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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.
Special Fall Enlistment Program Edition
It's time to think about your Annual Pledge Enlistment Program!
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StillSpeaking Money |
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Are you providing an electronic giving option to your members? If not, now is the time to get set up. That way you can provide your members with sign up cards when you distribute your pledge cards. The U.C.C. has an excellent program available: StillSpeaking Money. To learn more:
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Stewardship Sermon Ideas |
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Trying to come up with that great stewardship sermon idea?
Here are some great examples from Luther Seminary web site: Stewardship Sermons
Another site with sample sermons is Generous Giving:
More Stewardship Sermons
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The Big Secret of Giving |
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Faith formation is the principle goal of stewardship. A new resource from the United Church of Christ is "The Big Secret of Giving: Hidden Treasures in Life and Church". This stewardship devotional has thirty meditations on stewardship. It can be used as a personal devotional by stewardship leaders and other church members, as a tool for bible study, as a devotional for any church committee or council meeting or as sermon starter material for pastors. It is available for $3.00 each ($1.50 each for 50 or more) from United Church Resources (800)537-3394, or order online:
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Thinking About Themes |
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Trying to choose a theme? The best themes connect the best things about your church with appropriate scripture. Here is a worksheet to help you develop your theme: Stewardship Theme Worksheet
For scriptures, Generous Giving website offers these suggestions: Generous Giving
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Annual Enlistment Programs |
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Choosing a program? Check out "Annual Enlistment Programs" to decide which program is best for you. If you are designing your own program, make sure your read "10 Key Elements to a Successful Program" on page 3.
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Tell Your Church's Story |
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Transform your budget from a dry recital of numbers into the exciting story of your church through a narrative budget! Here are a couple of sample narrative budgets.
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I.R.A. Charitable Provisions End Dec. 31 |
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Remind your givers: The special charitable distribution provisions that pertain to I.R.A.'s expire on December 31st! Here are some handouts to use to encourage this giving:
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Reduce Energy Costs For Our Earth's Sake |
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Winter is coming and so are those energy bills! Did You Know? If Americans in more than 300,000 houses of worship cut energy use by 10 percent:
Nearly $200 million would be saved for congregations' missions and other priorities.
More than 5.4 billion kWh of electricity would be available without additional cost and pollution.
More than 2 million tons of greenhouse gas emissions would be prevented, equivalent to the emissions of about 400,000 cars, or to planting over a half million acres of trees.
To learn more about energy conservation visit
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Planned Giving Tip |
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Some of your elderly members may not be able to give much right now to your annual budget, but could make a substantial planned gift (and would if asked!). Here is a sample brochure you can adapt for your church to hand out with your pledge cards:
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Humor |
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Pastor Irene had been studying the Old Testament practice of burnt offerings. She decided to make a point in the next church service about giving as a pure act of sacrifice. On Sunday morning, she placed a cast iron pot on the altar. After her sermon on burnt offerings, Irene announced, "Today we are going to follow the ancient practice of burnt offerings by burning our offerings in the pot on the altar".
When the ushers collected the morning offering, the plates were overflowing like never before - with personal checks!
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