See also the archive of recent news articles and reports in
Gleanings.
2005
Dec. 26 -
The
Tsunami: One year later. It was a year ago this week that a mammoth tsunami swallowed thousands of
villages in the Indian Ocean. The ELCA has a number of resources to help
your congregation remember and stay involved in the recover.
Click here for a press release.
Click here for a page that provides
links to resources, including bulletin inserts and an online giving source.
Dec. 26 -
We are God's helpers in generosity.
"I so wanted my
children to think well of Santa. This whole question of
being fair begs the larger question. What do I say to my children about God?
When some have so much and others have so little, what do I say? Will they stop
believing or simply see how unfair God is?"
Click here for Pastor Reardon's weekly stewardship column.
Dec.26 -
Christmas every day. "Underlying
the holiday rush and the frenzy of socializing and commercializing, the arrival
of Peace, Light and Word defines the reality that makes Christmas special. We
remember again our existential condition: We are a people in darkness,
surrounded by violence, without hope."
Click
here for this column by SOLI webmaster Rob Blezard, from last week's edition of
SOLI/Update,
our free email newsletter.
Dec. 26 -
New Year's resolutions that actually work.
"I truly believe that a new year is the best opportunity for self-examination and
change. However, I have witnessed many people set health and weight loss goals
in January only to have them fail and fall by the wayside weeks or a few months
later. "
Click here for "New Year's Resolutions, from
The Christian Post.
Dec. 26 -
Stephen R. Covey:
Three resolutions. Want to make
good New Year's resolutions and keep them? The author of 7 Habits of Highly
Effective People suggests three "universal resolutions" that will help.
Though aimed at a secular audience, Covey's article fits well into a faith
framework. weighs "If people are ‘looking out for number one’ and ‘what's in it
for me,’ they will have no sense of stewardship no sense of being an agent for
worthy principles, purposes and causes. They become a law unto themselves, a
principal." Good reading from
FranklinCovey.com. This week's
Treasure Chest
offering.
Dec. 26 - Top
10 Stories of 2005 What
a year it was for people of faith. Check out this listing of the Top 10
Stories according to one of the nation's top Christian magazines
Click here for "Top 10 Stories," from
Christianity Today.
Dec. 19 - Christmas Messages 2005. We wait in silence:
ELCA Bishop Mark Hanson "We wait in darkness, fearing that the light will never come. We wait in silence,
fearing that there will be no good news. We wait alone, fearing the isolation
and separation that darkness brings. We attempt to illumine our own path, but
find neither the way nor the truth."
Click here for the message of Bishop
Mark Hanson.
The gift beyond words:
John Larsson, Salvation Army
"At the first Christmas there was no disappointment. As the day dawned, the
gift arrived just as the prophets had said it would. But not only did
the gift arrive. To those with the eyes of faith the gift exceeded all
expectation. Not in their
wildest imagination had their hearers thought that the promises would be
fulfilled in the way they were."
Click here for the message by Gen. John
Larsson, international leader of the Salvation Army.
Witness in action:
Archbishop of Canterbury
"The question never quite goes away of why God made a world in which such tragedy
is possible. But Christmas reminds us of the one thing we know for sure - and
that is God’s way of responding to suffering. He doesn’t wave a magic wand, or
descend briefly from the sky to clean things up. He arrives on earth as a human
being who will change things simply by the completeness of his love."
Click here for the message of Rowan
Williams to the Anglican Communion.
Dec. 19 -
The one reason to withhold giving" Rumor
has it that in a local congregation people are withholding their pledges as a
vote of no confidence against the pastor. And others have been withholding
their giving to synods because of political reasons. I must admit that there have been times when I considered giving less
because I didn't like how a particular church spent its money."
Click here for Pastor Reardon's weekly stewardship column.
Dec. 19 -
Fight the real 'War on Christmas'" The real War on
Christmas is not whether "Merry Christmas" gets edged out of the crass
commercial marketplace, those houses of material worship where people spend way
too much money on stuff they really don't need. The real War on Christmas is the growing reality in the culture that the
shopping and the decorations and the over-consumption is
actually the major part of the celebration of Christmas."
Click
here for this column by SOLI webmaster Rob Blezard, from last week's edition of
SOLI/Update,
our free email newsletter.
Click here to subscribe.
Dec. 12 - For Youth! 10-10-80:
Empowering Steward Leaders. It's a problem facing many a parent and congregation: How to teach youth to
handle money responsibly. This program inspires young people to give 10
percent, save 10 percent and spend 80 percent. Good lessons for people of
all ages. Includes free online materials and a DVD available for a nominal
cost of $5.
Click here to learn more about
10-10-80, produced by three Lutheran Synods in Wisconsin, the ELCA
Department for Communication and Augsburg Fortress Publishers, with
funding from Thrivent Financial for Lutherans.
Dec. 12 -
A Presence Even Greater Than Santa. A sappy Christmas
show gave the Rev. Dana Reardon the idea it might be great if we treated people so
well that they suspected we were really Santa in plain clothes. "But then
I realized that it would actually be a giant step down from
what people are supposed to think when we have been a part of their lives in any way."
Click here for Pastor Reardon's weekly stewardship column.
Dec. 12 - Simplify Christmas:
'A Treasury of Celebrations. Tired of the commercialization of
Christ's birthday and looking for a way to put
Christ back into Christmas? Well, Alternatives for Simple Living has
archived a number of resources on how to make Christmas more meaningful,
less busy and less costly. You'll find ideas for family, church and
community.
Click here for "A Treasury of Celebrations," from
Alternatives for Simple Living.
Dec. 12 - Put on
the pounds where they count most.
"It's a shame
that a growing number of people are hungry even in the richest and most
powerful country the world has ever known. The question is why? The reasons
are complex, but many advocates point to the skyrocketing cost of housing,
the jump in fuel prices and the general flatlining of wages for average
working families even as net income for the wealthiest continues to rise."
Click
here for this column by SOLI webmaster Rob Blezard, from last week's edition of
SOLI/Update,
our free email newsletter.
Click here to subscribe.
Dec. 12 - Sermon:
Letter from the Devil This creative sermon takes a humorous look
at a serious topic: What the devil thinks of stewardship. "If there's one thing the Devil doesn't
want, it's a congregation with a strong, expanding heart." By the
Rev. Ken Wyneken, pastor of
King of Kings Lutheran Church,
LCMS, Renton, WA.
Click here for "Letter
from the Devil." This week's Treasure
Chest offering.
Dec. 5 -
Misguided
focus.
Congregations that face budget problems and cash-flow crunches frequently
make a fundamental mistake, says ELCA stewardship columnist Tuck Aaker. "It’s
one of those afflictions that happens to nearly every congregation every so
often and there’s only one way to overcome it!"
