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Generous Thinking
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"Now thank we all our God; with hearts and hands and voices; who wondrous things hath done; in whom this world rejoices. Who from our mother's arms, has blessed us on our way, with countless gifts of love and still is ours today."
~Rev. Martin Rinkart,
c. 1636
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This e-resource
is a ministry of
American Baptist Churches USA
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It's hard to believe we are approaching November! For many of us, it is our stewardship campaign season, and for all, it is the season of Thanksgiving. One of my favorite hymns that we sing in this time of year is by Martin Rinkart: "Now Thank We All Our God." In part, it is because of the story behind the song. Rinkart was an ordained Lutheran minister in the 17th century.
At the age of thirty-one he was called to be the pastor in his native town of Eilenberg. He arrived just as the Thirty Years' War began. As a walled city, Eilenberg became a refuge for political and military fugitives and through the years waves of pestilence and famine swept through the city. The Rinkart home served as a sanctuary for the afflicted victims, even though it is said that Martin often had difficulty in providing food and clothing for his own family. The plague of 1637 was particularly severe. At its height, Rinkart was the only remaining minister, often conducting as many as forty to fifty funeral services a day, including his wife's. And yet in the middle of all of that, he composed one of our most beloved Thanksgiving hymns: "Now thank we all our God; with hearts and hands and voices; who wondrous things hath done; in whom this world rejoices. Who from our mother's arms, has blessed us on our way, with countless gifts of love and still is ours today." In this season of Thanksgiving, with all that is happening in the world today, may you find the grace and strength still to sing your deepest thanks to God.
Peace,
~Rev. Stacy Emerson
Stewardship Facilitator, Mission Resource Development
American Baptist Churches USA
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The Pastor's Role in Growing Generous Hearts
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The Barnabas Foundation is offering an hour long webinar for pastors on this
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13th at NOON, eastern:
Faced with escalating operating costs and shrinking attendance, it's no surprise when pastors and other church leaders put meeting this year's budget ahead of what God is or could do in church member's hearts through their giving. This webinar will provide strategies for re-visioning your church's stewardship program to encourage Christ-followers as generous, joyful stewards of the abundance entrusted to them, including:
- Overcoming reluctance to talk about money in church
- Asking for money in ways that grow givers' hearts
- Using data to encourage and celebrate generous giving by church members
The webinar presenter is Rebekah Basinger, an independent consultant for fundraising and board development.
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| Judson Press DISCOUNT |
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Judson Press is providing stewardship resources at a DISCOUNT while supplies last! Check out the link below for theme resources: Live Free, Fearless Generosity, Abundant Joy/Overflowing Generosity, New Love/New Mercy, I Have Called You Friends, and Dessert First: Celebrating God's blessings.
Check it out now while supplies last!
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| Live Simply Stewardship Campaign Materials |
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Live Simply, based on Philippians 4:11, is the theme for the stewardship resources published by the Ecumenical Stewardship Center. The Ecumenical Stewardship Center offers resources that together provide a creative, comprehensive, and thought-provoking approach to encourage faithful stewardship that leads to generous giving.
Live Simply is the second of four planned themes that focus on 1 Timothy 6:18-19 and the phrase "take hold of the life that really is life." Other themes are Live Free, Live Generously, and Live Courageously. Live Simply includes four sub-themes: Live Simply, Follow Jesus; Live Simply, Face the Truth; Live Simply, Act Together; and Live Simply, Share Enough.
Click here for ESC Live Simply
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| Resources for Young Adults: COMPASS |
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The Ecumenical Stewardship Center COMPASS initiative offers faith-based financial guidance especially for young adults through a variety of resources:
- A COMPASS web page with links to financial management tools, videos for mediation of God's call to be faithful, generous stewards, and reviews of books and resources that explore resource management from a faith-based perspective
- COMPASS blog with monthly posts to invite reflection and engagement on a stewardship topic relevant to young adults
- Social media entry points providing a place for young adults to interact with their peers on financial management topics
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