As we move into Fall; my favorite season of the year, with the cooler temperatures and
changing colors of the landscape, let us take time to reflect on that which we are thankful for and
most grateful. Within that reflection, I invite you to prayerfully consider how you will live out that
gratitude in the coming year. 2024 will be here before we know it, as Brad so gently reminded us
this past Sunday – only 23 days until Thanksgiving, 55 until Christmas Day, and 62 days until
New Years Day!
As Pastor Layne’s article invites you to consider your time, treasure, and talents, I too echo
that all three are vital to the life of the church and to the body in which we are each a part. Many
years ago, during a Stewardship Campaign, I recall a church elder sharing his story regarding his
giving to the church. I’m certain that my memory does not fully capture his exact story but what I
do recall the most from that moment was his certainty that just as, “man cannot survive on bread
alone, the church cannot survive by only receiving a portion of your 3 T’s; time, treasure, and
talent.”
I recall having a follow up conversation with this same elder many years later and sharing
how impactful his stewardship moment was to me and how it had stood the test of time for me. I
told him that when he originally shared his story Brad and I were fairly newly married and we were
often short on one of the T’s (I’ll leave it to you to figure out which one) but that we embraced the
opportunities to get involved whenever and wherever we could as we had more time than anything
else. I’m not really even sure if we had any real talents to offer at that time as we were so young but
we just kept showing up and sharing our time and energy to help where was needed.
Fast forward to several years ago when Brad and I completed Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace program, we began
to truly look at our treasure and to tell each dollar where it was going to be utilized. It was during
that time of working on a monthly budget that we truly began to faithfully dedicate our treasures to
the church. I tell you all of this, not to boast one single bit but to tell you that if trying to decide how
you are going to spend your three T’s is overwhelming, just begin. Write it down. Map it out.
Utilize the pledge card in this newsletter to commit to both yourself and the church how you will
utilize your gifts in this coming year to benefit not only the church but all those around you.
Shalom,
Pastor Heidi