Click
here
for Tuck's advice in "A misguided focus," from ELCA
stewardship resources. Dec. 5 -
Retirement and the Kingdom of God
. "I don't have to be a
good steward. And I don't have to tithe. I don't have to take care of
my neighbor. So now, what should I do today? I get bored really fast
if I don't do anything."
Click here for
The Rev. Dana Reardon's weekly stewardship column.
Dec. 5 -
Let's Stop Responding to the Past.
We don't give to the
church because of what God has already given us, argues Hank Langknecht, but
rather because of our expectations of God's future. "What my heart says is
that my stuff is mine. I worked for it -- or my folks worked for it and I
inherited it. Regardless, it is mine.
Click here for "Let's Stop Responding to the Past," a new
addition to the
Lutheran Laity Movement Archives.
Dec. 5 - Real
gifts: Gifts that fill a need. Salvation Army is just one of thousands of extremely worthy Christian
charities who have miniscule overhead and who wring every single penny of
value from the dollars they receive. Their work serves the poorest of the
poor in our society, helping them to heat their homes, clothe their
children, feed their families, train for jobs and free themselves from the
bondage of booze or drugs." Click
here
for this column by SOLI webmaster Rob Blezard, from last week's edition of
SOLI/Update,
our free email newsletter.
Click here to subscribe.
Dec. 5 -
When the Holidays Hurt: 10 ways to cope with
loss "For many people, the holidays are a traditional time of happiness and
festivity. However, for those who are grieving the loss of a loved one,
the holidays are a time of mixed emotions. There can be pleasure, but
there is also much pain, because the season magnifies the sense of
loss." Great advice for individuals or congregational leaders whose
parishioners suffer the holiday blues.
Click here for "When the Holidays
Hurt." From
Today's Christian magazine. This week's
Treasure Chest offering.
Nov. 28 - Biblically
based principles turn dollars into sense An irony: that we work hard to get dollars and
then have to be saved from them! Lest our dollars - and the possessions they
buy -should possess us, why not turn dollars into sense? A sense, that is, of
personal, congregational, and churchwide mission." Good stewardship tips from a
pastor. Click
here for
"Biblically based principles," a new addition to the
Lutheran Laity Movement Archives.
Nov. 28 -
Holiday presents (and presence) that honor Christ. "As
Christians we are not called to separate ourselves from this world even when it
gets hard to be Christian in the midst of secular materialistic values. We are
called to be in this world and yet not of this world. I believe that we are
called to continue to celebrate Christmas in a way that honors the birth of new
hope for this world."
Click
here for
The Rev. Dana Reardon's weekly stewardship column.
Nov. 28 - Alternative
Gifts Catalog It's an annual
ritual: Tearing your hair out looking for a gift for someone who already has
everything. This year, why not donate to a worthy cause in the name of someone on your gift list?
The Lutheran church has a catalog of
choices -- from disaster relief to seminarian scholarships to funding new
churches. Click
herefor the ELCA Good Gifts catalog, from the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
Nov. 28 - This
Thanksgiving, practice giving thanks Visit just about any other country on the planet and
one truth will surely jump out at you: Americans have SO MUCH to be thankful
for. So how do we observe a day to give thanks for all we have?
Incredibly, it's by sitting down at a big dinner and having even more than
usual." Click
here for
this column by SOLI webmaster Rob Blezard, from last week's edition of
SOLI/Update,
our free email newsletter.
Click here to
subscribe.
Nov. 28 -
7 Characteristics of effective evangelistic churches What
does it take to bring more people to your church? Of course, some of it is a
matter of opinion, but the folks at Church Executive magazine put together a
set of criteria and did some research. Their findings are enlightening to
those of us who desire to be good stewards of the mysteries of God,
particularly those of us who belong to Mainline, historical churches whose
membership has been ebbing.
Click here for "7 Characteristics," from
Church Executive magazine.
Nov. 28 -
Pass the peace of Christ this Advent"Christ willingly
offers Himself to us to offer us a peace that is beyond comprehension, but
nonetheless real. It is a peace that increases with sharing rather than
dissipating. It is a little like the loaves and fishes. Broken and blessed,
the peace of Christ abounds when it is shared."
Click here for "Pass the peace of
Christ," an inspiring essay from the archives of
Dana Reardon's weekly reflection. This week's Treasure
Chest offering.
Nov. 21 -
Thanksgiving resources galore. Since gratitude is an essential component of stewardship, this week is
important. To help make Thursday more than turkey and football, our
friends at the United Methodist Church have compiled an amazing assortment
of resources -- liturgies, creative ideas for celebrating Thanksgiving in
home and church, essays, inspiration. Just about anything you could imagine.
Click
here for
Thanksgiving resources, from the UMC's
General Board of Discipleship.
Nov. 21 -
Thanks for volunteers who serve without strings "As Christians and
volunteers, we often show up and announce what we are willing to do in a
situation that calls for our help. And if we are asked to volunteer we
have a preconceived idea of what we are willing to do. But the
Lord's work continues to be done, and done more effectively if we are willing to
look for the need and plug ourselves in."
Click
here for
The Rev. Dana Reardon's weekly stewardship column.
Nov. 21 -
Happy
birthday! A website turns 3. Three years ago this month the
Stewardship of Life Institute began its website as a way to inspire, challenge
and equip Christians to see stewardship beyond financial support of the church;
to embrace stewardship key discipline in our walk of faith, a way of seeing the
world. What you think of the website and what we can do to make it better? Click
here for
this column by SOLI webmaster Rob Blezard, from last week's edition of
SOLI/Update,
our free email newsletter.
Click here to
subscribe.
Nov. 21 -
Talking turkey about Thanksgiving
Subtitled,
"We need a gratitude adjustment," this article calls on our culture to get
serious about giving thanks: "There's a problem
with Thanksgiving. Celebrating an 'official' day compartmentalizes
gratitude. The truth is that gratitude is the right attitude every day."
Click here
for "Talking turkey," from
The Lutheran magazine. This week's
Treasure Chest
offering.
Nov. 14 - Douglas John Hall:
Stewardship of the Mysteries of God
In
this second talk given last month at Gettysburg Lutheran Seminary, Douglas John
Hall looks at the strengths of Mainline theologies against the rise of the
newer biblicistic and fundamentalistic strains of Christianity that our
Reformation forebears would neither recognize nor endorse. Insightful and
prophetic, must reading for Mainline Protestant leaders. Click here for "Stewardship
of the Mysteries of God. (PDF file requires Adobe Reader.) Click
here for Hall's address, "Steward as a Human Vocation,"
featured last week.
Nov. 14 -
Hunger no more: Faces behind the facts. Look for this documentary at
noon Sunday, Nov. 20, on the Hallmark Channel. Produced by Mennonite Media
in partnership with the National Council of Churches, this film not only looks
at the problem of persistent hunger, it also offers solutions! Great
material for study group or workshop.
Click here for information on "Hunger no more,"
including how to order a copy on video or DVD or to access free study guides.
