|
"Each of you should use whatever gift you have
received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God's grace in its various
forms." In Jesus' parable of the talents (Matthew 25:14-30), a strict master entrusts three of his servants with a different amount of money or "talents," based on their ability. After the master left on a trip, the two servants who received the largest amounts used what they had received and doubled their value. But the third servant dug a hole in the ground and hid his master's money. When the master returned, he demanded an accounting from his servants. To the first two, the master exclaims: "Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a little, I will set you over much; enter into the joy of your master." But the master was angry with the third servant, and called him "wicked and lazy," stripped him of his talent, and banished him from his presence. Each of us has been entrusted with a varied assortment of "talents" - special abilities and skills, education and training, time and energy, as well as financial resources. And we, like the servants in the parable, have a responsibility of putting our specific "talents" to work and make them be fruitful and multiply. In agriculture, autumn is the time of year when we gather and store the harvest, and begin to anticipate next year's crop. The same is true in the church. During the fall we begin reflecting over the past year, celebrating our accomplishments, analyzing our challenges, and planning for next year's programs and activities. In our church, every member has the privilege and responsibility to participate in this process, according to the "talents" they have received. In these time-demanding and financially-uncertain days, this may be challenging. In the coming weeks the Nominating Committee and Finance Trustees will be assessing the leadership and financial needs of our congregation for 2009. Please prayerfully consider how you may use your special, God-given and Spirit-directed talents in the coming year. May each of us hear the words of our Master: "Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a little, I will set you over much; enter into the joy of your master." ¤ ¤ ¤ ¤ ¤ ¤ ¤ ¤ ¤ ¤ ¤ ¤ ¤ ¤ ¤ ¤ ¤ ¤ ¤ ¤ ¤ ¤ ¤ ¤ Focusing specifically on our financial giving, through the third quarter of this year, our financial pledges are right on target - thank you for your faithful and continual financial support of the ministry and mission of First Baptist during these uncertain times. But next year may be different for many of us, and we may not be able to maintain the level of giving we have done in the past. That is OK! But the church needs to know what your plans are for 2009. This is especially true if you have given regularly and not pledged in the past, and anticipate a need to reduce the amount you usually give. When the Finance Trustees developed a new budget, they received anticipated income figures from the Church Collector, Richard Freeman. Over the years, Richard has been able to estimate quite accurately the amount that will be given by those who do not pledge. This "guess work" will not be as correct this year if you need to reduce the amount you are able to give and you do not let us know of your plans. Therefore, I strongly encourage everyone to seriously think and pray about their financial giving to the church for 2009 now, and then fill out and submit a pledge card. The stewardship materials will be mailed in early November and Stewardship Sunday will be November 23.
Pastor Martha Dominy |
|