| A STEWARDSHIP MESSAGE FOR YOUR CHURCH | HELPS FOR THE STEWARDSHIP CHAIR |
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#262 Giving involves more than gifts. “They offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road.” Judy and Norm looked at each other and instantly knew what the other was thinking. It’s the second Sunday in January. Where is everyone who came to light a candle Christmas Eve? Judy put her hands together and whispered, “Here’s the church, here’s the steeple, open the door, where are the people?” On the way home Norm remembered, “It was so exciting to go to church last month. The pews were full and we had kids singing, adults singing and instrumentalists playing at every service. I got so caught up in ‘Joy to the World’ I even agreed to serve on the finance committee when they asked! What was I thinking? Now we’re singing ‘In the Bleak Midwinter,’ there’s plenty of room in the pews and the offering plates have almost nothing in them. How in the world are we going to pay our apportionments on time?” Judy drove in silence and let him vent. As they sat down for their pizza playoff lunch before the game she said, “Remember what Pastor Eileen said about the fact that the story didn’t end when the wise men gave their gifts. They heard that Herod wanted to kill the child so they went home via another route so that they could tell everyone what they’d seen. When the wise men arrived at the stable, their journey wasn’t over. In fact, it had just begun. Our journey is about a lot more than going to church so we can pay the bills. It’s about helping people know how Jesus can change their lives for the better and inviting them to help us tell the story.” Norm had to agree with her. At halftime he suggested they sit down and make a list of the people they missed seeing in worship earlier and figure out when the two of them might call or email everyone before the next Sunday. |
Giving involves more than gifts. Quotes for Bulletins/Newsletters: When the song of the angel is stilled, “People think that if they were rich they would contribute to charities. My experience has been that if you don’t start giving away your money when you have very little, you won’t do it when you get a lot.” Robert Bainum “It is not how much we do, but how much love we put into doing. It is not how much we give, but how much love we put into giving.” Mother Teresa |
#263 Giving is an act of Love. “No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” (John 15:13 NRSV) Dorothy lived in the same house she and her husband bought on the east side of Madison 40 years ago. She spent the early years of her marriage working for the telephone company and her last job was at a neighborhood grocery story. For the last 15-20 years her health concerns left her a “shut in.” Those who visited her from the Bashford UMC in Madison enjoyed her spicy, cheerful personality. She had a great sense of humor and always had a joke or a story for Pastor Ed White when he came to call on her. Shortly after her death, Dorothy’s niece was very excited to deliver a gift to the church. Prior to her death, Dorothy named Bashford UMC as the beneficiary of a Certificate of Deposit. This meant the church received $15,300 as an undesignated gift from Dorothy to be used for their mission and ministry. Dorothy’s gift of this CD was a wonderful surprise and a reminder of her cheerful personality. Especially in such a difficult financial year when the church income was running behind the ministry needs. When her family notified the church of the gift, they shared how much her friends from Bashford church meant to Dorothy over the years. In these days of low interest rates and uncertain economic realities, we invite you to consider naming your church as the beneficiary of all or a portion of the principal in a Certificate of Deposit, a secondary life insurance policy, or an IRA. For more information, please contact the Foundation. |
Mickey’s Story My mother’s foster cousin died recently and we attended her funeral at the Baptist Church in Wild Rose, Wisconsin. When we arrived for her funeral service on a cold January morning, we were amazed to see the parking lot full of cars. We knew we were the only ones arriving from our side of the family. Once inside we waited in line for over 30 minutes to connect with her son. Who were all these people? Later we learned that many were relatives on the other side of her family, and a good number were members of her church and the community. While she only had one son, we learned that Mickey was known as “Mom,” “Ma,” “Grandma,” or “Grandma Mickey” by most everyone in town. The pastor told a wonderful story about taking the youth group Christmas caroling just a few weeks prior. When they arrived at her house, all of the teenagers jostled for position on the little porch of her trailer because they all wanted to ring the bell and get a Grandma Mickey hug! We also learned about the missionary student from China who called her his “summer mom,” because he lived with Mickey and her son during his summer breaks from college. Mickey was described by the congregation gathered there as a compassionate, non-judgmental believer who always had a smile for everyone. Her life had been tough from the beginning. Yet instead of being bitter and angry, she chose to offer God a giving heart that was humble and loving. She lived as a steward of all the mysteries of God. She offered all of who she was, and all of what she had, in gratitude for the love she received. Sometimes we think stewardship is just about money. Mickey reminded me once again that it’s not just about money. Stewardship is about how we live the Good News of the love of Jesus Christ every day. |