Nov. 14 - A divine
mission and a necessity for survival. Addressing the
classic theological question of human purpose, Douglas John Hall suggests
that today's times demand a sharp, precise answer: "The chief
end of a human being is to be God's faithful steward in a profoundly threatened
creation." Click
here for this column by SOLI webmaster Rob Blezard, from last week's edition of
SOLI/Update,
our free email newsletter.
Click hereto subscribe.
Nov. 14 - Sermon!
Consecrate: Set aside for God.
"Contrary to popular opinion, pastors don’t enjoy preaching about money. They
would rather preach about God’s love and grace and the spiritual resources that
come from God that help us live from day to day. That is why I appreciate the
approach of the Consecration Sunday program." By The Rev. Daniel Mangler, pastor of
Shepherd of the
Mountains Lutheran Church, Estes Park, Colo.
Click here
for "Consecrate." This week's Treasure Chest
offering.
Nov. 14 -
An incomplete plan. ELCA
stewardship columnist Tuck Aaker recalls starting out as a young businessman
whose enthusiasm led him to overreach. "With congregations, I see this same mistake made time after time. One
of the most damaging mistakes is to plan a Capital Campaign that focuses
exclusively on raising funds without laying the groundwork and
adequate plans for follow-up."
Click
herefor "An incomplete plan," from
ELCA stewardship resources.
Nov. 7 - Douglas John Hall: Stewardship as a Human Vocation.
With the world facing crises on many fronts, now more than ever it is time for
people of faith to embrace their God-ordained vocations as stewards. From
Douglas John Hall, one of North America's most prophetic theologian, an
essay given as a lecture last month at Gettysburg Lutheran Seminary.
Click here for "Stewardship
as a Human Vocation. (PDF file requires Adobe Reader.)
Nov. 7 -
God's earth is sacred "We have listened to a
false gospel that we continue to live out in our daily habits -- a gospel that
proclaims that God cares for the salvation of humans only and that our human
calling is to exploit Earth for our own ends alone. This false gospel still
finds its proud preachers and continues to capture its adherents among
emboldened political leaders and policy makers." So says an open letter from the
National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States.
Click here for "God's earth is sacred.
Nov. 7 -
The inspired colors of God's Kingdom. "The
Beatitudes are like a coloring book designed by Jesus. He draws us a
picture of what God's Kingdom looks like -- where those who mourn will rejoice
and those who are meek will find a place and the poor will have enough. And
then we get to color this picture and make it come alive with the inspiration of
the Spirit."
Click here for Pastor Dana Reardon's weekly column.
Nov. 7 -
Good Stewardship Begins with the Pastor. "Like any top executive in a successful corporation, the pastor must be
willing to put forth time and effort far beyond what he or she expects of
his or her people. The pastor sets the standard and the tone. If a pastor is
not willing to make some sacrifices, he or she should find another less
demanding profession. It’s that simple." By Robert
Zimmer.
Click here
for "Good Stewardship." From the
Lutheran Laity Movement Archives. This week's
Treasure Chest
offering.
Nov. 7 - Two
principles for faithful stewarding. "Exactly what does it mean to be the
steward of what God has given us personally and collectively? And just what
is required? Theological debates on stewardship pivot on these
questions, and two key principles can guide us: accountability and
responsibility. Click
herefor this column by SOLI webmaster Rob Blezard, from last week's edition of
SOLI/Update,
our free email newsletter.
Click here to subscribe.
Nov. 7 -
Keys to a successful stewardship campaign. Whether
they are looking to expand the sanctuary, launch a new evangelism strategy
or just meet the budget, churches successful at raising money possess a
surprising number of qualities in common.
Click herefor "Keys to a
successful stewardship campaign." From
Church Executive magazine.
Oct. 31 -
Not Just Desserts: A Stewardship Cookbook.
This
is a comprehensive resource perfect for congregation looking for a recipe
for a good stewardship program. It covers 10 important aspects, including
improving the climate for giving, setting priorities, assessing scope.
Written by the Episcopal Diocese of Indianapolis, the Cookbook reflects a
Mainline protestant viewpoint.
Click here for "A Stewardship
Cookbook," made available by
The Network for Episcopal Stewardship.
Oct. 31 -
A full life in God's Technicolor.
"The concept of eternal life is not just a linear thing
in that it never ends. It is also a qualitative thing. God gives us
life in living color. There is depth to the pain and the joy. There
is a richness to the textures and the sounds and the smells."
Click here for Pastor Dana Reardon's weekly column.
Oct. 31 - Can
your church afford to ignore energy costs?"
How much did your congregation pay for heating last winter? Now add 50 percent
and you'll get a rough idea of how much it will likely cost this year,
according to energy experts. Where will the extra money come from? What
programs or ministries might you trim to pay for heat?"
Click
herefor this column by SOLI webmaster Rob Blezard, from last week's edition of
SOLI/Update,
our free email newsletter.
Click here to
subscribe.
Oct. 31 -
Digging Deeper: Money and Your Heart.
Why is it harder for a rich person to
go to heaven than for a camel to go through the eye of a needle? This
piece from Moody Magazine offers some valuable insights. "Money
can make it hard for an independently minded person to admit his need
and dependently trust Christ for eternal salvation."
Click here for "Digging Deeper," from
the archives of
Moody Magazine. This week's
Treasure Chest
offering.
Oct. 31 -
When you're looking for God's provision.
The "Purpose-Driven
Pastor" Rick
Warren says God will meet all our needs, but not all our greeds. "As a parent, do you give your kids
everything they want? I hope you don't. You don't do that because you love
them. And your heavenly Father loves you. He's not going to give you
everything you want because if he did, you'd be spoiled to death."
Interesting reading.
Click here for "God's provision," from
Pastors.com.
Oct. 24 -
Just in time for heating season! Become an '
Energy Star' congregation. Experts
say heating costs this winter will skyrocket -- an additional 48 percent for
users of natural gas! So, pastor, how will your congregation absorb an
increase like that? What programs and ministries might you cut? The good
news is you can save some of those precious dollars by outfitting your
church to conserve energy. Energy Star is a government program to help
people and institutions cut down on energy use.
Click here to learn about Energy Star
congregations. Look for the free guide to energy efficiency.
Click here for Energy Star's free
86-page guide for congregations, "Putting Energy into Stewardship.
Here are some other resources on congregational energy saving:
Six congregations win awards for energy savings,
from Church Executive magazine.
New church is Earth-friendly, East Valley
Tribune, Ariz.
Church buys 100% wind energy to meet electric needs,
Empire Information.
Oct. 24 -
God wants us to care - and share!If we worry so much about
taking care of our own needs we will never
have enough to take care of our neighbor. We should never be so worried
about out own welfare that we don't have enough to take care of our neighbors."
Click here for Pastor Dana Reardon's weekly column.
Oct. 24 -
The Art and Science of Major Gift Fundraising.
