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Pastoral Letter
Dear friends,
When I first started ministry, I had the incredible blessing of working with a saint named Jim McKinnon. He was a big man with a big, deep voice and an even bigger heart. He was loved by everyone who knew him. He was incredibly humble and equally wise. I miss him very much.
As I started in this first call so many years ago, I learned a great deal from him. One thing I learned from him related to the pre-marital counseling I did in the months before a couple married. When it came to talking about finances, Jim told me that he advised couples to save 10% and give 10% away. Now not everyone could do that at a young age, and some could never do that, but it was a good goal to have and I still advise couples to consider this.
The invitation to save 10% invited couples to remember that there would be times in their lives when they would need savings - in the event of job loss or transition, to pay for college for themselves or their children (if they had them), to handle emergencies or unexpected expenses that would come along, and to have a nest egg for their retirement.
The invitation to give away 10% of their income invited couples to remember that everything they have comes from God and that there are always people in greater need than they are in this world. That 10% is often known as a “tithe” (from the Old English word for tenth). In Deuteronomy 26, the people of God are invited to give a tithe, 10% of their harvests, the “first fruits,” back to God in gratitude and acknowledgement that what they had was a gift from God.
In Genesis 28:16-22, Jacob, having received a blessing from God after his dream of a ladder leading to heaven, promises (in his gratitude) to give back at tenth, a tithe, of his possessions.
The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Book of Order reminds us that:
"Giving has always been a mark of Christian commitment and discipleship. The ways in which a believer uses God's gifts of material goods, personal abilities, and time should reflect a faithful response to God's self-giving in Jesus Christ and Christ's call to minister to and share with others in the world. Tithing is a primary expression of the Christian discipline of stewardship.”
Not everyone can tithe to the church or give away 10% of their income. Not everyone can save 10% a month or a year. All of us, however, are called to remember that everything we have comes from God and we are to be good stewards of what we have been given.
Thank you for your tithes and offerings to First Presbyterian and to other helping organizations locally, nationally, and internationally. In giving, we receive – abundant joy, peace, and hope for the future. Thank you to those who have already turned in their pledge for 2023 and for those who plan to do so. Your support allows the life-transforming missions and ministries of First Presbyterian Church to continue and to grow. We have a message of love to share with the world. We have a message of love to live out in the world. Thank you for being a part of that.
With love and gratitude,
Mindy
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