2009 Stewardship Messages Use these messages monthly to offer an inspiring, biblically-based reflection in your newsletter, on your bulletin board and website or as a Sunday bulletin insert.(January to July)
Financial Literacy:360 Degrees of Financial Literacy, recommended by the UCC Pension Boards offers help for all financial stages of life.
Making Sound Strategic Choices in Anxious Times Alban Institute Susan Beaumont and Alice Mann offer UCC pastors sound answers to tough questions.(click here)
Faith and Tough Economic Times Our Pastors Speak Up About the Economy (click here): Keeping Faith Communities Vital in an Ailing Economy Rising unemployment, gut-wrenching declines in the stock market and predictions of a recession worse than any since the Great Depression can spell sleepless nights for even the most faithful ministry leaders. (read article)
Support for Seniors:Benefits Check Up offed by the National Council on Aging includes more than 1,550 public and private benefits programs from all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Support for Homeowners: If your congregation has struggling homeowners, let them know about the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's foreclosure prevention site.
"This is, by far, the best stewardship resource I have ever seen, by any denomination!" --Lynne Hansen - Stewardship Chair, Pilgrim Congregational Church, Cleveland|
"WOW! This will breathe life into our churches!" – Rev. Wade Schemmel - Conference Minister, Northern Plains Conference
5 for 5, Covenant Keepers If your congregation gives to each of these offerings and to Our Church's Wider Mission Basic Support, then you are a "5 for 5" church! And if your church is giving 10% or more of your operating expenses to Our Church's Wider Mission Basic Support then you are also a Covenant Keeper!
Additional Resources / LINKS
Did you know Online Mission Moments give churches a UCC mission story for every Sunday of the year? Just cut and paste these into your bulletins. Speaking of bulletins, have you checked out the UCC Sunday Bulletin Service? They feature full-color front covers and a UCC mission story on the back to inform and inspire. Now that you've inspired generosity, do you want to make it easy for your members to give? The UCC's electronic giving program, called StillspeakingMoney, is designed to do just that.
Christina Villa Minister for Resources and Communications Congregational Vitality and Discipleship Ministry Team Local Church Ministries 700 Prospect Ave. Cleveland,Ohio 44115 216-736-3856 villac@ucc.org
Tracy Carnes Associate Minister for Stewardship Resources and OCWM Promotion Congregational Vitality and Discipleship Ministry Team Local Church Ministries 700 Prospect Ave. Cleveland,Ohio 44115 216-736-3858 carnest@ucc.org