I Serve You With Love

Stop.

Take a deep breath. As you breathe in say, “I serve you with love.” As you breathe out say, “I serve all in your name.” Repeat as many times as you need.

Listen.

Proclaim the message; be persistent whether the time is favorable or unfavorable; convince, rebuke, and encourage, with the utmost patience in teaching. – 2 Timothy 4:2

Reflect.

Whether in your email, on the website, or in worship, you’ve heard more this fall about our annual generosity appeal. On November 14, we will invite everyone to make a financial commitment to the mission and ministry of this congregation. After prayer, reflection, conversation, and planning, you will be able to turn in your statement of intent for 2022. Your faithfulness makes ministry happen here at Easter. 

It’s always thrilling to talk about the new, bigger, and greater things we can do. This year, we’re especially focusing on sustaining the buildings that house and strengthen our ministry and investing in the care and outreach to which God calls us. Sometimes, however, what we’re called to do isn’t always fancy or flashy. Sometimes it’s investing in the daily, vital, sustaining work of ministry that keeps happening here. 

Sustaining ministry excellence means continuing to support our staff with fair wages, our programs with ample funding, our fiscal responsibilities with prompt payment, and our property maintenance with an eye to safety. Sometimes people shrug and talk about it as “just keeping the lights on”, as if that doesn’t mean much. 

But honestly, keeping the lights on is where the daily work of ministry really happens. These basics support the staff who do such incredible work for our church and community. They keep up the spaces that help believers of all ages learn about and experience Christ in their lives. They help us be church in the world by paying electrical bills, covering fees, and fairly compensating those who do the work.  

This is the real work of faith: the minute-to-minute sustaining of the mission that we know we share. This is why I’ll grow my financial giving to Easter this year. I get to see first-hand how vital this work is and it is my joy to sustain it year after year. I hope you’ll join me as our financial giving sustains ministry excellence in our congregation.

Pray.

God, we thank you for the holy work of being church together. Bless us as we each support your mission in this place. Give us the endurance and wisdom to care for what you have given us so we can keep preaching the good news of your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Carry On.

Is there a staff person, volunteer, worship leader, or ministry partner you really appreciate at Easter? Let them know! Write a note of support and encouragement this week.