From
the Pastor’s Pen,
“Of course, there is great gain in godliness combined with
contentment; for we brought nothing into the world, so that we can take nothing
out of it; but if we have food and clothing, we will be content with these. But
those who want to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many
senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of
evil, and in their eagerness to be rich some have wandered away from the faith and
pierced themselves with many pains.”
1st Timothy 6:6-10
Stress. Anxiety. Fear. These
words capture well the state of mind of many of us in
An Oct. 2008 survey reported on CNN.com found
that over three in four Americans were 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.”
Join us in worship November 8th, 15th, 22nd,
and 29th for a sermon series based on Adam Hamilton’s book Enough: Discovering Joy Through Simplicity
and Generosity. 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 will have this stewardship emphasis. During this time we will explore what the
Bible teaches us about financial management. We’ll hear advice and stories about
what others have learned by working through financial challenges. Each Sunday 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 emphasis, we will have
the opportunity to make personal commitments of our offerings to God through
our church in the coming year. We will
consecrate these commitments in the worship service on two consecutive Sundays,
Nov. 22nd and 29th.
I hope you will join us in the coming weeks as
we look at how we can manage our financial resources and truly experience simplicity,
generosity, and joy.
Pastor Judy Robbins