FROM THE DESK OF REV. COURTNEY CLAYTON JENKINS

Beloved,

Lenten season is a very serious time for every believer. After prayerful consideration, I am excited to announce that during the 2021 Lenten season, South Euclid United Church of Christ is launching a three-pillar Paid In Full campaign that will impact our church, our congregation, and the surrounding community.
Pillar One: 40-day Financial Fast
February 17-April 3
 
Financial freedom is a goal that many of us share, but often, seems far from reach. This year, for Lent, I ask you to join me and SEUCC in a financial fast that will prayerfully set us all on a better financial course for the future.

Through a financial fast, we will break bad spending habits, and create a plan to become debt-free. While on a financial fast, we will commit to not spending any unnecessary money – at all. Unless it is food, shelter, or something else essential to survival, we will commit to making do with what we already have.

Join us this Lenten season in a financial fast that will have transformative effects on our financial habits and make us more conscious stewards of our dollars. Throughout this season, we will share tools and resources that will teach us sustainable ways to budget, save and responsibly spend our earnings.

Scroll below to download a resource guide outlining further details about our 2021 Financial Fast.
Pillar Two: All Tithe Month
March 2021
 
The truth is that one of the hardest places for us to trust God is in our generosity. We may give of our time and talents rather easily, but our treasure is hard to give up. We are all on a fixed income and yet we want God to bless us with more. The Bible tells us in 2 Corinthians 9:6-8, “Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”

Last year, during the months of April and October, I invited you to partner with us to witness a miracle with All Tithe Month. Beginning Monday, March 1st, I am praying that all who call South Euclid United Church of Christ home, join me once again in bringing their tithes unto the Lord with joy.

I am challenging those who do not yet tithe, to trust God to enable them to start. I am also challenging those who already tithe to not view tithing as a ceiling, but rather as a foundation upon which to become even more generous.

We have seen the power of tithing when every single person committed to our church contributed to the mission and vision God has set for us. More information will be made available via email and social media during the month to educate us on the purpose and practice of tithing, and to keep us focused on our commitment.
Pillar Three: Extravagant Generosity
January, February, March, and Easter Sunday 2021
 
South Euclid UCC is already a church that practices generosity, as we donate nearly 10% of our budget back to our congregation, denomination, and community. One of our most noticeable efforts is the B.I.N. Food Pantry, which stands for bless, inspire, and nurture. Fueled by a dedicated group of volunteer leaders, the B.I.N. Food pantry has blossomed into a $25,000 program that feeds nearly 300 families every 2nd Saturday.

Additionally, we were known across the region for Servolution — which historically was SEUCC’s annual month-long community service initiative. Servolution was an intentional effort we facilitated to give back to our community through service. However, due to the pandemic, we shifted Servolution from one month to one week in 2020, and were challenged to create a new method for service and to do things differently, while also modeling extravagant generosity. 

As a result, in January 2021, we began to take each week’s tithe from the contributions of those who gave online and set it aside. We will continue to do this for three months. By Easter Sunday, on April 4, 2021, South Euclid UCC will give the collective tithe back to the community through rental assistance to those in need in our neighborhood in South Euclid and, also the city of Cleveland. 

We find that many who come to our B.I.N. Food Pantry are doing so to save money on food, so that they can dedicate those resources to their housing costs. Through our Extravagant Generosity campaign, we hope to lighten the load of two of the most basic human needs: food and shelter. 

Therefore, we are asking partners of SEUCC to give of their tithe (especially during All Tithe Month) to assist us, so that we might have the greatest collective impact possible. In addition, the church staff will be reducing expenses where it can, to ensure that we are able to achieve the level of generosity we’re aiming for.

We value transparency, and as such, we will be communicative about the campaign and keep you abreast of the details. We will track how much is being set aside each month for the tithe, that will prayerfully bless as many people as possible by Easter Sunday.

The Extravagant Generosity campaign is our first effort to reimagine Servolution. If this initiative is successful, we intend to roll out a second phase in the Fall.
As you can see, we have a mighty charge before us this season. I look forward to the transformative work God will do in our lives this season.

I solicit your prayers as we embark upon this three-pillar campaign and journey. I ask that you join us, with a full heart, and trust that God will propel us into the vision he has for us at South Euclid UCC.

Trusting God with you,

Rev. Courtney Clayton Jenkins
Senior Pastor and Teacher, South Euclid United Church of Christ
DOWNLOAD THE RESOURCE GUIDE
We believe the financial fast and accompanying resource guide will have transformative effects on our financial habits.
Click the image to download.