#264 Giving is Loving. “Take your everyday, ordinary life – your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life – and place it before God as an offering.” Romans 12:1-2 The Message One winter morning, two brothers decided to visit their neighbor. They had to cross a pond. But since it was frozen over, their father said they could walk across it. He sat on the porch with his binoculars to watch and make sure they would be all right. Along the way, the boys came across a crack in the ice. Their father watched as the 13 year old knelt down by the crack. He put his knees on one side of the crack and his hands on the other, and then told his 3 year old brother to walk across his back so he’d be safe. We practice giving when we’re willing to put ourselves in the middle of a situation in order to help others get where they need to be. At times we’ll be able to actually offer our gifts as a means to move from one place to another. At other times, such as with the current disaster in Haiti, we aren’t able to be directly involved. However, our prayers and our gifts are providing love offerings as the money we send provides food, shelter, water and medicine to those in need. We are so blessed that sometimes it’s hard for us to decide how we can respond to such overwhelming disasters. It’s not as easy as spreading ourselves over a crack in the ice so that someone can cross safely. How much is God calling us to give? Some have suggested one day’s salary. A faithful response may also be as straightforward as making sure our giving allows our church to meet our primary mission goals first this year. Our apportionments are a – portion – meant – for – others. These are mission dollars that allow us to have the “bridging” structures in place to make sure that as soon as a disaster strikes, United Methodists are there offering help and wholeness in the midst of brokenness. What is God calling you to give today? |
Giving is Loving When the Foundation received $44,100 in year end gifts for the United Methodist Committee on Relief’s emergency fund (UMCOR) and World Hunger, I remember wondering what kind of disaster needs we’d be faced with in the next year. By mid-January, we were dealing with an earthquake in Haiti and mud slides in California. The Haitian earthquake occurred on January 12th. On February 12th the 2010 version of “We Are the World” debuted during the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics. Since its release, the original 1985 original version of “We Are the World”, by USA for Africa, has raised over $63 million for humanitarian causes. Ninety percent of the money was pledged to African relief, both long and short term. The remaining 10 percent of funds was earmarked for domestic hunger and homeless programs in the United States. It will be exciting to see how the 25th Anniversary version of “We Are the World,” will benefit the recovery efforts in Haiti and more. The 2010 version will feature updated lyrics and music, as well as a rap segment pertaining to Haiti. The original chorus still provides us with some good food for thought: We are the world, We are the children Stewardship is about all the choices we’re making today and tomorrow about how to use the gifts God has given us. Are we simply saving our own lives? Or will we choose to make this world a better place for all God’s children? |
#265 Giving means thinking positively. “Make the most of every chance you get. These are desperate times.” (Ephesians 5:16 The Message) Tax time is upon us. Aside from the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays, it can be one of the most stressful times of the year for many people. For many it means paying at least a bit more to pay that bill in full. Still others are excited to finish the task because they’ve been planning and looking forward to the “gift” they’re receiving with their refund. The number one reason for marital breakdown is financial conflict. Therefore, tax time is also the time to take extra care in your relationships as you review receipts, checkbooks, and 1040 forms. Even if you didn’t lose your job in the recession, chances are you’re worried about the economy and how it may affect you and those you love. What about your church? How are those in your church weathering the financial storm of the last few years? Has the recession provided new opportunities for spiritual growth and ministry? Or, has it encouraged conflict and “blaming” to run rampant in meetings and parking lot conversations? Remember that when finances are tight, tempers tend to be short. How can we be care-full in our ministry? Let’s remember that the primary mission of the church is to “make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.” Strive to proclaim the good news we proclaim on Easter Sunday, “He is Risen! Christ is risen indeed!” Perhaps in these difficult times, we might do as Paul instructed the Ephesians to “make the most of every chance we get” to live the love that is ours through the Gospel of Jesus Christ. These are “desperate times,” so let’s outdo one another in love when we’re tempted to give in to the “crabby bug.” Pastors and leaders can only work with the resources at hand. Whether you still have a well-paying job, you’re unemployed, retired, or you’ve settled for a lesser-paying job, together let’s find a way to give our time, talent, and treasures to say “THANK YOU” to God for the blessings we’ve received. |
Former Wisconsin Governor, Lee Dreyfus, is pictured here next to his 7-foot-tall monument, carved in the shape of Wisconsin. The simple epitaph etched into the red granite stone is, “Tithe Your Time.” Dreyfus died on January 2, 2008. He was raised with the expectation of public service. In 1980 he said, “You gave time to the church, you gave time to the needs of the public. It was absolutely taught by my mother and father that you give, and if you had more capability, you were obligated to give more.” Many people ask how they might give in times like these when the giving gets tough. Some ideas for “tithing your time” include
For more year-round stewardship ideas, feel free to contact the Foundation.
