Stress. Anxiety. Fear. These words capture well the state of mind of many of us in America today. We have witnessed dramatic market losses, the collapse of the world’s largest insurance company, and many bankruptcies and mergers. With bail-outs and the stimulus plan, every day seems to bring another piece of economic uncertainty.

    A recent survey found that over three in four Americans are stressed about the economy and their personal finances. Half were worried about providing for their family’s basic needs. Over half of respondents reported feeling angry and irritable, and reported lying awake at night worried about this. The report concludes that, “The declining state of the nation’s economy is taking a physical and emotional toll on people nationwide.” ¹

    Our nation is experiencing what many have described as the “American Nightmare.” Increasing consumer debt, declines in savings, lower income growth, and a volatile stock market are all a part of our economic insecurity. We have lived in a society that tells us “you deserve it now,” whether or not we can afford it or really even need it.

    All of us have struggled with these issues at one time or another. They are important issues that we cannot ignore. This is why we have settled on a Fall Stewardship Campaign called Enough: Discovering Joy Through Simplicity and Generosity.
 

    During this campaign, our study and worship will together explore what the Bible teaches us about financial management. We’ll hear expert advice and stories about what others have learned by working through financial challenges. Each week we will provide you with some practical tools you can use to assess your financial situation and develop a financial plan with a biblical foundation.

    At the conclusion of the campaign, we will have the opportunity to make personal commitments of our offerings to God through our church in the coming year. We will then consecrate (“bless”) these commitments in worship services at the beginning of November.

    Know that the resources we will share come to us through the Enough Stewardship Program Guide; we have modified them in ways that make them more appropriate for use in this community and in this church.

    We hope you will join us as we look at how we can manage our financial resources and truly experience simplicity, generosity, and joy. We also ask for your openness to what this campaign has to offer.

- Pastors Howard Grinager and Jenny Hallenbeck,
with the Stewardship-Finance Committee

¹ “Eight Out of Ten Americans Stressed Because of Economy,”
  by Madison Park, from CNN.com, 10/708

Stewardship Campaign Schedule of Events:
 

(9/27 week)

Small-group studies begin (“Faith in the Midst of Financial Crisis”)

(10/4 week)

“When Dreams Become Nightmares”

(10/11 week)

“Wisdom and Finance”

(10/18 week)

“Cultivating Contentment”

(10/25 week)
 

“Defined by Generosity”
(small-group studies end this week)

(11/1 week)

Consecration Sunday/Wednesday 1

(11/8 week)

Consecration Sunday/Wednesday 2

(11/15)
 

Celebration Sunday
 

Book and Small Group Study Information:
 
We have purchased many copies of Adam Hamilton’s book Enough: Discovering Joy Through Simplicity and Generosity and we hope that you will read it over the course of this stewardship campaign.   You can pick-up a book at the church office; cost is $8.   If you are able to reimburse the church for the book, great!   If not, please don’t let that discourage you from picking one up.

The small group study times are as follows:
 

All small groups will meet in the Intergenerational Room, located just off First UMC’s south entrance (Capitol Ave.).   Each study runs for 5 weeks.   Please call or email the church office (224-5939 or pierre1umc@mncomm.com) if you would like to sign-up.
 

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