Share God’s grace at Thanksgiving. Remember to keep it personal.
Then he will answer them, "Truly I tell you, just as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me."(Matthew 25:45)
This kid had a smile the size of Alaska. Probably eight or nine years old, he stood at my door with a rake twice his height. What he didn’t have was a leaf bag. Neither did I on this windy Wednesday before Thanksgiving. Besides my adult children promised that their contribution to the holiday was a day’s yard work. The disappointed little boy trudged back up the driveway with drooping shoulders.
The familiar sheep and goats parable reminds us that when we feed one hungry person or make sure someone is clothed, sheltered, visited, healed, given hope, we are caring for Jesus Christ. Like most people I’ve done those things through personal involvement or my checkbook. Faith practices of hospitality and justice include Thanksgiving baskets, mittens for the school mitten tree, board games for the correctional facility, phone calls and emails to friends or strangers for the prayer chain, and the sacrificial pledge I make this month to my church with its local mission and connection to so many places through Our Church’s Wider Mission. I congratulate my sheeply self.
In this difficult financial year I’ve also learned a tougher lesson -- letting people support me, notice my occasional “least-ness.” But parables are supposed to pinch. The flip side of this one suggests that every lost opportunity to help one person rebuffs Christ. Sometimes I’m too tired for the phone call. Sometimes I don’t want to share my privacy with a relative. Sometimes (at this season) my credit card feels wafer thin. Sometimes I don’t spend five dollars for a big Alaska-size smile the day before Thanksgiving. Then I recognize the person walking away with the rake … and I remember to keep it personal.
Annual Stewardship Theme Materials Newly designed every year, these colorful, coordinated materials based on scripture can greatly help your congregation with its annual stewardship effort. Materials include full-color poster, four motivational bulletin inserts (including giving chart), worship folder, letterhead and envelope, note card, and commitment cards. Check out these new materials: 2009 Stewardship Theme Materials
Electronic Giving The automated giving program of the United Church of Christ makes it easy for church members to give to their local congregation via electronic transfer of funds. Learn all about it order "A Church Guide to Electronic Giving." "Giver's Guide" also available - makes introducing your congregation to electronic giving easy with a brochure that answers most frequently asked questions about this method of giving regularly and faithfully, even when we're away from our home church. Giving cards are also available, for electronic givers to place in offering plate.Free.
Every Sunday Bulletins Full-color Sunday bulletins with United Church of Christ mission stories on the back covers. Two sizes in lots of 25. For price information and ordering call 888-512-3966 or go to Sunday Bulletin Service. Here is a Brochure in PDF format.
God's Gifts, My Gifts Teaches that God is the source of who we are and what we have, and is our model for being generous and faithful. Elementary-age children will have fun in class or at home using these five colorful and snappy foldout sheets with individual and group activities, including scriptural texts and prayers to reinforce the church; personal decisions, loving God, self, and others. Use for confirmation and new member classes. Set includes five active lessons: Share Love With Your Offering (available as a single sheet for $.75 each), Seek God with Your Whole Heart, Rooted in Love, Love is the Greatest, Dare 2BU. Set of all five activity sheets plus stickers: 1-10 sets, $5.00 each; 11-25 sets, $4.50 each; 26 or more sets, $4.00 each. How Important Is the Sunday Morning Offering? A four-page worship resource for the offering to help congregations and worship planners re-think the offering as an occasion of praise. Free.
How Much Shall I Give? A brochure to help church members think about what percentage of their income to give to the church's work. Also available in Spanish. $3.00/50.
Inspiring Generosity A Stewardship Resource for the Local Church This resource looks at ways to understand and approach money and mission realistically, given the changing conditions in congregations of the United Church of Christ today. Intended for use by lay leaders as well as clergy, it includes the theological background on the motivation for giving, as well as four programmatic approaches to fundraising in the church. $15.00.
Our Church Is 5 for 5! Is your church 5 for 5? If you contribute to all four special mission offerings in the UCC (One Great Hour of Sharing, Strengthen the Church, Neighbors in Need, The Christmas Fund) and give to Our Church's Wider Mission Basic Support, then your church is 5 for 5! Celebrate this with a 16" x 32" poster that says "Our Church is 5 for 5!" and stickers (1" x 2") that say "My church is 5 for 5!" Free.
7 Ways to Increase Giving in Your Congregation Good ideas and lively conversation-starters for your stewardship committee, trustees, and other church leaders. Basics of stewardship in a condensed, easy-to-use brochure. Free.
Stewards in the Household of God Stewardship is not just for the Fall anymore, and it's never been just about money. Whether it's care for God's creation, attention to our families and relationships, making the most of talents and skills, or being responsible and generous with our finances....it's all stewardship. And it's all the time. Introduce the concept of year-round stewardship in your congregation. By Doris Powell $6.95 each; $4.95 each for 3 or more copies.
Stewardship MessagesOnline! In tough times giving can be difficult for people…even people of faith. Use these messages monthly to offer an inspiring, biblically-based reflection in your newsletter, on your bulletin board, your website, or use as an insert in your giving statement or Sunday Bulletin. Free
Stewardship Quotes on UCC Weekly Offering Envelopes Provide a biblical or theological perspective on stewardship every Sunday of the year. Order by calling 800.634.5235.
