Dear members and friends of Messiah:

Many pastors DREAD talking about MONEY.  I, on the other hand, love to talk about it because of the joy I have felt and witnessed when experiencing generous giving.  Our annual Stewardship campaign:  MY STORY, MY GIFT invites all of us to reflect on those times in our own lives when we experienced being either on the GIVING or RECEIVING end of monetary donations that really made a difference.
 
Recently a member stopped by my office to share a story with me about a time in his life when things had gone terribly wrong for him.  The story involved his brother who was also treated with injustice and cruelty.  While his brother had been imbittered by the experience and sought retribution, this individual was grateful that he had been able to forgive and move on with his life.  In fact, he presented me with a valuable gift for the church as a way of celebrating and honoring what God had done for him.
 
My years of ministry have brought me into contact with some incredibly generous people.  On reflecting on these experiences I would have to say that these have all been people you would enjoy knowing.  They are happier and more positive than the average person.  They are usually quite clear about their priorities and how these priorities are informed by their commitment to follow Jesus.  Their spirit is infectious and I want to spread their spirit of faithful living.
 
I believe you will appreciate joining the families of Messiah on a creative faith journey of stewarship this year as you participate in MY STORY, MY GIFT.   This year we are using a RELAY METHOD that involves people contacting and connecting with one another in order to pass along information and response packets.  I hope that we can pass along our stories with these opportunities to meet both old and new friends in our Messiah faith community.
 
In Christ's Love and Service
 
 
Pastor John