration
Sunday Weekend takes place October 18 – 19. This program was selected by the
Stewardship Committee and Church Council to encourage members to reflect on our
faith in Jesus Christ, the mission that he calls us to, and the level of our
financial support of the work of the church.
The program
begins with a series of temple talks by active, committed members, on the
meaning of their faith in their lives. All members will be asked to participate
in worship and the celebration dinners on October 18 – 19: Saturday at 6:00 pm,
Sunday at 8:15 am and 11:00 am. At all
three worship services that weekend, Pastor Robert Newpher, from the synod
office, will be guest leader and preacher, while Pastor Ed will preside. At the
end of worship, members will be asked to prayerfully complete an Estimate of
Giving for 2009. A catered celebration meal (supper, brunch, or lunch) will
follow each service. There will be no Sunday School that weekend.
Consecration
Sunday is based on the biblical philosophy of the need of the giver to
give for his or her own spiritual development, rather than on the need of the
church to receive. Instead of treating people like members of a social club who
should pay dues, we will treat people like followers of Jesus Christ who want
to give unselfishly as an act of discipleship. Consecration Sunday encourages
people toward proportionate and systematic giving in response to the question,
“What percentage of my income is God calling me to give?”
During each worship service on
Consecration Sunday weekend, we are asking our members to make their financial
commitments to our church’s missionary, benevolent, and educational ministries
in this community and around the world. Every member who completes an Estimate
of Giving Card does so voluntarily by attending worship on Consecration Sunday weekend. The procedure is done in
such a way that no one feels personal embarrassment if he or she chooses not to
fill out a card. We urge people to attend, even if you feel opposed to
completing a card. The worship service and the fellowship meal afterwards are
designed to celebrate our ministry together, and the many blessings that have
come about through the good work of Christ’s Church.
We will do no home solicitation to
ask people to complete cards. During worship our guest leader will conduct a
brief period of instruction and inspiration, climaxed by members making their
commitments as a confidential act of worship. We will encourage participation
in Consecration Sunday events through the Stewardship team and Council members.
Since we will make no follow-up visits or calls to ask people to complete their
Estimate of Giving cards, we will make every effort to inform, inspire, and
commit everyone to attend one of the Consecration Sunday worship services.
Thanks in
advance for your enthusiastic participation in Consecration Sunday Weekend
events.
Pastor Ed