OK, church stewardship committee members, here's the reality: Part of your
congregation's long-term stewardship strategy entails identifying potential
major gift donors and asking them if they would be so willing. If this
raises your anxiety level a little, you're not alone. Take heart, because
this article gives you practical advice. Click here for "The Art and
Science," from
OnPhilanthropy.
Oct. 24 -
Stewardship of public resources. "Mainstream church leaders
around the country are urging Congress to find other
ways to pay for the Gulf Coast rebuilding besides cutting Food
Stamps, health care and other important safety net programs that help working
families, retirees and disabled citizens get by."
Click here for
this column by SOLI webmaster Rob Blezard, from last week's edition of
SOLI/Update,
our free email newsletter.
Click here to
subscribe.
Oct. 24 -
The magic of growth. In
this essay, stewardship columnist Tuck Aaker talks about how congregations
can help stop declining membership and embrace growth." There is one issue that can be solved with one simple action that every one
of these congregations can do. They all can change their attitude about growth
and become positive about their futures.
Click herefor Tuck Aaker's column, from
ELCA stewardship resources.
Oct. 17 - New page! Congregational Stewardship
101. Here's a new page on
the SOLI website to help stewardship committee members, pastors and other
church leaders find good, substantive basic resources of value to a
congregation's financial stewardship. From this page you can find how-to
essays, stewardship programs, workshop outlines, Bible studies and other
hands-on materials. New stuff is added regularly, so check periodically.
Click here for "Congregational
stewardship 101.
Oct. 17 - Tony Campolo:
Prophetic talk about hurricanes.
"Since the hurricanes hit the Gulf Coast, we’ve seen a wide array of religious
pundits of all faiths making absurd pronouncements about the cause of these
catastrophes. ... When I hear such things, I am convinced that religious leaders who make such
statements do more to drive people away from God than do all the arguments and
attacks of atheists."
Click here for this essay by Tony Campolo, one of
the world's leading preachers. Check out more writings or his talks at
www.tonycampolo.org.
Oct. 17 -
Environmental wager. Why Evangelicals are
-- but shouldn't be -- cool to global
warming," this essay by CT columnist Andy Crouch speaks plain sense about a
complex topic. "The theory is taken for granted by nearly every scientist working in the
field. But because it is difficult to confirm experimentally, a few vocal
skeptics continue to raise pointed questions. The skeptics find a ready audience
among evangelical Christians."
Click here for "Environmental
wager," from
Christianity Today.
Oct. 17 - Stewardship of your life - now more than ever. "I'm no fan
of the 'end-times' craze, which seems more hype and fear-mongering
than Gospel and trust-in-God, but I have to admit the disasters sure have been
piling up like cars in a rush-hour collision. Are we living in the end times?
Maybe. But that's never the big
question for a Christian. The big question we each must ask is, "If Christ
came tomorrow, would I be ready?"
Click here
for this column by SOLI webmaster Rob Blezard, from last week's edition of
SOLI/Update
our free email newsletter.
Click here to
subscribe.
Oct. 17 -
Stewardship: Sharing the abundance. Here's
a wonderful congregational resource for novice stewardship
leaders and veterans alike. It provides a solid bibliography, tips, lists of
websites and resources for teaching stewardship. Broad in its approach and deep in its detail,
Sharing the Abundance is useful and practical.
Click here for Sharing the abundance. From the
Resource Center of the
Eastern North Dakota Synod. This
week's Treasure Chest
offering.
Oct. 17 -
Plan for unplanned relief contributions.
"Is there no end to the things to which I am asked to respond? Is
there no end to the needs of this world? If I don't budget for things they do seem much more relentless
and never-ending."
Click here for
Pastor Dana Reardon's weekly column.
Oct. 10 -
Best stewardship practices of congregations. Wouldn't
you love to know what makes congregations successful at stewardship? If so,
this resource is for you. The ELCA surveyed experts from around the country
and distilled their wisdom into a concise guide.
Click here for "Best stewardship." From
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
(PDF download requires Adobe Reader.
Click here for free download of Adobe
Reader.)
Oct. 10 - Signs
of faith in red ink. "I see a deficit budget as a sign of faith. It means that the church
is stretching itself to do what it feels called by God to do and it
knows that God will be with them and help them to grow in numbers
and grow in their generosity in response to all that God has given
them."
Click here for Pastor Dana Reardon's weekly column.
Oct. 10 -
Look pastor, no checks!
More and more churches around the nation have found electronic giving a
great way to regularize cash flow and increase donations, and yet others are
still unconvinced. This article will help congregations decide if electronic
giving is right for them.
Click here for "Look pastor, no checks!," from
Church
Executive magazine.
Oct. 10 - What
would Jesus do about poverty? Whatever your understanding of
why people are poor, the fact is
that millions of desperate, impoverished people live in our backyard. The
more important question for people of faith is what should be our
response to people in need? What does our God command us? This is
where Love for the Poor can help.
Click here for
this column by SOLI webmaster Rob Blezard, from last week's edition of
SOLI/Update, our free email newsletter.
Click here to
subscribe.
Oct. 10 -
The ecological disconnect (or) what keeps us from
responding. You
hear the lament from many pastors and congregational leaders, "We can't get
people interested in environmental stewardship!" This article explores some
of the main reasons why, as well as suggestions for overcoming them.
Click here for "The ecological disconnect," published
in a newsletter of the
Church of the Brethren.
Oct. 10 -
Stewardship letters to the congregation.
As a congregational leader, you know how much good is done
with the dollars that flow into your collection plates. You know how
philanthropy is a key to discipleship. But how do you communicate that to
your flock?
Pastor Wayne
Miller of
St. Mark Lutheran
Church (ELCA), Aurora, Ill., did a marvelous job in five letters to
parishioners last year.
Click here for "Stewardship letters." Check them out for inspiration and ideas.
This
week's Treasure Chest offering.
Oct. 3 - Free booklet:
'Love for the Poor'. Here is a great resource for personal devotion, sermon preparation
or education -- a booklet looking at the biblical and theological
understandings of poverty and how it informs our response to it. The book is
ecumenical in outlook and prophetic in its vision.
Click here for "Love for the
Poor." From
The National Council of Churches USA.
(PDF download requires Adobe Reader.
Click here for free download of Adobe
Reader.)
Oct. 3 -
Who benefits most when we give generously?"I
believe Jesus is calling my congregation - and all of us - to tithe and
more. I believe Jesus is calling us them lives of incredible generosity.
And Jesus is calling them to it for the same reason I am: For their sake. There is incredible joy
in a life of generosity."
Click here for Pastor Dana Reardon's weekly column.
Oct. 3 -
Re-teaching 6 principles of Christian giving. This
article provides good, practical inspiration for any stewardship purpose --
personal devotion, your latest stewardship sermon, a workshop on giving or a letter to
go out with the latest budget appeal.
