This week’s Stewardship Program prompt word was Grace. Sixty-three people between the two worship services responded with
82 different words they thought of when they considered this word. The computer program generated the Word Cloud below, making words contributed more frequently bigger in the final display, but the Cloud really helped everyone appreciate the range of ideas in the group!
Looking at the words, some people really focused on the Grace we receive as a gift from God (Divine, God-Given, Forgiveness, Salvation, Free). Others thought of grace as a communication tool with God (prayer, blessing, thanks for gifts, acceptance), and others th
ought of grace as a characteristic(beauty, wonderment, gentleness, peacefulness). All these wonderful, heartfelt responses describe a Gift, the relationship between Giver and Receiver, and the desire to communicate our thanks to God for this gift in prayer and action.
How do we say thank you to the Giver? Here are some suggestions to consider:
- Com
- mit to regularly giving Time, Talent, and Treasure to God through Immanuel. Intentionally remembering a special relationship (whether that’s a family member’s birthday or God’s abundant Grace in your life) demonstrates commitment to growing and nurturing that connection.
- There are many ways to grow your gift of gratitude to God. There are charts and tables we can provide about percentage-giving, if that’s what you’re most comfortable with. Here are some other ideas to add meaning to your giving and growing your relationship with God:
- Try just adding $1 to your weekly gift, week-after-week, until you reach a giving goal you set for yourself, and then maintain it.
- Try identifying a way to live your commitment during the week by targeting a specific type of other discretionary spending (coffee money every day, coupon savings or Shopper’s Club savings during the week, etc.) to re-direct to your church envelope.
- Help the children in your life learn about regular giving of time, talent and treasure by modeling and involving them in the process. Teaching an attitude of gratitude and involvement in Immanuel’s many programs is important.
- Setting a goal, acting on it (remembering the commitment), and then achieving it is Discipleship in action – joy-filled satisfaction!
- Remembering God and Immanuel at special times for you and your family with Special Gifts:
- Many opportunities throughout the Liturgical Year (Advent, Christmas, Lent, Easter) and during special
- celebrations like our 150th Anniversary! (Special Envelopes)
- Let the Holy Spirit move you to find these opportunities (family birthdays, new jobs, etc.)
Sunday March 31 will be Consecration Sunday, when we’ll all be asked to present our Commitment Cards during both services. If you’re not able to attend next Sunday, please return your Commitment Card in the pre-addressed envelope included with the mailing you’ll receive. Please think about all the things we’ve talked about over the past several weeks — hopefully they’ve been interesting and thought-provoking. Our hope is that we’re helping to “connect the dots” between God’s freely-given Gift of Love, Mercy and Grace to each of you, your response to that Gift, and what your response does in terms of enabling God’s Hope for the World. Please think and pray about how you can live out that relationship through your thankful giving in response to all God has given you personally and through Immanuel.
Susan Hughes, Kate Rowland, Cheryl Davies