|
Greetings!
Inspiring Generosity is a new e-newsletter of the Massachusetts Conference United Church of Christ. It provides articles and resources for the local church suitable for cutting-and-pasting into your newsletter or bulletin. To opt out of receiving future editions of this newsletter, please update your profile using the following link. If you know of others in your church who may be interested in receiving this newsletter, please forward this to them.
Update Profile/Email Address
Forward this email
Don't Miss This Premier Event! |
|
Register now - June 1 deadline
Just 10 days left to sign up for "Stewardship And The Christian Life", a July 23-25 retreat at the Craigville Conference Center on Cape Cod, Massachusetts.
YOU WILL NOT WANT TO MISS THIS PREMIER EVENT!
|
Planned Giving Tip of the Month |
|
The extraordinary opportunity to give to charity from Individual Retirement Accounts expires December 31, 2007.
For customizable forms to inform your members, click here:
|
Save Money - Save The Earth! |
|
Energy Star now has special resources for congregations including a free 'how to" guide, Putting Energy into Stewardship.
To learn more, visit their web site:
|
Save Your Receipts |
|
New I.R.S. rules require receipts for all church donations. Read more.
|
Resource of the Month |
|
Testify In Worship
One of the most powerful ways to nurture generosity is through the personal testimonies of lay people in your church. This resource of the Massachusetts Conference United Church of Christ by Jennifer Davis, a Capital Campaign and Stewardship consultant, will help prepare you to share your story:
|
2007 Stewardship Materials |
|
2007 Stewardship theme materials are now available from the U.C.C. Click on the links on the left side of the page to view the bulletin inserts, posters, etc.
|
Church Budgeting |
|
For a challenging article on church budgeting, read The Generous Church: Building a Budget that Reflects God's Agenda.
|
Humor |
|
Some friars were behind in their belfry payments, so they opened a small florist shop to raise the funds. Since everyone liked to buy flowers from the men of God, the rival florist across town thought the competition was unfair. He asked the good fathers to close down, but they would not. He went back and begged the friars to close. They ignored him. He asked his mother to go ask the friars to get out of business. They ignored her. So, the rival florist hired Hugh Mac Taggart, the roughest and most vicious thug in town to "persuade" them to close. Hugh beat up the friars and trashed their store, saying he'd be back if they didn't close shop. Terrified, the friars did so.
The Moral of the Story: Hugh, and only Hugh, can prevent florist friars !!
|
Reflection: Making Sacrifices |
|
As we approach Memorial Day, we remember all those who served and died in the many and various wars of our nation. These sons and daughters of America represent a different kind of stewardship - a stewardship of the nation. They offered the ultimate giving - their very lives for their country.
What sacrifices are we willing to make for God's kingdom? May our financial giving represent the same spirit of willing sacrifice as those we honor this weekend.
|
|
|
