Stewardship of Talent 10/25/09
Talent…..I always thought of it as belonging to a few lucky people who were specially gifted in things like music, sports, or academics. But experience has made me redefine my understanding of talent. Experience has shown me that talent is the expression of one’s ordinary but unique abilities offered as a gift to others. Let me explain.
My wife and I had just returned from an afternoon of Christmas shopping and discovered our phone message light blinking and beeping with 15 messages. It was the news that all parents dread. The messages were from friends and relatives back in Richmond, Virginia repeating the awful message- “Your daughter has been in a bad automobile accident and is in a coma….come right away!”
We immediately went into crisis mode….made phone calls to our work to say we would be gone, booked the next flight available, called and left messages with the church and friends asking for prayer. We were set to leave when it dawned on us that we had made no arrangements for our two beloved but crotchety old cats. In the scheme of things, this may not sound like a big deal….but our flight was leaving in a few hours and there was no time to arrange for boarding them. Unexpectedly, a gentle offer was made….a member of First Pres, who didn’t really know us at that time, called to say that she liked cats and would be happy to take that worry from us. She would be happy to not only feed and care for them….but she would enjoy playing with them. Faithfully, for the next 6 weeks, while we were at the hospital in Virginia with our daughter, this amazing person quietly and faithfully came twice a day to care for our cats. What a blessing and what a relief! She had a unique talent….one that few others have….that she she offered as a wonderful gift to us. What a good steward she was and her talent was multiplied into an amazing blessing to us.
While those with more spectacular talents receive much recognition and appreciation…..I can’t help but believe that God treasures and values the faithful stewardship of those who may never receive applause or prizes but who use their unique and ordinary talents in His service. Over the years in this church, our family has been encouraged, cared for, and nurtured by many faithful stewards who have offered their ordinary talents as a gift to us. People have provided meals, sent notes and messages, offered their prayers, and babysat. This is not glamorous stewardship….but it is truly what stewardship of talent means….using our unique gifts to serve others and God. I can tell you that these meals, prayers, visits, and babysitting were like manna….a tangible reminder of God’s presence in painful life experiences.
Stewardship of talent begins with honest self-evaluation of our unique gifts and abilities and is followed by exploration of how we can find ways to offer these for God’s purposes. No talent is too small. Most of us will not be singing solos or preaching sermons …..but we all have abilities that we can offer to serve others. Your gifts might be writing notes of encouragement, praying for those who are struggling with life challenges, preparing a meal to bring to a family needing help, serving a meal at PAD’s, helping out in the nursery, or even, yes, caring for the cats of a family in crisis.
What is stewardship of talents? Stewardship is offering your abilities to God and trusting that he will use them to care for his people. Whether you talents are grand and spectacular or, like most of us, ordinary and quiet…..God can use them. After the service, in the Gathering area…you can find information sheets detailing the many opportunities where your talents are needed and valued. In 2 weeks, on Stewardship Sunday, you will have a chance to formally commit your talent for God to use when you complete the commitment cards that will be collected that day.
God has given each of us unique skills which can make a difference in the lives of others. My challenge to you is to find an outlet for your talent right here at First Pres and then commit to being a faithful steward of that talent. God will multiply that talent many fold and make it a blessing to others. What will you do with your talent?
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Pastor's Letter
October 2009
Dear brothers and sisters,
We write to you today about the needs of our church. This is certainly not news … you know the importance of this church and the importance of being faithful stewards especially in this time of transition in our congregational life. As we continue to do the wonderful work of ministry to which God has called us, we look forward to a future filled with hope. Yes, we face challenges but we also know that God is faithful and calls upon each of us to faithfulness as well to help meet those challenges.
Paul comments in II Corinthians on the rich generosity of Christians even in hard times. He lifts up the church in one part of the world that begged to be included in the gracious privilege of sharing in the gift for Christians in another part of the world. Listen to his words in chapter 8: “Now I want to tell you, dear friends, what God in his kindness has done for the churches in Macedonia. Though they have been going through much trouble and hard times, their wonderful joy and deep poverty have overflowed in rich generosity. For I can testify that they gave not only what they could afford but far more. And they did it of their own free will. They begged us again and again for the gracious privilege of sharing in the gift for the Christians in Jerusalem. Best of all, they went beyond our highest hopes, for their first action was to dedicate themselves to the Lord and to us for whatever directions God might give them.” (NLT)
Giving came from setting priorities with the Lord … “their first action was to dedicate themselves to the Lord … for whatever directions God might give them.” (II Cor. 8: 5) The church in Paul’s time listened first to the Lord. And that is what we ask of you. We continue to put before you the challenge to give your time, your talents, and your treasure to God. Again and again, in these days of transition, people come to us to tell of their continued support and of their joy at being a part of such a strong congregation. We know that it is critical that the first priority of this congregation be to focus on the Lord … to dedicate ourselves to the Lord … to listen to the directions God has for us.