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#266 God owns everything. “The earth is the Lord’s and all that is in it, the world, and those who live in it.” (Psalm 24:1) Did you ever experience the serendipity of cleaning out the attic? Much of the joy of that task occurs as we stumble upon long forgotten treasures, many of which bring back special memories of yesterday. It is important for each of us to sift and sort through our many possessions from time to time. What we often discover are items which we no longer need but which could be transformed into marvelous “charitable gifts.” Perhaps you have stocks purchased long ago which have increased in value but don’t provide much current income. Perhaps your family has property or real estate bought long ago but now it just takes energy and money to maintain. Perhaps you discover an old insurance policy which was paid up long ago but is no longer needed for its original purpose. All of these “treasures” can be transformed into wonderful charitable gifts. With the help and guidance of the Wisconsin United Methodist Foundation your church can do many good things right now! Take a look in your attic … and call us if we can help you! That’s what stewardship is all about. P.S. Did you know we can help you liquidate shares of stock or shares of a mutual fund to make a special summer gift to help your church get through the summer months? Call us today for more information and to receive the most recent forms. What’s even better is that we can do this for any United Methodist Church or ministry at no selling fee or commission. Call or email us today. |
Biblical Stewardship Principle: God owns everything. If we believe that all we have is a gift from God, then we affirm a faithful distribution of God’s gifts in the world. Consider these affirmations, written by Bishop Bruce R. Ough of the West Ohio Annual Conference, as you decide how much of your time, talents, and treasures you will offer to share the Good News of Christ’s love with the world.
(See Leviticus 27:30-33) |
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#267 Be faithful. “…fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out.” (Romans 12:2 The Message) Cindy and Steve were making final plans for their summer vacation. They had considered some trips close to home, yet their dream trip to Yellowstone kept bouncing back into the discussion. They thought about the uncertain gas prices this year, the fact that their oldest child will start high school in the fall and wouldn’t be available for family vacations much longer, and the fact that they usually traveled home to Michigan to see family. Finally they decided to “go for it” and head west to Yellowstone. The next Sunday, Steve started writing the check for their offering. He found Cindy and asked, “What do you think about giving less to the church this summer to make sure we have enough money for our vacation?” She said, “I guess it’s okay…I don’t know,” as she ran off to comb little Lily’s hair. When it came time for the offering, their 10 year old son took his turn at putting the envelope in the plate. Steve noticed that he was studying it pretty closely. When they got out to the car, Tyler asked, “How come you gave less to the church today, Dad?” Steve looked at Cindy, who stared straight ahead at the road. He replied, “Well, your mother and I were thinking about taking a special vacation this summer. You know that Kristy’s going to high school next year and…” Kristy interrupted, “Mom said you were thinking about taking us to Yellowstone instead of going to Grandma and Grandpa’s this year. Why would we want to do that? It doesn’t seem very faithful to me for us to give less to the church just so we can take a trip to see Old Faithful!” After the kids were in bed, Cindy brought Steve the checkbook and said, “I just went online and signed up to have our regular tithe sent to the church every week through online banking. Do you want to write a check to make up the difference this week or should I?” “I will,” he said. “And I’ll call my folks to make sure we can come during our usual week in August. Maybe we can take the ferry or do something special while we’re in Michigan this year and start a new tradition.” |
Be Faithful Faith-filled Ways to say “Thank You” to God this summer:As you plant flowers in your garden, say thank you to God for their gift of color. Give at least as much back to God as you spend on flowers this year. Use your time and talents to raise money for outreach. Do you have a garden? Do you have more zucchini than you can eat? What about tomatoes, beans, or sweet corn? Maybe you have some friends and neighbors who would gladly give a gift toward a mission of your church in exchange for some of your vegetables – fresh, frozen, or canned. Put a container in the middle of the kitchen table and invite family members to make a special offering – perhaps even $1/day to say thank you for a joy each day. If your grocery bill tends to rise during the summer because more people are home and you have more visitors, try planning your menus around what’s on sale each week. Then with the money you save, you can make an extra gift to the mission and ministry of the church. Remember, God doesn’t take vacations from us! If you’re heading out on a special vacation – enjoy! Give thanks for the memories you’ll make by signing up for online bill pay through your bank. Then your offerings will be sent to the church automatically whether you’re on vacation or in your regular pew each week. Honor those you love with a special gift to the overall mission and ministry of the church through our apportionments. “A-portion-ment for others” can be a wonderful way to remember loved ones as a part of their gift for birthdays, anniversaries and other milestones. |
