Hearts Stirred Spirits Willing
We are having a very exciting Fall! We had our Healthy Church Initiative church consultation in September. After two town hall meetings where we discussed the prescriptions given to us by the consultation team, we voted October 14 to accept the prescriptions and begin working on them. Before the end of the year, I will be naming teams of 3-5 people to lead us in the different prescription areas.
On October 13, the day before that official vote, our Salem Rising capital campaign kicked off. We are now in the midst of our six week stewardship appeal. This is an opportunity for us to grow in faith and generosity. The goals for our Salem Rising Appeal include two purposes and two commitments. We are asking everyone to prayerfully consider 1) a one year commitment to the 2014 Annual Giving Fund [i.e. our regular giving], and 2) a three year commitment to our Building Fund. Building Fund commitments need to be over and above annual giving. We are asking, most of all, that you keep Salem in your prayers as we focus on Salem Rising and your part in that.
We began working on this Salem Rising Appeal at the beginning of August. We are now enjoying the fruit of that work. The appeal has already been introduced in worship. We have experienced prayer, drama, testimony, and information. Our scripture texts have been calling us to rebuild; to be faithful stewards; and to take risks. In November our scriptures will call us to remember those who have gone before us, passing along the faith; to work; to be thankful; and to rise up!
Sunday, November 10, is our Invitation-to-Prayer Sunday. Everyone will receive their Salem Rising Prayer and Commitment Packet in worship. We will have two weeks to pray and reflect on what God is saying to us. We fully trust that God is at work in us. We only need to open ourselves to listen and be faithful.
Sunday, November 24 is our Commitment Sunday. During worship you will be invited to come forward and offer your commitments. All of our commitments together will be dedicated to the glory of God. There will be a special fellowship event you won’t want to miss! On Sunday, December 15 we will celebrate the Salem Rising Appeal results to date.
There’s a wonderful story in the book of Exodus about the building of the Tabernacle, the sanctuary for God’s presence to dwell among the people. The people whose hearts were stirred and whose spirits were willing brought their offerings for the Tabernacle and all its service. The people kept bringing their offerings every morning until the workers told Moses the people had given more than enough to complete the work the Lord had commanded. So Moses told the people they had given enough. In fact, they needed to stop giving because there was too much. The people had to be restrained from giving more! (Exodus 25, 35, 36)
We are standing on the shoulders of those who have gone before us. There are those coming after who will stand on our shoulders. This is our time. This is our adventure.
May God stir our hearts. May our spirits be willing. May we be faithful in abundance. And may God be glorified.
On October 13, the day before that official vote, our Salem Rising capital campaign kicked off. We are now in the midst of our six week stewardship appeal. This is an opportunity for us to grow in faith and generosity. The goals for our Salem Rising Appeal include two purposes and two commitments. We are asking everyone to prayerfully consider 1) a one year commitment to the 2014 Annual Giving Fund [i.e. our regular giving], and 2) a three year commitment to our Building Fund. Building Fund commitments need to be over and above annual giving. We are asking, most of all, that you keep Salem in your prayers as we focus on Salem Rising and your part in that.
We began working on this Salem Rising Appeal at the beginning of August. We are now enjoying the fruit of that work. The appeal has already been introduced in worship. We have experienced prayer, drama, testimony, and information. Our scripture texts have been calling us to rebuild; to be faithful stewards; and to take risks. In November our scriptures will call us to remember those who have gone before us, passing along the faith; to work; to be thankful; and to rise up!
Sunday, November 10, is our Invitation-to-Prayer Sunday. Everyone will receive their Salem Rising Prayer and Commitment Packet in worship. We will have two weeks to pray and reflect on what God is saying to us. We fully trust that God is at work in us. We only need to open ourselves to listen and be faithful.
Sunday, November 24 is our Commitment Sunday. During worship you will be invited to come forward and offer your commitments. All of our commitments together will be dedicated to the glory of God. There will be a special fellowship event you won’t want to miss! On Sunday, December 15 we will celebrate the Salem Rising Appeal results to date.
There’s a wonderful story in the book of Exodus about the building of the Tabernacle, the sanctuary for God’s presence to dwell among the people. The people whose hearts were stirred and whose spirits were willing brought their offerings for the Tabernacle and all its service. The people kept bringing their offerings every morning until the workers told Moses the people had given more than enough to complete the work the Lord had commanded. So Moses told the people they had given enough. In fact, they needed to stop giving because there was too much. The people had to be restrained from giving more! (Exodus 25, 35, 36)
We are standing on the shoulders of those who have gone before us. There are those coming after who will stand on our shoulders. This is our time. This is our adventure.
May God stir our hearts. May our spirits be willing. May we be faithful in abundance. And may God be glorified.
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