Click here for "Re-teaching 6
principles," from
ChurchCentral.com.
Oct. 3 -
Count your everyday blessings
The coffee has just finished brewing, and
the aroma stirs me from my computer desk. Slinking back to work with a hot
cup of coffee and a crisp new apple I realize how good I have it simply to
be safe, well-fed, dry, and at home in my modest house -- one half of a
cramped 80-year-old duplex with peeling paint."
Click here for this column by SOLI webmaster Rob Blezard, from last week's edition of
SOLI/Update,
our free email newsletter.
Click here to
subscribe.
Oct. 3 -
An
Evangelical Declaration on the Care of Creation. This
resource is a must-read for Christians or congregations not convinced it's
part of our stewardship duties to care for the environment. The declaration
lays the biblical and theological foundation for environmental stewardship,
as well as a call to action.
Click here for
"Evangelical Declaration," produced by the
Evangelical Environmental
Network.
Sept. 26 -
Ideas for preaching on stewardship.
Most pastors face it every year: What to do about a stewardship sermon? It
has to be Biblical, thoughtful and motivating. Here are some suggestions --
texts and thoughts for two series of sermons on stewardship. Of course, any one of the sermons would stand on its own.
Click here for "Ideas." From
Lifeway
Ministries.
Sept. 26 - The antidote for 'compassion fatigue'.
"Sometimes we see problems that are too big for our
resources, and we know we cannot manage. But for those of us who are Christian there is always another way to look
at it. Our call is not to fix everything. Our call is not to make things
right. Our call is to care and to share and to be the hands of Christ in the
world."
Click here for Pastor Dana Reardon's weekly column.
Sept. 26 -
Three faces of greed.
"Sin typically cloaks itself in some story or rationalization that mitigates or
hides our wrongdoing from ourselves," says author W. Jay Wood, in this brilliant
essay. So it is with greed -- arguably America's most insidious weakness. "How we
camouflage greed depends on the particular species of greed to which
we're tempted." Read this essay for insights, including "when good stewardship
is bad."
Click here for Three faces of greed, from
Christianity Today
.
Sept. 26 - Katrina: 'Act of
God' or consequence of human sin? The
media describe Katrina as a natural disaster, but the head of the Reformed
Church in America asks, "Just how 'natural' was this disaster?" Wes Granberg-Michaelson
says Katrina and its aftermath reveal devastating
failures of stewardship that are rooted in human sinfulness. A searing
critique. Click here
for "Katrina."
Sept. 26 - Stewardship is more than money
- it's your life! "Holistic stewardship encompasses all that we are, all that we hope to become. We
use four “c” words to summarize scores of biblical passages upon which we base
our theology of holistic stewardship: conversion, commitment, communion, and
concern,"
says this insightful article from the Alban Institute's magazine,
Congregations. Click here for "Stewardship
is more than money." This
week's Treasure Chest
offering.
Sept. 19 - Online book:
Tithing is Christian. Call this a two-fer: It's an exploration of stewardship
in the Bible and a guide
to implementing a "Tithing is Christian" stewardship campaign in your congregation, including suggested
leadership structure, timetable and materials. Written by Elmer Towns of Liberty University,
it's from a Baptist perspective and readily adaptable.
Click here for "Tithing is Christian." (PDF document requires Adobe Reader.
Click here for a free download.)
Sept. 19 -
F.A.Q.: Wealth, giving and tithing. The questions from the congregation arise
right after your stewardship
sermon: "Is being rich a sin?" "Does God favor the poor?" "What does it
mean, God owns everything?" Fortunately, the folks at
Generous
Giving have answered a these and compiled them in an
exhaustive "Frequently Asked Questions" file. You might have to adapt them a
little to fit your own denomination's theology, but they are thoughtful and
interesting.
Click here for "F.A.Q."
Sept. 19 - A little
child shall lead them. "The young girl was there to ask if she could organize fund-raisers for
Katrina victims. She wanted to have a bake sale and a car wash and she was full
of excitement and ideas."
Click here for Pastor Dana Reardon's weekly column.
Sept. 19 -
12 Tools for Cultivating an Unselfish Church.
"Often church leaders work countless hours planning how to limit spending, but
they focus little attention on how to increase giving. We succeed where we focus our time and energy,"
says this insightful article from Leadership Journal. It goes on to provide
practical ways your congregation can help increase giving.
Click here for "12 Tools." This
week's Treasure Chest
offering.
Sept. 19 - The root
of real contentment. "Culture shock was
waiting for me when I got off the plane in Atlanta after nine
days in El Salvador. Not just the glitzy airport that doubled as posh shopping
mall, and not just the ubiquitous advertisements for the high-income traveling
public, but mostly the general demeanor of the people at home: Nobody
seemed happy." Click herefor this column by SOLI webmaster Rob Blezard, from last week's edition of
SOLI/Update, our free email newsletter.
Click here to subscribe.
Sept. 12 -
Tools for a healthy congregation.
Here is a great website devoted to helping congregations improve in three
areas -- becoming more faithful, welcoming and generous. Check out the
interactive diagnostic questionnaire on each of those sections. It includes
suggested resources and links to help in areas of growth.
Click here
for "Tools for a healthy congregation." From the ELCA.
Sept. 12 -The
collection for the saints of New Orleans. "Whatever our political
persuasion, we are all doing whatever we can
to help. I can argue all I want about what the government should be
doing, but if I have money in the bank that my brother or sister in
need can be cared for with, then it rightly belongs to them."Click here
for Pastor Dana Reardon's weekly column.
Sept. 12 -
Faith leaders urge budget review after Katrina. Because of
Hurricane Katrina, the heads of five Mainline denominations
are asking Congress to cancel proposed budget cuts to programs for the
poor. "It is clear that programs such as Medicaid and the Food Stamp
Program that were slated for cuts by Congress will in fact have greater
burdens placed on them as a result of Hurricane Katrina," says the letter,
signed by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, the Episcopal Church,
the Presbyterian Church U.S.A., the United Methodist Church and the United
Church of Christ.
Click here for the full story.
Sept. 12 -
Getting rid of all the 'crap'
. "Crap. Not just the kids’ stuff – the nonstop
accumulation of toys and stuffed animals that overflow
from toy bins, under beds and closets. The adult stuff – like the kitchen
gadgets that clutter the counter, the cleaning stuff overflowing from under the
kitchen sink, the tools in the garage, the yard stuff all over the lawn, the
deck furniture, the CDs and electronic do-dads, and on and on."
Click herefor this column by SOLI webmaster Rob Blezard, from a 2004 edition of
SOLI/Update,
our free email newsletter.
Click here to
subscribe.
Sept. 12 -
The Hows and Whys of Money Leadership.