#268 To give is to Respond Gratefully. It’s been over six months since I took the brave step of signing up to have my tithe automatically deposited from my bank account into the church’s account twice a month. We’ve been tithing for years and my husband has had his offerings electronically transferred for a while. But I still liked having control. And I must confess, I liked being able to “flex” my spending especially in the summer. For several years, our dinner table was crowded with 3, 4, 5 or more of our college-aged kids and their friends, which meant extra groceries. In addition, 75% of the family birthdays fall in the third quarter of the year. I’m not particularly proud of it; but the reality is that I was often “catching up” on my pledge in October and November following the back-to-school crunch. Yet I promote automatic deposit as a means of giving our first fruits! I believe the first check I write should be to give thanks to God for the blessings I’ve received. I preach this too! So I took the plunge. And that’s how it felt the first time I saw the transaction online mid-January. I don’t know why. But I felt like someone had just flung me out in the middle of a polar bear swim! Months later, instead of gasping for air twice a month, I now take a deep breath and give thanks to God for the blessings I have and the blessings I’m able to share. I see those blessings as children return from church camp this summer with grins from ear to ear. And I see those blessings as the UMCOR reaches out to children in need every time an earthquake, tornado, hurricane, or flood turns their world upside-down. Are you ready to join me in taking the plunge of automatically saying “thank you” as the first gift you make every month or every pay period? Whether your church has a program or not, I now know I can do it through my online banking or by EFT through the church. God promises to automatically love and care for us winter, summer, spring and fall. Let’s find ways to give our thanks by offering our prayers, presence, GIFTS, service and witness consistently too. -Rev. Jean Ehnert Nicholas |
Biblical Stewardship Principle: To give is to Respond Gratefully. My dad would sit down at the kitchen table on Saturday evenings. Write a check. Put it in the envelope. Set it on the corner of the kitchen counter next to his car keys. That’s it. He never said anything to my brother and me about stewardship, about giving to God, about the importance of sharing. He just did it. He never missed. He still does it, every Saturday night. It’s a powerful memory, and it goes on. I did not inherit my dad’s organizational skills nor, more honestly, his faithfulness. I have been known to search my purse for a pen while the ushers were coming down the aisle, or to fill out my check for the offering while the pastor was recapping the Gospel lesson. If by some chance the plate went by before I finished – more times than I care to admit – that week’s offering never made it anywhere. But I still remember that envelope sitting by the car keys. And some weeks, I lay my own witness on the kitchen counter for my kids to see. I might even write a bigger check to “catch up.” It’s not a have-to. It’s a want-to – something from my past that allows me to be faithful. - Barbara DeGrote From The Abingdon Guide to Funding Ministry, Vol. 3 by Donald Joiner and Norma Wimberly, page 170.Copyright 1997 by Abingdon Press |
#269 Use Resources Wisely “Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!” (Matt. 25:21-28) Did you know … that even in the midst of such an uncertain time in the stock market, over 30 people have given $219,345 in stock gifts to 13 different churches and ministries through June 30th of this year? By making these gifts through the Wisconsin United Methodist Foundation, 100% of the proceeds have been used for ministry – no taxes and no commissions or selling fees were paid. If you have appreciated stock you’ve owned for at least a year and a day, you can use these shares of stock to make a gift to your church or another United Methodist ministry with NO selling fee or commission. You will also avoid paying any capital gains taxes, which allows you to make a larger gift than giving cash. If your stock is held electronically with a broker, we can usually liquidate the shares to make a generous gift within 24-48 hours of receiving it from your broker in our account. If your stock is held in certificate form, we can also assist you in liquidating it for no selling fee or commission. If you feel called to give a gift of stock, please call our office toll-free at 1-888-903-9863 to let us know what you intend to give. Or mail or fax us (608-837-2492) a copy of your completed Stock Processing Form found on our website at: www.wumf.org/assets/ProcessingStockGifts.pdf When your stock is liquidated, a check for 100% of the proceeds will be sent to the church or ministry you designate, and you will receive a receipt listing your charitable deduction for tax purposes. It’s really that easy. Call us today! |
