July 16, 2018
Sometimes funds are scarce. God has created the world abundant with water, trees, blue skies and people we love. Though we have what we need, we don’t have everything. In congregations, this lack is sometimes evident regarding budgets. Budget realities The finance team would like to increase the budget for youth ministry, but the cost…
September 19, 2017
Planned giving doesn’t need to be a complicated challenge for your congregation. By following these principles, your congregation can start securing the financial future of your ministries. Everyone needs a will. Some people assume planned giving only applies to the very wealthy. The reality is that most people need a will, so a good starting…
May 2, 2017
The ritual of making an offering to a congregation has changed over the years. In one representation of the Reformed tradition, offering plates are passed from pew to pew after the sermon. I’m most familiar with this ritual, which is a response to the proclamation of God’s sovereignty and grace heard in scripture and sermon.…
September 7, 2016
When I was young, I went to worship with my parents and six siblings. My stepfather prepared our offering envelopes the evening before worship. He placed a dollar in each envelope. At the beginning of worship, he passed the envelopes to each of us. When I received my envelope, I experienced a weekly moment of…