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Generous Thinking
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"The winds of grace are always blowing, but we must set our sails."
~Sri Ramakrishna (1836-1886)
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This e-resource
is a ministry of
American Baptist Churches USA
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September 2017
What to do on the last day of summer vacation?
That was the conflict of the day a couple of weeks ago. Our son, Sam, wanted to go to the ocean, and our daughter, Katie, wanted to swim in a lake. Katie also wanted to go to her favorite fish place (for chicken) near Grammy and Grampy's house, not a favorite of Sam's (chicken or not, it's a fish place.) So, in the spirit of diplomacy, I thought I'd intervene as we were getting close to nowhere. Sam and I were sitting alone after dinner Monday night and I said, "You know...I bet you will get Katie to agree to the ocean if you agree to go to the fish place." (I got a hmmm....) Sam wandered off and Katie sat down. I said, "You know...I bet you'll get Sam to agree to the fish place if you will go to the ocean."
It took only a few minutes of tense negotiations before both sides agreed to the plan: Ocean and fish place. It was 64 degrees and windy, but the kids had a blast and the seafood was a great treat at the end of the summer (for me and my Mom, kids had, you guessed it, chicken.) The thing is, to get our heart's desire sometimes requires us to be willing to go for the other person's heart's desire as well. It's what makes love, families, communities work. But we have to know how to listen and how to be generous and how to care for someone else's heart, period. These are just a few of the things we need to remember in the living of these days.
Peace, Stacy
Grace and peace to you,
~Rev. Stacy Emerson
Stewardship Facilitator, Mission Resource Development
American Baptist Churches USA
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Stewardship Survey
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As part of our pilot program, The Generosity
Project, we are seeking input from pastors, congregations, and lay people about our perspectives on stewardship. You are invited to
tell us more about how your congregation talks about stewardship-what are your challenges and what do you celebrate? We'd love to hear from you!
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REGISTER NOW: Generosity Next in Nashville, TN
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ABCUSA is a partner with the Ecumenical Stewardship Center which offers an array of resources to pastors and congregations.
Generosity Next takes place November 29 - December 1 at the United Methodist Church General Board of Discipleship Offices in Nashville, Tennessee. It explores how current culture informs faithful stewardship and generous giving. This year's topic is
Stewardship & Generosity: Are We Doing All We Can?
Come to Generosity NEXT to
Engage with keynote speakers Steve Manskar and Anne Burkholder as we explore John Wesley's well-known sermons about money and their relevance for generous stewards of the 21st century...
Connect with Christian sisters and brothers who share a passion for faithful stewardship and generous giving
Be inspired through meaningful worship, insightful presentations, and thoughtful conversation
Become better equipped to lead others in their discipleship journeys of becoming faithful stewards and generous givers
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Stewardship Materials: Live Generously
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Live Generously, based on 2 Corinthians 8:9, is the theme for the stewardship resources published by the Ecumenical Stewardship Center for 2017. Together, they provide a creative, comprehensive, and thought-provoking approach to encourage faithful stewardship that leads to generous giving. Live Generously is the third 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 Simply, and Live Courageously.
Volume 19 of the Giving: Growing Joyful Stewards in Your Congregation magazine is based on the Live Generously theme and includes articles that provide theological reflection, resource reviews, and practical suggestions to improve all aspects of a congregation's stewardship program. Writers are stewardship thought leaders from across Canada and the US and include Bill Enright, Mike Slaughter, Betsy Schwarzentraub, and Sharon Ely Pearson. Giving also contains an eight-page center section containing an easily-adaptable Live Courageously stewardship emphasis featuring small group gatherings.
Theme materials complement the magazine and center section, and help congregations create a stewardship emphasis that is recognizable and consistent. Theme materials include a poster, bulletin inserts, letterhead and envelopes, bookmarks, bulletin covers in two sizes, commitment cards for adults and children, and a series of four 90-second "worship starter" videos.
The digital Companion Resource includes additional timeline options, theme-based worship materials, children's sermons, sermon starters, and Bible studies for youth and adults.
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| Leaders Who Last Ministry Growth Series |
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Are you ready...
To learn new strategies to grow and expand into your leadership?
To finally feel confident with money and stewardship?
To strengthen your relationships?
To finally get a handle on your productivity?
To balance work and life, so you can grow personally and professionally?
Margaret Marcuson's brand-new
Leaders Who Last Ministry Growth Series is designed for you.
Each series includes 8 specific lessons that are time-tested with leaders just like you. You'll receive one lesson a week to implement, so you can steadily grow stronger and more effective in that area. Plus you can get coaching to support you as you put these ideas to work in your own setting. Get support from an experienced pastor who can help you sustain yourself in your ministry.
Margaret J. Marcuson is a leader of leaders, ordained ABC minister, and teacher and student of human systems. She speaks and writes on leadership and works with faith leaders nationally as a consultant/coach.
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