Ideas for Giving Wholeheartedly Distributing the charitable portion of your estate through a Letter of Instruction. Through a Letter of Instruction, you can update or change your charitable beneficiaries without rewriting your will or preparing a codicil. For a sample letter, call our office or check out our website at www.wumf.org/pgivingWC.html. Remember, you can only include qualified public charities in this Letter of Instruction. Processing gifts of stock for no selling fee or commission. If you’ve owned shares of appreciated common stock for at least a year and a day, you can use these shares of stock to make a charitable gift. The Foundation can help you make a gift with shares of stock that you have held electronically with a broker, or those you hold in certificate form. Call us today to ensure that 100% of the proceeds from your stock gift are forwarded to the ministries of your choice. Distributing the proceeds from a gift of mutual fund shares. You can transfer shares of your mutual fund to an account in the name of the Wisconsin UM Foundation at your mutual fund company. We will sell these shares and forward the proceeds to the ministries of your choice. Establishing a Donor Advised Fund. Donor Advised Funds are helpful to people who want to liquidate a certain asset (stock, land, etc.) but want to take their time in making a charitable distribution. You receive the charitable deduction in the year the gift is given. Yet you can take your time in distributing it. The gift remains in an account at the Foundation, and you “advise” us in writing whenever you want a gift to be made from the fund. There is no time limit for deciding how you want to distribute your gifts. Establishing a Charitable Remainder Unitrust. Use an asset with a disappointing return, or one that is causing a great deal of worry to establish a Charitable Remainder Unitrust. The Foundation requires a minimum of $50,000 to establish a Charitable Remainder Unitrust. During your lifetime, you will receive income payments of 5-8% of the market value of the fund established by your gift. At the time the last income beneficiary dies, the majority (at least 50%) of the remainder in the trust is distributed to United Methodist Ministries of your choice and up to 50% may be distributed to non-United Methodist charities. |
#258 “You cannot serve God and Money.” (Matt. 6:24) Edna loved children, yet she was never blessed to become a mother. Instead, she taught children all her life and cared for each one of them as a gift from God. As she prepared her will, Edna spoke with her pastor about leaving a portion of her estate to the church to be used for children’s or youth ministries. Pastor Phil suggested she make her gift available to provide seed money to start new ministries that might emerge during the program year, outside of the normal budget cycle. He pointed out that often there’s no money to even try some new and creative ideas for reaching out to children and youth, when they come up in the middle of the year. Edna was excited about that possibility and included a paragraph in her will stating that a percentage of her estate would be sent to First Church to establish a Ministries Fund. When she died in 1997, $20,000 came to the church and an account was established with the Wisconsin United Methodist Foundation. Every year 6% (six percent) of the market value of the fund is sent to the church to be used for developing program ministries. Shortly after Edna’s gift established the Ministries Fund, another estate gift came to First Church from her friend, Mae. Mae and her husband, Bill, were also committed to caring for the children and youth of the church. Before he died 10 years earlier, Bill had named the church as the beneficiary of a Certificate of Deposit. He knew that if Mae needed it after he died, the money would be available to her first. But, if she didn’t need it, they both had the assurance that a significant gift would be given to the church at the time of her death. If you have questions about how you might leave a legacy gift to your church, please call us or visit our web site listed below. |
Wisconsin Stewardship Stories The following story is one of many stewardship stories that we will share from individuals throughout the Wisconsin Annual Conference. If you have a stewardship story or idea to share, please send it to us today. All items submitted are done so with the understanding that permission is granted by the author to the Wisconsin United Methodist Foundation for the purpose of sharing items in this forum with other United Methodist Churches. SHOULD I GIVE LESS WHEN I RETIRE? Yes, my income is less. Yes, I need to tighten my belt. But please hear the experience of a couple from First UMC in West Allis when they reached retirement. Introducing Sheridan and “Lou” Ellsworth. Sheridan retired from a long career of teaching and as a Principal in the West Allis School System. “Lou” was a homemaker and a very talented artist. They loved this church! When retirement came they pondered “must we reduce our giving to match our reduced income?” After much thought and prayer the answer was, “Heavens, No!” They discovered that when not holding a regular job their expenses were much less, and so in retirement they actually increased their giving! You cannot love something and not offer your best – especially to your church, your family, your friends, and your Lord… “for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also!” Rev. Earl F. Lindsay |
#259 Giving Is … sharing. “Command them not … to set their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but rather on God.” 1 Timothy 6:17 NRSV
Mildred and Bill sold their farm years ago and invested the proceeds in Certificates of Deposit. Mildred is alone now, and the return on their CDs continues to decline. Mildred decided to transfer $10,000 from a maturing CD to establish a Charitable Gift Annuity at the Wisconsin UM Foundation.
