We have had an outbreak of generosity at RUMC lately. 

The history has been that it was hard to pay bills, and apportionments frequently did not get paid.

Recently:

• Pledges are up 12%
• Giving has held firm in spite of  adverse weather
• The bills are paid
• The apportionments are paid
• There is a little money in the bank
• We have given $2200 to missions
• We have given well over 200 pounds of food to the Reinbeck food pantry
• Uncounted numbers of items from the garage sale to the women’s shelter, vetrans home, Sartori hospital and a host of other worthy organizations.
• 190 stuffed animals for grieving children
• 32 fleece blankets to grieving children
• I am sure I have missed things we have done together
• I know individuals do things I don’t know about!!

Last week I asked “how do you account for that?”  The answer was that it is an outpouring of the spiritual gift of generosity that grows out of God’s generosity to us.

I am so proud to be the pastor of such a generous congregation   And I am so pleased to see us growing in generosity.

This week’s question is "what’s next?" 

Some of you may have started getting your economic incentive checks this week.  I’m sure you have all kinds of plans for them.  I do too.  Have you considered how you might give thanks to God for this “bonus” money?  For my part, Robyn and I will be tithing from our check and asking that it be used to pay ahead on apportionments.  It seems we may have already turned the tide on our church finances.  Wouldn’t it be great to take that to the next level. . . take it out of the realm of church finances to generous stewardship!

Generous stewardship grows out of our thanksgiving to God and is best reflected in the words of John Wesley:

“Do all the good you can,
By all the means you can,
In all the ways you can,
In all the places you can,
At all the times you can,
To all the people you can,
As long as ever you can.” (JW)

The Question of the faithful steward is not “can I afford to do this.”  The question of the faithful steward is “How much good can I do with this?”

The Administrative Council and I challenge you to do all the good you can with your economic incentive rebate.  And when you are making that decision consider tithing 10% to pay ahead on apportionments.  Reading the reports from general conference I can’t think of anything that could do more good than supporting the thousands of wonderful ministries of the United Methodist Church

A public Apology

I feel like I owe an apology to Rev. John Wesley Yohannas.  The problem is I haven’t met him yet.

I don’t remember if the district mission representative used the term “missionary” or guest or something else when she called to make arrangements for his visit.  Somehow I got “missionary” stuck in my head.

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