Wow! Here's a free, seven-part curriculum
for leaders who want to plumb the depths of their congregation's financial
soul. It covers attitudes about money, congregational finances, leadership,
money and theology and other topics. A real gem for congregations that find
themselves stuck and don't know how to get going. It was developed cooperatively by
the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, the
Alban Institute and Lilly Endowment.
Click here for "The Hows and Whys of Money Leadership." This
week's Treasure Chest
offering.
Sept. 5 -
Eight ways congregations raise pledges.
If you're looking for a way to increase giving at your church (and what
leader is not?), here's an article for you! This piece looks at the
strengths of eight pledge-raising approaches in order to help churches find
the one that best fits their own situation. Good reading for the stewardship
novice and seasoned hand alike.
Click here for "Eight ways." From
the Alban Institute's
Congregational Resource Center.
Sept. 5 -
Love for God and neighbor are interconnected.
"Last Sunday before church someone asked me to add something to the
prayers of the people. She asked me to pray for the people of New
Orleans and all of the areas affected by the coming hurricane. I
really appreciated the reminder. I was not aware that Katrina had
been upgraded and was looking so dangerous."
Click here for
Pastor Dana Reardon's weekly column.
Sept. 5 - Sermon:
Living by faith."
The greatest challenge to sacrificial giving is that it is
totally alien to our western culture in which we live, where there is such an
emphasis on materialism and the outward signs of success." So says
this challenging and inspiring sermon given by a British pastor whose
observations apply to Americans as well.
Click here
for "Living by faith," from The Church of England's
Stewardship Resources.
Sept. 5 - Poor, dumb critters
"As a species, we persist in lifestyles that are
making us stressed, fat and sick. We continue to smoke and drink. We
glorify empty sex lives that are anti-family, anti-marriage and spread
dangerous diseases. We use violence as the primary way to resolve conflict.
Through overconsumption, we continue to waste resources and energy."
Click here
for this column by SOLI webmaster Rob Blezard, from last week's edition of
SOLI/Update,
our free email newsletter, including all the new resources.
Click here to
subscribe.
Sept. 5 -
Leading the way. Here's a story
about a church in Oregon that spent $92,000 to install solar
panels that can provide for up to a third of the congregation's energy
consumption. The campaign to raise money for the project was entitled
"Rays ‘N the Roof." Very clever. Great reading for a congregation
serious about saving energy.
Click here
for "Leading the way." From
the Corvallis
(Ore.) Gazette-Times.
Sept. 5 -
Stewardship, faith and life.
"Although we profess a wider
understanding of stewardship, we have allowed it to be primarily focused
on the giving of money. Even when we add time and talent to our
discussion, the message we hear is related to money. We need to focus on
the 'need of the giver to give' versus the 'need of the institution to
receive.'"
Click here for "Stewardship , faith
and life," by Duane Englehardt. Part of the
Lutheran Laity Movement Archives and this
week's Treasure Chest
offering.
Aug. 29 -
Loaves and fishes. This piece explores a biblical
approach to "asset-based stewardship" for
congregations. "Sometimes people phone or e-mail my office to inquire about stewardship
resources. I often tell them that the Bible is our best stewardship book because
it tells stories about Jesus, our finest stewardship teacher," writes Barb Fullerton, stewardship staff member with the
United Church of Canada.
Great reading!
Click here for Loaves and fishes.
Aug. 29 -
Raising our children as good stewards.
"If children grow up knowing that they are loved so unconditionally by God that He
would die for them and that this love extends to all people, then we might give
them some of the skills for how to respond to that love. But we need to fear
competition from others who may teach the skills better. Our young people will
learn from us best by how we live out that love."
Click here for Pastor Dana Reardon's weekly column.
Aug. 29 - Not guilt. Not shame. Gratitude!
"Are you rich? When you ponder that question, you probably do what I do -- think
of friends and family who are better off and say, 'Who, me? I'm not rich!' But
when you look from the other end of the telescope, at those who have less, a
different picture emerges. Click here
for this column by SOLI webmaster Rob Blezard, from last week's edition of
SOLI/Update,
our free email newsletter, including all the new resources.
Click here to
subscribe.
Aug. 29 -
The spiritual side of money.
"Preaching about money is one of the most spiritual things I
do." So begins this article describing one pastor's approach to bringing stewardship
into the pulpit. Author Wayne Pohl describes guidelines that work for him in his church --
and that may work in yours, too.
Click here for the "The spiritual side
of money." From
Building Church Leaders, a publication of Christianity Today.
Aug. 29 -
20-day stewardship study devotional.
Good for your stewardship committee, congregation council or
general membership, here is a resource that will get
your folks thinking and brainstorming. Each Bible-based daily devotion
challenges and inspires.
Click here for the Stewardship study devotional. From
Redeemer Presbyterian Church,
New York City. (PDF file requires Acrobat Reader.
Click here
for your free copy of Acrobat.)
Aug. 22 - How
rich are you? Having trouble keeping up with the Joneses?
The Global Rich List may be
able to provide you with some comfort. On this site, you can tell how you
keep up with the Joneses worldwide. Just key in your annual earnings (make
sure it's expressed in dollars) and viola! Use it as a congregational
conversation starter!
Click here for Global Rich List.
Aug. 22 - Holy Spirit drives a
program forward."Homeless people and those
receiving welfare can get all the job training and all the help with dealing
with issues of addiction -- or whatever contributed to their situation -- but getting
and keeping a job in our society without a car is becoming harder and harder.
Bus routes dwindle because most of us have access to transportation."
Click here for
Pastor Dana Reardon's weekly column.
Aug. 22 -
Sharing God's Planet Wow! Here's a free resource you
-- and your congrergation -- can really
sink your teeth into! It's a 72-page PDF report outlining the challenges
facing the our world's environment today, how our Christian faith calls us
to think about these challenges and how we can meet them. Meticulously
researched and well written.
Click here for "Sharing God's
Planet," from
The Church of England. Episcopal Life. (PDF files require
Adobe Acrobat Reader.)
Aug. 22 - Fresh,
tasty and good for you. "Fresh vegetables \
and fruit have lots of nutrients, low fat and not too many
calories. That's a welcome change for our culture, where collectively we have an
awful diet that makes us heavy and unhealthy. Americans are officially the
fattest people on the planet, with 65 percent of our adults overweight, and 30
percent so overweight they are obese. Experts point to lots of
reasons, but the basic one is this: We eat too much."
Click here for this column by SOLI webmaster Rob Blezard, from last week's edition of
SOLI/Update
our free email newsletter, including all the new resources.
Click here to
subscribe.
Aug. 15 -
Best practices for year-round stewardship.
Most congregational leaders dream of holding exciting discipleship drives,
electrifying stewardship efforts and dynamic church development programs
all year through. If you are among them, here is a resource to inspire you
and keep you going. It lists some suggested best practices in key
categories.
Click here for "Best
practices," from the United Methodist Church's
Center for Christian Stewardship.
Aug. 15 -
Not pushed, but empowered by love.
