The Second Week of Advent - Dedication Sunday

This weekend when we gather for worship, we will bring with us our pledges of time, talent, and treasure for the coming year. We've been talking for several weeks now about the wondrous things we believe God is calling our congregation to do in 2009, and now it's time for us to move from discussion to action.

You've heard my thoughts about being veterans of Christ's service. You've seen the goals that our leadership has set for increasing our financial support of MCC Churches worldwide, increasing our gifts through MCC Cares to nonprofit organizations that are truly struggling with the volatile economy, and funding not only all of our MCC Austin ministries, but also funding our next building team so that they can obtain appraisals and plans and start us toward the reality of a permanent sanctuary. Additionally, you've been offered suggestions for ways that you can grow in your individual commitments to God through the ministry of MCC Austin.
So now I want to offer some final thoughts to you as you prepare to bring your pledges to church this weekend. First, may your commitment to giving be based on your answer to this question: Realizing that everything I have is a gift from God, how much does God ask me to give back as a spiritual response of faith?

Second, trust that if circumstances change for you and you are unable to fulfill your pledge, God and this church will accept whatever you are able to give and be richly blessed by it.
Third, though it is indeed a strange and troubling time in this nation's and the world's economy, it is not the time to become fearful or selfish, but rather time to reorient ourselves toward the things that are truly important. My friend, Rev. Greg McDonell, has offered these words to the congregation of the church he serves:

I would suggest that we see this "crisis" as a time for deep reflection. . . As Christians, let us spend some time reflecting on a few theological questions.1. Are we free enough to move from a mindset of scarcity to one of abundance?2. Are we willing to move from a place of isolation to one of relationship/community?3. Can we be transformed into a people that stops trusting in our attachments and begins to trust in God's providence?

Friends, I have so much hope and excitement about how our family of faith is going to continue to advance God's dominion and share the light and love of Christ in the coming year! But enough of my talking; listen to the promise that God makes to us through the words of the prophet Malachi:

Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in my house, and thus put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts; see if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you an overflowing blessing.

People of MCC Austin, let's bring the whole tithe into the storehouse and see what God does next!

Always in Hope,