July 3 - 9, 2006

 SOLI/Update

    www.stewardshipoflife.org

 Our editorialist is on vacation this week. Happy 4th of July!

New this week!

Assumptions about giving are hard to shake
"For all of you who still operate out of a Depression Era sense of scarcity, let me remind you that giving was much more generous in the Depression than it is now.  If giving increase even at the rate of inflation and increased wealth since then our churches would all be doing well." Click here for this weekly column from Pastor Dana Reardon. Click here to peruse columns from her archives.


Resistance to Pledging? Ways to Respond
"Are pledges down, but the money seems to be coming in at a rate somewhat above the previous year? If so, your church is not unusual. Many committees on finance are very anxious because won't people sign their pledge cards and turn them in."  This two-part article deals with the phenomenon and how to handle it. Click here for "part one, "Resistance to pledging." Click here for part two, "How to Respond.  >From the United Methodist Church's Center for Christian Stewardship.

The Realistic Forecast
Low-performing organizations, including struggling congregations, frequently fail because they do not set their sights high enough, says ELCA stewardship columnist Tuck Aaker. "The Cardinal Rule in setting goals is don’t ever set goals so low you can reach them. Set them so high you have to stretch to have a chance to come close!" Click here for this column from ELCA Stewardship Resources.

Giving hilariously: No-nonsense stewardship
“For God loves a cheerful giver,” St. Paul writes in Cor. 9:6-7. When greed is in charge, we cling to money and possessions as if they were permanently ours. When we rise above greed, we give to God's work 'hilariously.' The Greek word we translate 'cheerful' is 'hilarious.' Paul challenges us to give 'hilariously.' That means giving spontaneously and giving joyfully. The Macedonians rose above greed by giving hilariously. So can we!” Click here for "Giving hilariously," from the Lutheran Laity Movement Archives. This week's Treasure Chest offering.