"But at its heart, stewardship does not flow out of oughts or shoulds,
or even the best of advice. It flows out of the outpoured love of
God. It flows in grateful response to the incredible gifts that we
have given."
Click here for Pastor Dana Reardon's weekly column.
Aug. 15 -
Stewardship Bible studyThis Bible study
is designed for use on Stewardship Sunday, but of
course you can use it anytime you deem appropriate. The study examines II
Cor. 8 and 9, when the Apostle Paul is giving advice on giving and
generosity.
Click here for "Stewardship Bible
study," from Pastor Edward Marquart's
Sermons from Seattle.
Aug. 15 -
Searching for the real IT.
"rebuchet MS">Spiritual emptiness. It's the human race's
number one problem. But in the United States spiritual
emptiness takes on an ironic expression because as a nation we are
wealthy enough and educated enough to have multiple options for almost
everything - and we often choose the one that will give us spiritual
emptiness." Click herefor this column by SOLI webmaster Rob Blezard, from last week's edition of
SOLI/Update,
our free email newsletter, including all the new resources.
Click here to subscribe.
Aug. 15 -
Greening the church. Churches are
waking up to the realities of environmental stewardship --
and taking their responsibilities seriously. That is part of the message
you'll read in this article in Episcopal Life magazine, which details the
growing trend in that denomination.
Click here for "Greening the
church, from Episcopal Life.
Aug. 15 - Zacchaeus:
Patron saint of stewards. "Zacchaeus did not promise
to read scripture more faithfully nor to attend the synagogue more
regularly. On this occasion he was not pledging his time or his talent
to the programmatic mission of the faith community. Worthy as those are
-- and necessary for the life of the people of God -- this visit was
about something else. This commitment was to re-order his financial
priorities and his stewardship of material things."
Click here for "Zacchaeus."
It is part of the
Lutheran Laity Movement Archives, and This week's
Treasure Chest item.
Aug. 8 -
17 Steps. Here is a
good guide for church stewardship leaders and pastors alike. It's a handy
list that covers the basics of stewardship.
Click here for "17
Steps." Adapted from the larger book "Step by step: Fostering financial
stewardship in your congregation," which is available for free in PDF
format.
Click here for "Step by step." Part of
ELCA
Stewardship Resources.
Aug. 8 -
Growing stewards. "September is just around the corner and for a Fall appeal the
foundation has to be laid. October and November are upon you before you
have time to turn around. NOW is the time to put your plan together!"
Click
here for Tuck Aaker's column, part of
ELCA's Stewardship Resources.
Aug. 8 -
When you're looking for God's financial provision. By
RICK WARREN: "God is staking his character and his reputation on it. 'I will meet your
needs.' ... Why is it that you have financial needs? Why do so many believers struggle
in this area? We all know people who are believers who have financial needs. Did
God fail? Did he lie? Exaggerate?"
Click here for "When you're
looking for God's financial provision," from Pastors.com.
Aug. 8 - Stewardship of the Gospel.
If the Gospel is the food
that provides spiritual nourishment, then churches are like restaurants
where people come for refreshment. Those of us in Mainline churches can ask
ourselves why our patrons are leaving even though Americans are dying of
spiritual starvation and finding all sorts of ways to satisfy their hunger." Click here
for this column by SOLI webmaster Rob Blezard, from an archive edition of
SOLI/Update,
our free email newsletter, including all the new resources.
Click here to subscribe.
Aug. 8 -
Climate change and the unraveling of creation. By BILL McKIBBEN:
"We are engaged in the swift and systematic decreation of the planet we were born
onto. And does God look at our actions and pronounce them good? I doubt it.
Forget the sterile debates about whether we were given dominion over his planet.
Grant that we were. The question is, what have we done with that dominion?"
Click here for "Climate change,"
from
Religion On-line.
Aug. 8 - Can
stewardship be more inviting? "All stewardship
talk which begins with money starts at the wrong place. The
place to begin meaningful stewardship conversation is with the concept
of freedom. ... God’s love is freely given to us simply because we
are God’s children, simply because God loves us apart from our
worthiness or unworthiness. When we learn this truth and appropriate it
at the center of our being, then we are truly free."
Click here for "Can stewardship
be more inviting?" The
essay is by Prof. William O. Avery of Gettysburg Seminary. This week's
Treasure Chest item.
Aug. 1 -
Stewardship: A handbook. Here's a
resource available for free PDF download - a sort of "stewardship 101"
guide for congregational leaders. It covers a
variety of topics, from Scripture references to programs to nurturing
stewardship. It's prepared by the Episcopal Church of Scotland, and the
principles apply just as well this side of the Atlantic.
Click here for "Stewardship: A
handbook," from
The Episcopal Network for Stewardship.
Aug. 1 -
Do no harm, but do make an impact. As Christians, we
may not talk about zero impact as we strive to be good
stewards. That is okay, because in another sense we strive for maximum
impact. We want to do as much with what God has given us for the good of God's
people. Click
here for Dana Reardon's weekly stewardship column.
Aug. 1 -
When enough is enough: Why God's abundant life won't fit in a shopping cart, and other mysteries.
It is not buying but shopping that captures the spirit of consumerism. Buying is
certainly an important part of consumerism, but buying brings a temporary halt
to the restlessness that typifies it. It is this restlessness—the moving on to
shopping for something else no matter what one has just purchased—that sets the
spiritual tone for consumerism."
Click here for "When enough is enough," from
Sojourners.
Aug. 1 -
Not a hand-out, a hand-up
"Grove Church bought a run-down three-bedroom house for $50,000, spent $15,000 on
renovations, and now rents it for $650 a month to 33-year-old Samara Parker,
a schoolteacher who is raising two kids by herself. Here’s the genius
of the plan: After two years, the church will rebate Parker’s total rent of
$15,600 to go towards a down-payment on a home of her own. Then Grove Church
will rent the house to somebody else who will build up money for a
down-payment." Click here for this column by SOLI webmaster Rob Blezard, from an archive edition of
SOLI/Update,
our free email newsletter, including all the new resources.
Click here to subscribe.
Aug. 1 -
Green building and remodeling
Building and remodeling projects usually bring with them both challenges and
opportunities. The challenges are often related to finances
and design issues. Among the exciting opportunities, these projects can help members to
demonstrate their commitment to care for God’s creation."
Click here for "Green building and
remodeling." Great resource,
from
Earth Ministry.
Aug. 1 -
Tru-envy?
From America's obsession with a perfect lawn,
Jon Pahl of
Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia
makes a religious connection: "We seem somehow uncertain of our salvation,
so we seek enemies to conquer and control, and we seem driven constantly to
display our power for others to see. Can there be a connection between the
way we treat dandelions and the way we treat our neighbors? The way we treat
the poor and sick and suffering of the world?"
