Generosity Ingathering
Essential Gratitude
Essential Gratitude is this fall’s generosity (stewardship) theme. The theme is grounded in this year’s invitation for “Community through Essentials.” In the New Testament Letter to the Colossians, chapter 3, the writer encourages,
“And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; teach and admonish one another in all wisdom; and with gratitude in your hearts sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God through him.”
In these few verses, the writer returns to what is essential: “the peace of Christ… being thankful… the word of Christ… gratitude… singing… giving thanks.” What a vision for a life of faith! There is an authenticity in gratitude that opens us to God and to one another for life together.
The Generosity Team invites you into prayerful preparation as we look toward Generosity Weekend on November 23-24. It is a time to reflect on the essentials of gratitude in your life and how that shapes faith and all that we do “in word or deed.” Over the next weeks, cornucopias will be at the altar rail to help us explore essential gratitude. Each weekend there will be a specific invitation for your words or deeds:
- All Saint’s Weekend, November 2-3: You are invited to write the names of loved ones and place them in the cornucopias.
- Sabbath to End Homelessness, November 9-10: You are invited to bring a $10 or $20 Target gift card for the cornucopias to bless someone in need.
- Preparing for Generosity, November 16-17: You are invited to write your words of gratitude and place them in the cornucopias.
- Generosity Ingathering, November 23-24: You are invited to share your faith promise/financial intention as an act of faith, either with the pledge card or, if you pledge online, with a printed “I made my intention online” card.
There will be weekend temple talks by members of the Generosity Team to remind us of these details, as well as additional emails and midweek devotionals. You can view the brochure and Ways to Give Sheet here:
Thank you for your essential gratitude and this life together!