At age 80, she will receive annuity payments of 7.1%, or $710 per year, every year for the rest of her life. She also receives a charitable deduction for a portion of her $10,000 gift, and approximately 2/3 of her annuity payments each year will be tax-free until she reaches her life expectancy.
At the time of her death, 90% of the funds remaining in her annuity account at the Foundation will be sent to her church and any other charitable beneficiaries she designates. Mildred loves the assurance of knowing she will receive $710/year to use as she pleases for the rest of her life. And, she takes comfort in knowing that her church will receive a gift at the time of her death no matter what happens to her estate.
Charitable Gift Annuities can be established with gifts of as little as $2,000. Examples of current single life rates are:
Our Charitable Gift Annuity rates are set by the American Council on Charitable Gift Annuities. You can view all rates at www.acga-web.org. For more information on how you can experience the joy of establishing a Charitable Gift Annuity, please contact the Foundation.
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Wisconsin Stewardship Stories
The following story is one of many stewardship stories that we will share from individuals throughout the Wisconsin Annual Conference. If you have a stewardship story or idea to share, please send it to us today. We do reserve the right to edit.
Not too long ago I attended the funeral of Rev. Joyce Alford. Joyce was in the class before mine in seminary. She was a second career pastor. Her first career was as a nurse, then a teacher of nursing and finally the director of the nursing school. Joyce was a trail blazer. She was the first woman to serve as a vice president in a Madison area hospital. She was one of the first women district superintendents in Wisconsin. She was always the first to remind us to share the gospel in every thing we did.
Joyce was a wise, no nonsense person. She still laughed about the year I had my first confirmation class (at Eagle UMC) Saran Wrap her car during a Halloween night charge conference. She laughed and paid the kids fifty dollars to get five rolls of Saran Wrap off her car in three minutes. They did. I both feared and respected her. Now I miss her presence in the Conference tremendously.
I mention this because October is our stewardship month. My parents taught me the importance of regular giving by example. Milt Crosby taught me the importance of tithing by issuing a challenge. And Joyce Alford got me to start tithing by kicking me in the proverbial behind so I actually began the practice of regular tithing.
Joyce was wise. She knew the church didn’t need my money anywhere nearly as badly as I needed to make this offering to God. When we regularly write the first check or make the first gift of the month to God it changes our souls. It gets our priorities in life right. God comes first. Everything else comes after that.
This month as you receive your pledge card I invite you to feel the kicking power of Joyce Alford. Let’s get our priorities straight and make our first tithe of the month to God. Our credit card bill, the mortgage, groceries and everything else can come second. Putting God first in our financial lives changes how we live and look at life. We grow closer to God in the process.