God calls us to be faithful stewards of all that we have. And even in hard times like these, we have been given much. God expects us to give. So listen to Him for the direction He has for you. You will be hearing witnesses on the use of time, talent and treasure and we pray that you will be challenged by them to discern God’s direction for you in the coming year. Session is beginning to carefully review the 2010 budget and maintains a high commitment to being faithful stewards of all that God provides. After severe cutbacks in the 2009 budget and successfully holding the line in spending, they are poised to move ahead. That said, many of the reductions taken in 2009 are not sustainable year over year and there are anticipated increases in administration, in property and in personnel that must be made hopefully without the need to reduce in other ministry areas. The news from the Finance and Stewardship Ministry Teams suggest that commitments of $1.4 M from 320 households are important targets for our stewardship campaign for next year. To accomplish these targets, those that made commitments for this year would, if possible, need to consider a 5% increase for 2010. Likewise, it would be help if members of the congregation who did not or could not make commitments of treasure last fall could prayerfully consider their ability to do so for 2010. This would help us plan and carefully attend to our programs and expenses.
Enclosed you will find pledge cards to complete after you have prayerfully considered how God is directing you to be faithful in your stewardship toward the ministry of this church. In addition, you will find an Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) form which we hope you will consider using. The EFT helps maintain a balanced cash flow for the church and needs to be renewed only once annually rather than you remembering a weekly or monthly contribution. It also saves money!
Please join us in the celebration of our stewardship by returning the commitment cards in worship on November 8. Remember that during difficult times people rely more heavily on the church and her ministries/missions. The church is a gift of God’s goodness to you, to the surrounding community and to the world. And she needs your gifts to continue.
As always, we are grateful for the continued gracious support from so many faithful stewards of the ministry at First Pres Glen Ellyn!
In Christ’s Service and Love,
John Curphey
Joan McKenzie
Dear brothers and sisters,
We write to you today about the needs of our church. This is certainly not news … you know the importance of this church and the importance of being faithful stewards especially in this time of transition in our congregational life. As we continue to do the wonderful work of ministry to which God has called us, we look forward to a future filled with hope. Yes, we face challenges but we also know that God is faithful and calls upon each of us to faithfulness as well to help meet those challenges.
Paul comments in II Corinthians on the rich generosity of Christians even in hard times. He lifts up the church in one part of the world that begged to be included in the gracious privilege of sharing in the gift for Christians in another part of the world. Listen to his words in chapter 8: “Now I want to tell you, dear friends, what God in his kindness has done for the churches in Macedonia. Though they have been going through much trouble and hard times, their wonderful joy and deep poverty have overflowed in rich generosity. For I can testify that they gave not only what they could afford but far more. And they did it of their own free will. They begged us again and again for the gracious privilege of sharing in the gift for the Christians in Jerusalem. Best of all, they went beyond our highest hopes, for their first action was to dedicate themselves to the Lord and to us for whatever directions God might give them.” (NLT)
Giving came from setting priorities with the Lord … “their first action was to dedicate themselves to the Lord … for whatever directions God might give them.” (II Cor. 8: 5) The church in Paul’s time listened first to the Lord. And that is what we ask of you. We continue to put before you the challenge to give your time, your talents, and your treasure to God. Again and again, in these days of transition, people come to us to tell of their continued support and of their joy at being a part of such a strong congregation. We know that it is critical that the first priority of this congregation be to focus on the Lord … to dedicate ourselves to the Lord … to listen to the directions God has for us.
God calls us to be faithful stewards of all that we have. And even in hard times like these, we have been given much. God expects us to give. So listen to Him for the direction He has for you. You will be hearing witnesses on the use of time, talent and treasure and we pray that you will be challenged by them to discern God’s direction for you in the coming year. Session is beginning to carefully review the 2010 budget and maintains a high commitment to being faithful stewards of all that God provides. After severe cutbacks in the 2009 budget and successfully holding the line in spending, they are poised to move ahead. That said, many of the reductions taken in 2009 are not sustainable year over year and there are anticipated increases in administration, in property and in personnel that must be made hopefully without the need to reduce in other ministry areas. The news from the Finance and Stewardship Ministry Teams suggest that commitments of $1.4 M from 320 households are important targets for our stewardship campaign for next year. To accomplish these targets, those that made commitments for this year would, if possible, need to consider a 5% increase for 2010. Likewise, it would be help if members of the congregation who did not or could not make commitments of treasure last fall could prayerfully consider their ability to do so for 2010. This would help us plan and carefully attend to our programs and expenses.
Enclosed you will find pledge cards to complete after you have prayerfully considered how God is directing you to be faithful in your stewardship toward the ministry of this church. In addition, you will find an Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) form which we hope you will consider using. The EFT helps maintain a balanced cash flow for the church and needs to be renewed only once annually rather than you remembering a weekly or monthly contribution. It also saves money!
Please join us in the celebration of our stewardship by returning the commitment cards in worship on November 8. Remember that during difficult times people rely more heavily on the church and her ministries/missions. The church is a gift of God’s goodness to you, to the surrounding community and to the world. And she needs your gifts to continue.
As always, we are grateful for the continued gracious support from so many faithful stewards of the ministry at First Pres Glen Ellyn!
In Christ’s Service and Love,
John Curphey
Joan McKenzie
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Stewardship at First Presbyterian Church of Glen Ellyn
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This site features Stewardship messages, videos, and thoughts for the First Presbyterian Church of Glen Ellyn, Illinois.
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With Christ's Peace......................
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