Click here for "Tru-envy." Reprinted,
with permission, from the April 15, 2004 issue of
Sightings, produced by the
Martin Marty Center at the
University of Chicago Divinity School.
July 25 -
Let the Word of God dwell in you
This skit is billed as an intergenerational event. "Share the Gospel always. Use words when necessary. Favorite Bible characters
step out of their stories and challenge listeners to examine the motivation and
principles behind every-day actions. This time of drama and discussion will draw
out the stories of stewards in your congregation."
Click here for "Let the Word of God dwell in you." Part this year's stewardship resources from
Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada.
July 25 -
Growth, bottled water and gas
People grouse about the price of gas while sipping extremely expensive
water. Does the same type of phenomenon occur at pledge time?
"There is no place on earth where so many people can afford to live so well.
And yet, when it comes to showing God our collective thanks for all these
things, we hide behind our fear of change and block them."
Click here for "Growth, bottled
water and gas." From Tuck Aaker, columnist for
ELCA Stewardship resources.
July 25 -
Stewardship is more than money -- it's your life..
" Holistic
stewardship encompasses all that we are, all that we hope to become. We use
four “c” words to summarize scores of biblical passages upon which we base
our theology of holistic stewardship: conversion, commitment, communion,
and concern."
Click here for "Stewardship is more than
money." Insights from Congregations magazine, published by the
Alban
Institute.
July 25 -
Real estate boom opens possibilities.
"Many land-rich but cash-strapped churches across the nation are finding
opportunities for mission and revival in the current real estate bonanza. It
makes stewardship sense for some churches to sell some or part or all of
their property and use the money for mission.
Click herefor this column by SOLI webmaster Rob Blezard, from last week's
SOLI/Update,
our free email newsletter, including all the new resources.
Click here to
subscribe.
July 25 -
Transformation through educationThis essay makes a case for environmental education in your church. "As a result of learning,
people are lead to profound repentance, a turning around, an abandonment of
attitudes and actions that are cavalier toward nature and an embracing of
actions that tread lightly on the earth. Through an awareness of political
decisions that erode our clean air or clean water, people are led to a stance of
advocacy."
Click here for "Transformation through education." Great resource,
from
Web of Creation.
July 25 -
Wealth weighs rich Christians down. In this interview, stewardship author Gordon MacDonald explains why pastors need to go the extra mile to reach wealthy people in
the congregation: "Let's face it—a guy who makes seven or eight figures lives in a different world.
We may not like it, but there's truth to it. And what does the wealthy person
hear from the pulpit? Rarely do they hear anything that speaks to the pressures,
seductions, decisions, and choices they have to make."
Click here for this interview, from
Christianity Today.
July 18 -
Money and the spiritual life.
"Pastor, we need to help our people understand that God says there is a direct
relationship between how I use my money and the quality of my spiritual life!
The way we manage God's money can prevent him from doing more in our lives. "
Click here for "Money and the spiritual life." Inspirational essay published by "the Purpose Driven Pastor"
Rick Warren and posted on his organization's website
Pastors.Com.
July 18 -
Generous to the end of our days.
"There is a generosity of spirit that I think that we have lost in our
culture. We have endless debates about end-of-life issues. It seldom
seems gracious, though." Click
here for the Rev. Dana Reardon's weekly
stewardship column.
July 18 -
Climate change: Breaking the cycle of denial.
"The evidence is clear. We have sent carbon dioxide soaring to levels that the planet hasn’t seen for 20 million years, by burning
coal, oil and gas to generate power for homes, cars and industries, and by
destroying forests and soils which absorb carbon emissions. We created
the crisis; we can do something about it."
Click here for "Breaking the cycle." Great resource,
written by a Church of the Brethren minister and posted on the website of the
Ecumenical Eco-Justice Network.
July 18 - Bombings
teach us to value our time and our lives. "Death comes to us all. Nobody gets out alive. But the unexpectedness
and wanton destruction of the London bombings reminded us that no one knows the time or
hour when our lives will end. I purposefully borrow language from Jesus's
response to questions of when he will come again."
Click herefor this column by SOLI webmaster Rob Blezard, from last week's
SOLI/Update
,
our free email newsletter, which includes links to all the new resources.
Click here to Subscribe.
July 18 -
Give money through tithing, not gambling.
"What good might be done if the money they set aside for the slot machines or
video poker was instead dedicated to good works and helping others?"
Click here to read more this essay from
Shirley Ragsdale, faith and values columnist for
The Des Moines Register.
July 11 - Extending a real welcome to all.
"It
goes to welcoming the strangers to our land. It goes to paying people
enough to live on so that they can feel a welcome part of our society. It
goes to the way we drive and the way we are with every encounter of our day." Click
here for the Rev. Dana Reardon's weekly
stewardship column.
July 11 -
Stewardship with a smile.
Here's a delightful Powerpoint presentation guaranteed to make the folks in
your church chuckle while they consider how well they are doing in
stewardship, not only of their money but of all the gifts God gives them.
Click here for Stewardship with
a smile. Another fine creation of Jerry Hoffman, webmaster of
Stewardship for the 21st Century, where you will find lots of
great resources.
July 11 - G8
Summiteers tackle stewardship. Really!
"As the world's most powerful leaders gather, poverty eradication in Africa and
global warming emerged as the two hot topics, both of which are essentially
stewardship issues with tremendous religious implications. Especially for
Christians.
Click here for this column by SOLI webmaster Rob Blezard, from last week's
SOLI/Update,
our free email newsletter, which includes links to all the new resources.
July 11 - Stewardship is more than money -- it's your life
"Jesus comes offering the Kingdom of God, but with the Kingdom there is a
cost... everything you have and everything you are. But don't
misunderstand. Jesus does not come selling the Kingdom of God for your
lifetime of enjoyment. Jesus comes giving the Kingdom freely. He
paid for it on the cross and now gives it as a gift. The Kingdom
itself is the cost." By the
Rev. Daniel Mangler, pastor of
Shepherd of the
Mountains Lutheran Church, Estes Park, CO.
This week's Treasure Chest
offering.
July 11 -
Stewardship draws us to the Lord.
"A steward never stops saying 'thank you' to God for blessings received. A
steward has an attitude of gratitude and essentially is a person of great
peace and great joy," Father Daniel Mahon told a Catholic conference in
Canada.
Click here to read more of his
inspiring talk. From
Western Catholic Reporter, Canada's largest
religious weekly.
July 4 -
'Generations of Generosity' Bible study. This study explores
stewardship through several passages of scripture. Each
segment of the study asks participants to examine the role of money in our
lives, our faith, our congregations and our society.
Click here for the Bible study. One of
many resources available from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada's
2005-2006 resources.
Click here for previous years' offerings.
July 4 -
What do we see for our stewardship?
"Look any Sunday and see what I see. See the faces of the children in Sunday
School and the upturned face of an old man who can no longer kneel when I
say, "The body of Christ given for you." Clic