The Big Secret of Giving: Hidden Treasures in Life and Church, A Stewardship Devotional A 30-day devotional for church members, stewardship and finance leaders and pastors. Daily devotional readins to encourage generous, faithful giving. Written by William Green who has served in the local, Conference, and national settings of the United Church of Christ. $3 each; $1.50 each for orders of 50 or more.
The Gifting God This compact, 5-session group study based closely on the Bible will break open the subject of giving for everyone- no matter how much or how little they are currently giving. Excellent for small groups, for ysing one session at a time with committees (especially stewardship or finance committees, and trustees). Also very effective as a personal Bible study/devotion, especially together with The Big Secret of Giving: Hidden Treasures in Life and Church, A Stewardship Devotional. Single copies $2 or $1 each for 50 or more.
United Church of Christ Desk Calendar and Plan Book Pastors and church leaders alike find this calendar/plan book helpful in the planning of worship, promotion of offerings, and interpretation of mission. United Church of Christ resources and staff are also listed. $18.
What Scripture Says about Giving This brief brochure for distribution to all church members looks at the question of how much to give to the work of the church and why. Also available in Spanish. $3.00/50.
Special Mission Offerings
The Christmas Fund Remembering Those Who Serve the Church Materials developed by the Ministerial Assistance office of the Pension Boards designed to help local congregations collect offerings to help low-income retired clergy and their widowed spouses. Monies collected for the Christmas Fund provide emergency grants and supplementation to pensions and health insurance premiums for low-income ministerial and lay retirees. Free.
One Great Hour of Sharing:Giving Help, Hope and Life An assortment of materials and activities to promote this Lenten offering that supports programs internationally for building sustainable communities, emergency relief and rehabilitation, and refugee advocacy and resettlement, as well as domestic and international disaster preparedness and response. Free.
One Great Hour of Sharing: Frequently Asked Questions This resource addresses the what, why, when, who, where, and how questions regarding this UCC special offering. Order from Global Sharing of Resources, 866.822.8224, ext. 3215. Free.
Neighbors in Need:Justice and Compassion like a Mighty Stream Materials to promote this autumn offering that allow us to reach out and touch neighbors with justice and compassion and to advocate for a society in which all people have a voice in the decisions that affect their lives. This offering includes support for the work of the Council for American Indian Ministry, efforts to eradicate hunger, and the promotion of justice, peace, and reconciliation. Free.
Strengthen the Church: Faithfully Building the Body of Christ Promotional materials for this Pentecost offering that supports the renewal of congregations, helps fund leadership for new churches, and strengthens the witness of the United Church of Christ. Free.
Our Church's Wider Mission Brochure A colorful brochure that gives current figures for Our Church's Wider Mission expenditures by the national UCC and briefly tells the story of UCC mission beyond the local church. Ideal for mailing to members or placing in pews. Packs of 50. Free.
Our Church's Wider Mission PowerPoint 15-minute presentation on CD designed for financial decision-making committees in the local church. Free.
Our Church's Wider Mission Poster: "Our Church's Wider Mission: It's who we are." Black and red poster proclaims our mission. Free.
Our Church's Wider Mission Video: Great Generosity, Abundant Blessings This 15-minute video features three UCC churches whose members are committed to supporting the church and Our Church's Wider Mission. Energizing and inspiring, this video is suitable for showing in a worship setting or with stewardship and outreach committees. Free.
"God Is Still Speaking,"/ Our Church's Wider Mission:Offering Envelope A free offering envelope to put into the pew racks so that worshippers can make a special gift any time for Our Church's Wider Mission (OCWM). Use it on special occasions to receive an offering for Our Church's Wider Mission or to seek special year-end gifts to help meet your church's OCWM goal. Packs of 100. Free.
Our Church's Wider Mission: Design for a Workshop Everything you need to know to do a workshop about Our Church's Wider Mission (OCWM). A detailed outline for workshop leaders in the local church. Free.
Our Church's Wider Mission: Frequently Asked Questions A one-page fact sheet about Our Church's Wider Mission. Free.
The Crisis in the Churches: Spiritual Malaise, Fiscal Woe Robert Wuthnow This book offers a searching study of the financial crisis in the churches, letting clergy and laity speak for themselves. UCCTCC. $36.00.
The Great Permission: An Asset-Based Field Guide for Congregations Bob Sitze This little book gives you a way of thinking and behaving, rather than just another stewardship method. Shows how to move congregations past problems and toward opportunities—a way to claim the abundance already ours. $6.00.
Living with Money An ecumenical adult education course for congregations that examines the subject of money in the context of Christian faith, for persons of all backgrounds, races, and economic status. Living with Money will liberate the taboo subject of money and allow healthy, open dialog to emerge. You will be amazed at how eagerly members of your congregation will begin talking about this subject. Contains four, 20-minute video segments featuring an outstanding diverse panel of experts, a leader's guide, and participant journals with Bible studies, essays, bibliography, and discussion starters. $125.00.
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
Every Sunday Bulletins
The Gifting God 
