For Ourselves, or For Others?
Every minister I’ve talked to in the last month or so has asked, “How are things going at your church?” They don’t mean how’s my preaching, how’s attendance, or how’s the search for an Associate Minister going. They mean how are we doing financially.
It is an awkward time to be having the annual pledge drive, but then, it’s done every year at this time, regardless of the economy. Those who planned our proposed 2009 budget took that into consideration.
We are also on the verge of asking inviting you to make some donations through our church for Thanksgiving and Christmas. We’ve already completed Third World Handarts, Alternative Christmas Market and Project Love. Last Sunday and this week we distribute shopping bags with a list of suggestions for our Thanksgiving Sunday annual food drive for Woman to Woman. On Saturday, November 22, Christian Outreach in Action is having a collection of food at the Marketplace at PCH & Second Street. Their Festival of Grace fundraiser is Saturday, November 15. And around Thanksgiving, the posters for our biggest gift-giving of the year occurs: our Christmas families. You will have an opportunity to do some Christmas shopping for local families who are down on their fortunes at this time.
Even in the midst of tough economic times, it is fun, even satisfying to shop for others who are less fortunate than ourselves. When Peggy and I were shopping on Monday, it was no trouble to throw a box of cereal and a few extra cans of vegetables into the cart for the Woman to Woman drive. My Kiwanis Club is adopting five families through two local elementary schools. One seven-year-old girl wanted an art set, so we bought the same kit with extra paper and supplies that we bought for a Project Love girl.
Let’s face it. There’s really nothing Peggy and I need for Christmas. If we spent the money we’d spend on each other on food, gifts and clothing for people like those above, we would both be pretty satisfied, even happy!
“…for I was hungry and you gave me food…I was naked and you gave me clothing…”
–Matthew 25:35-36