Rev. Carly Kuntz, Emmanuel Community UMC Menomonee Falls, WI, written October 2008
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#260 Giving is … for everyone. “The Rich Man” Read Mark 10: 17-22 Have you ever wondered what kind of person you would be if you had nothing of value? I have traveled to Cuba about seven times in recent years to visit the people of the Methodist Church of Cuba in all corners of the island nation. They share many things in common, especially their lack of money and their lack of material possessions. I remember one poignant experience that occurred on the western end of Cuba in the town of Guane. The pastor of the Methodist Church in the community took us on a walk to visit many of his parishioners. Some lived in minimal homes consisting of sheet metal scraps, boards nailed and wired together, and dirt floors. We were joyously welcomed by a woman in one such home. She asked us to come and sit under a sheet metal roof outside the house, since there was no room to gather within. She brought out the two old wooden kitchen chairs, which were all she had, and gave us each a cup of the traditional strong, sweet Cuban espresso type coffee. After a short visit she asked for just one thing, “Would we pray for her young daughter who was sick?” I could see the young girl lying on a simple bed behind a filmy curtain room separator. As I prayed the tears fell from my eyes. She who had nothing found it so easy to share the best that she had with a stranger. As you gather this Thanksgiving, will you consider your full potential to share? Especially this year there will be many close by with far less than you. Remember the Nigerian proverb –“It is the heart that gives; the fingers just let go.” By Rev. William F. Helwig |
Questions and Answers about making Stock GiftsAfter two years of negative stock markets we are beginning to see significant growth again. This may be the time for you to consider a year-end gift of appreciated stock to your church. How can the Foundation transact stock gifts at no fees? Through our special relationship with our broker, Robert W. BAIRD and Company, we are able to transact these gifts at no commission fee, leaving higher proceeds for your church. How does the transaction work? Whether you complete an electronic transfer form for shares held with a broker, or complete the paperwork required to sell stock held in certificate form, you will transfer ownership of the shares to the Wisconsin United Methodist Foundation. By using the forms we provide, you are designating your gift for your church or another United Methodist ministry of your choice. The Foundation is serving as the pass-through agent. When the shares of stock are liquidated, the Foundation receives a check from BAIRD for 100% of the proceeds. Within a week, we send a new check to your church for the full amount of the sale. You will receive a properly executed gift receipt from the Foundation for tax deduction purposes. When are shares sold? As soon as we are made aware that they have been received into our account. If your broker transfers shares to our account before 3:00 pm on any business day, the shares will be sold the same day. What do I need to do first? Call the Foundation office at 1-888-903-9863 to inform us of your gift intent and to ensure that you have our most recent forms. Then call your broker to make sure he or she will accept our Electronic Transfer form. |
#261 Give to Grow Spiritually – "For a child has been born -- for us!... and there'll be no limits to the wholeness he brings." (Isaiah 9:6-7, The Message.) Jesus is counting on us – all of us – to care for all the children of the world this Christmas season. How do we as United Methodists do that best? A) By ringing bells in our community for the Salvation Army red pots. B) By providing items for the food pantry. C) By giving our apportionments in full this year. In my book, the answer is C – through our shared, connectional giving … or, D) all of the above are great ways to live our faith this holiday season! When we place our holiday gifts in the church’s offering plates, 84.3 cents of every dollar, on average, will remain in our local church to provide for utilities, building maintenance, pastoral and staff salaries, children’s and youth ministries, etc. Another 12.4 cents out of every dollar we give will provide signs of hope to children, youth and adults who participate in the ministries of Northcott Neighborhood House, United Methodist Children’s Services, our United Methodist camps, Youth CONVOs, and campus ministries on ten different campuses. This small amount of our shared connectional giving also supports all of our retired clergy. Signs of hope are shared through 1,329 mission personnel supported through the General Board of Global Ministries, in 165 countries, for just 3.3 cents out of every dollar given. As United Methodists we are connected. We are called to Give, Live, and Love……Beyond all Expectations! We see that vision come alive when our people respond to disastrous events and the ongoing need to share the hope and love of Christ throughout the world. Even as energy costs continue to rise and the economy remains uncertain, we have the sure and certain hope that our God is with us and gives us the grace we need to share the love of Christ with the world. As United Methodists, let’s celebrate the many ways hope is shared through our connectional giving this holiday season. |
How to Keep Christmas Well In “A Christmas Carol”, Dickens wants each of us to discover what old Scrooge had to learn the hard way: The only way to hold on to something is to give it away. This is the paradox of giving: The one who gives (from substance and without counting the cost) is the one who is most grateful. Besides being a donor, the generous person is also a beneficiary. That’s why Scrooge says, “I thank you fifty times,” and also why he asks the gentleman, quite sincerely, to do him a favor by accepting the gift. Ever afterward, Mr. Dickens says, it was said of Scrooge “that he knew how to keep Christmas well.” Like any good steward, Scrooge kept it well by giving it away. And so, as Mr. Dickens observes at the conclusion of his story, “May that be truly said of us…every one!” * * * * * * * * * * Consider a “Simple Home” Christmas: Check out these sites:
•www.freepatterns.com for free craft patterns If you’re going to give a gift…
• Buy Fair Trade or purchase locally
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