Remember that ad series, I think for American Express? Here's a First U version: Continuing Ed. for Sunday School staff - $500 per year. R.E. Books and Supplies - $1500 per year. Office postage, excluding all email communication - $2500 per year. Value of smiles on Christmas Pageant faces, or support from a church friend in time of need, or the way words and music in a Sunday service cracks your heart wide open - priceless.
This is the lifeblood of a congregation - turning dollars and cents and effort into service that makes life worth living. It may seem crass putting a price tag on the experience of your child's christening or that grown child's wedding, or the comfort you received when your mother died, but this is what churches do. And it can't happen without your support.
How much you pledge is a matter for your own conscience, but I urge you to be generous. The need is critical. We were warned at last year's annual meeting that we could no longer rely on our endowment to make up the deficit between what is pledged and how much our programs actually cost. We may not be able to engineer a solution to the U.S. government's deficit woes, but we can start with our own financial challenges, right here, right now. Please give careful consideration and make that pledge. Waiting till tax time to decide is too late since the church budget for the new year must be submitted in January.
Whatever your financial situation may be, I suggest a further challenge for each of us. Listen to that priceless call of conscience to service and answer it. Maybe that means chaperoning for a youth event, or signing up for a month of ushering, or saying yes when asked to sit on a committee. It could be as simple as introducing yourself to someone you don't know at each church event you attend, but please know that your caring makes all the difference.
Kris Johnson
