Macedonian Stewardship
by Rev. Scott H. Andrews

We have come once again to a time of the year that makes many people nervous.  We are entering “The Stewardship Campaign”.  (If only there was some way to add dramatic music to the newsletter!)  Whenever we come to “The Stewardship Campaign”, we begin to hear from skeptics who believe that the church is “only interested in money”.  Well I’d like to dispel a few concerns and fears about “The Stewardship Campaign”.

First, I want to share a scripture with you. I was reminded of this scripture several times over the last year.  Paul’s second letter to the Corinthian church beginning in the eighth chapter reads like this

We want you to know, brothers and sisters, about the grace of God that has been granted to the churches of Macedonia; for during a severe ordeal of affliction, their abundant joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part.  For, as I can testify, they voluntarily gave according to their means, and even beyond their means, begging us earnestly for the privilege of sharing in this ministry to the saints—and this, not merely as we expected; they gave themselves first to the Lord and, by the will of God, to us, so that we might urge Titus that, as he had already made a beginning, so he should also complete this generous undertaking among you.

Paul is writing of a church that was seeing hard times.  The church in Macedonia was struggling with hardship, and yet, in the midst of their hardship, they supported the work of the church in Jerusalem (which wasn’t in their District or Conference even).  As a matter of fact, Paul reports that they “begged” for the opportunity to give.  They even saw it as a “privilege” to give.  And, their joy was “abundant” in being able to give.  If only churches today could experience this joy!

This past year has been a blessing at Shepherd of the Valley.  In June, I came to you with a request from the Administrative Council concerning our financial status.  And you, I believe, took on the attitude of the Macedonia church.  Your faithfulness was evident in the generosity you showed to our ministry at Shepherd of the Valley.  We have been able to meet our obligations.  We have been able to “share” in the ministry of our Conference.  As your pastor, I thank you for that.  We still need your support as we end the year however.  In spite of the windfall we received through our stewardship of our utility bills here at the church, we still have other obligations that must be met.

Beginning on Sunday, November 2, we will have information available for you to consider concerning our 2008 Stewardship Campaign and our budget for 2009.  Using “Blessed Be the Lord God” from Cokesbury, our Stewardship Campaign will last from Sunday, November 2 to Sunday, November 23.  We will have “announcements” concerning the Stewardship Campaign during worship each Sunday.  There will also be bulletin inserts each week which cover a different aspect of Stewardship and our response to the call to be stewards of all the gifts that God shares with us.  A letter will be sent to everyone toward the end of October with information concerning the campaign and a pledge card to be returned to the church on or before November 23.

As Paul continues to write to the church at Corinth, he says in the ninth chapter

The point is this: the one who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the one who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.  Each of you must give as you have made up your mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

My hope and prayer is that our Stewardship campaign this year can take on the spirit and hope of a Macedonian stewardship campaign.  My prayer is that our campaign will be the type of campaign where we as believers see giving as an opportunity to serve God, one another and our community.  I also pray that we will find the joy of giving that the Macedonians knew!

And so I pray . . .

Lord, open our hearts and our minds to see the opportunities you give to us to serve your church.  Reveal to us the abundance that you provide.  Allow us to experience the joy of the Macedonian church through our giving.  Empower us to be enthusiastic in our giving.  For we seek to be your people in our service to your church and to one another.  Amen!

In Christ,

Pastor Scott