A whole day devoted to giving thanks? Sounds like the perfect occasion for a special worship service. Here are some resources to get you started. (Photo by Blacklord, used under Creative Commons license.
8 Reasons Why Believers Give to Your Church
If you want your church to grow, you must learn how to motivate believers to invest their resources into the kingdom for ministry and for facilities, says “Purpose-Driven Pastor” Rick Warren. It is a key responsibility of leadership. See whether Warren’s eight reasons ring true for your church. (Photo by Lisafx, via Bigstock.com)
Teach Kids About Saving, Sharing, Spending
Though our children are saturated in our consumer culture, the US Department of Education reports that only 42 percent of 12th graders are skilled in basic economics. It’s never too early to start teaching our kids about the responsible use of money. This article from Thrivent magazine has some great ideas. (Photo by Richard Wagoner, […]
Preparing for a Parish Capital Campaign
Ever think your church could use a capital campaign but didn’t know how to start? Here’s a handy 11-page resource from the Episcopal Church Foundation that outlines 10 practical steps to get your parish capital campaign off the ground. The PDF is free!
Rethinking the Pledge
Around this time of year, churches all over the nation will hold stewardship drives by sending out letters and cards and inviting responses. But the results are predictably disappointing. At St. George’s, Valley Lee, MD, we’re ditching this conventional system and have been making innovations to connect the stewardship campaign to other areas of the Christian life. (Photo by Daniel Lobo, used by Creative Commons license. Thanks!)
Yes, Sometimes You Can Serve God & Mammon
When a church in suburban Minneapolis wanted to use pat of a $2 million windfall for mission, its leaders decided NOT to do the usual thing — cut a fat check to a worthwhile ministry. Instead they used a market-oriented approach that energized the entrepreneurial spirit of community leaders. (Photo by OpenSourceWay, used by Creative Commons license. Thanks!)
Where to Touch the Elephant
You remember the old story about the blind men who, each touching a different part of an elephant, draw different, incorrect conclusions about the nature of an elephant. The point is, the complexity of the elephant precludes anyone comprehending the whole. How can this observation apply to congregations? Church systems expert Peter Steinke explains. (Photo […]
Stewardship Sermon Starters
From ELCA Stewardship comes a set of sermon helps keyed to the Lectionary readings for all the Sundays in October. Written by Michael Meier, Stewardship Key Leader. Thought provoking ideas to help get those creative juices flowing. (Photo by Sumos, via Bigstockphoto.com)
Peter Buffett: We’re Not Doing Enough
Instead of working to provide solutions to the root causes of problems, much of philanthropy focuses on making donors feel good and perpetuating the work of charitable institutions. That’s the judgment of Peter Buffett, son of billionaire Warren Buffett and chair of the NoVo Foundation. He explains in this provocative interview by Allison Jones. (Artwork: Rosie the Riveter, public domain)
Church Offerings as Acts of Worship
This article from the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship lists a number of creative ways that churches throughout the nation are making their offering time more participatory and meaningful. Great ideas! (Photo by Lisafx, via Bigstock.com)
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