Journeys 10-29-06

Journeys 10-29-06

Today is Consecration Sunday. Our Stewardship Campaign concludes with a special guest preacher, Rev. Nita Hinds, from our Conference offices in Lincoln, and, a brunch after each worship service. Today, we begin to give folks an opportunity to fill out commitment cards, stating our financial commitment to our church’s ministry in 2007.

The emphasis of this year’s campaign is that our giving deepens our relationship with God. When we give of our prayers, presence, gifts and service, we’re doing so because we’ve felt touched by God and want to reciprocate. God has transformed us, healed us, let us know we’re not alone, or brought us through a difficult self-examination to regret, repentance and forgiveness.

As in all friendships, God has made a move toward us, and we want to make a move toward God. So we give ourselves to God, to the work of God, to things that we think will make God happy. We give back not ‘tit for ‘tat, but as a sign of our seriousness about the relationship; out of our need to grow into a deeper relationship.

I’ve not met anyone yet who knows the limits of a relationship with God. Like a great friendship, the more you get into it, the deeper you want to go. And the relationship changes you. Over time you become more Godlike, bearing the fruits of the spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control). It is a growth process that never stops.

Today, we celebrate what we do in response to the love of God; our giving.
Today, we show our appreciation for all that is done in gratitude for God’s grace in our lives.

Today, we stand together to say that we want to grow closer to God. And I believe God has let us know that the way we do that is by giving ourselves away, in service to each other, and, in serving the least and the lost of our world.

Grace & Peace,