MoneyMoneyMoney

Today some good news about your generous giving.

Even though Jesus talked more about money than any other single subject, we don’t.  Some of you appreciate that, others don’t. But just as President Obama delivered his State of the Union address earlier this week, I want to say a brief word about our State of the Church – financially.

We ended 2011 with a surplus of approximately $11,000.  In a time when so many congregations are running deficits and digging into emergency funds, having a 5-figure surplus is a real blessing.  Furthermore, this is the third year in a row that your giving has provided us with a small surplus.  This same time period has been incredibly challenging economically for our whole nation, so your level of generosity stands out all the more.

This surplus stands separate your gifts over and above our basic ministry expenses.  When we cluster all of the missions-related giving – special offerings, scholarships, disaster relief, donations, and so on – our end-of-year total balance for missions giving was just shy of $123,000!  I think this is simply phenomenal.

As for 2012, we are “cautiously optimistic.”  Our caution is rooted in the fact that we received significantly fewer pledges or estimates of giving for 2012 than the previous year.  Our base of reliable and committed givers is shrinking. 

I’m convinced that many of you who stepped up with a pledge for 2011 have simply forgotten to do the same for 2012 – or you may have forgotten how important that is for our planning.

“For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not first sit down and estimate the cost, to see whether he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it will begin to ridicule him.” (Luke 14)  You can help your church estimate wisely … and avoid ridicule!  Pledge cards are available in the church office, or by email request.

At the same time, our optimism is grounded again in your generosity.  The average pledged amount increased from last year.  Last year’s average pledge was $4,593 per year, or $383 per month.  This year’s average pledge is $4,892, or $408 per month – almost a 10% average increase in giving.  The average means, of course, that some can and do give more, and others less.  That’s okay.  “If the eagerness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has – not according to what one does not have.” (2 Corinthians 9)

I don’t want to hem and haw about money.  It's a great thing.  As we say in our LifeSign offertory prayer, our financial gifts are “tangible love.” This is how love spreads beyond our small circles of influence. The heart that dares to be generous with money finds it easier to be generous in every other way, too.

And, a plug:  I recommend to you the website MattAboutMoney.com. Matt Bell was here a few years ago and was wonderfully wise and helpful.  His focus is helping families – especially those with children – grow to be responsible users of money.  Matt’s weekly blog is always full of humor, wisdom and good advice.  I recommend it whole-heartedly. 

Through the blessing of our generous God, may you grow in Extravagant Generosity in every way this week!

Pastor Larry