Monticello UMC NewsLetter

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Monticello UMC Monthly Newsletter

Text Box: Pastor’s Message: Our Vision: To be the Body of Christ in the world. Our Mission: Sharing Christ in worship, prayer, study, mission, fellowship, and by invitation. You’ve Got More Mail… if you want it. The church maintains an email directory and sends periodic prayer requests and announcements. Email Pastor Mike to be included. meischen@monticelloumc.com
Second in a series on Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations. The first article was Passionate Worship On Consecration Sunday, October 26, Rev. Leah Pogemiller graciously and faithfully preached a message about giving thanks to God for our blessings through tithes and offerings. Commitment cards are returning to us in the Sunday offering and by mail. Thanks for returning yours so we can close this spiritually enriching program. Why do we do this? It is because as we put our estimate of giving for the next year in writing, we speak with God about the portion of our blessings, whatever they are, God would have us return to minister in God’s name. It is a sign-act, a word symbol of our thanksgiving for God’s grace in our lives. Though we can lower or raise our estimate with a phone call to the office, it helps make our giving a spiritual discipline. We give generously to the church because we desire to make a positive difference for the purposes of Christ, and we want to align our lives with that higher purpose. We give because we love God, love the church, and desire to grow in love of neighbor. Bishop Robert Schnase wrote about Extravagant Generosity. The power of the phrase is in the adjective extravagant. Its like the woman who poured expensive perfume over Jesus’ feet, or like the love of the prodigal son’s father, or like God who gave his only son Jesus that the world would know God’s love. The Bible teaches us to be extravagant in our giving. The Old Testament describes tithing, giving a tenth (Genesis 10:14). It also describes first fruits, offering the first and best of the harvest, livestock, and income to the purposes of God. A family in our church told me that on payday they write a check for their tithe to the church. As they live on the remainder, they grow closer to God. Jesus’ teachings abound with tales of rich and poor, generous and shrewd, givers and takers. He commends the poor widow putting her two coins in the offering (Luke 21:1-4). He talked a lot about money and possessions. Vibrant, fruitful, growing congregations thrive because of the extraordinary sharing, willing sacrifice, and joyous giving of their members out of love for God and neighbor. Fruitful congregations talk about the Christian’s need to give, rather than the church’s need for money. Congregations that practice extravagant generosity explicitly talk about the place of money in the Christian’s walk of faith. They view giving as a gift from God and they are driven to be generous by a sense of mission and a desire to please God by making a positive difference in the world. This I believe: that what Christians earn belongs to God, and we should earn it honestly in ways that serve purposes consistent with being followers of Christ. What Christians spend belongs to God, and we should use it wisely, not foolishly, on things that enhance life and do not diminish it. What Christians save belongs to God, and we should invest in ways that strengthen society. What Christians give belongs to God, and we need to give generously, extravagantly, and conscientiously in ways that strengthen the body of Christ. Consecration Sunday commitments strengthen and unite the church, and we feel affirmed and positive about our spiritual growth through giving in proportion to our blessings. Jesus said, “One’s life does not consist in the abundance of possessions” (Luke 12:15). We are more than what we own. His words are especially striking given today’s economy and job market. Bless you for blessing others with your generosity! Pastor Mike ____________