Stewardship

Please take a couple of minutes and view the faith story from Corrine Faircloth http://vimeo.com/31456030, Rev. Stephanie Moore Hand http://vimeo.com/31456906, Tom and Elaine Foster http://vimeo.com/31455221, Kyle Cadell http://vimeo.com/31175763, and Sue Gorman http://vimeo.com/30905927.
Consider how you have been blessed in your life, how Providence United Methodist Church has blessed you over the years and how your financial gift may impact someone here locally or around the world. Every gift counts.
"Giving, not getting, is the way. Generosity begets generosity."
- Luke 6:38, The Message

With prayerful consideration and celebration of the many gifts God has bestowed, I (we) offer the following financial support to the ministries of Providence United Methodist Church.
Name (Last,First)
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This information is kept in strict confidence. Please contact the Robin Furr, Business Manager, if an adjustment to your support becomes necessary due to a change in your financial situation (negative or positive).
Other Instructions

At the present time, I (we) will be unable to offer financial support. This information is kept in strict confidence. Please contact the business office if an adjustment to your support becomes necessary due to a change in your financial situation (negative or positive).
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Extravagant Generosity-Count Yourself Blessed

stewardship 2011 Due to the hard work and past financial commitment of all of you, our church has made major progress in the life-changing work that began last year and that has been accomplished in 2011. The long-term strategic plan and focus on debt reduction have transformed Providence UMC into a force for good, not only in Charlotte but beyond our shores in places that would never be touched if it was not for the support and commitment from the members of Providence.

Our affect on these lives can and will continue to ripple through our world in ways we do not even know. I have been blessed by being able to travel and speak around the world in the past couple of years and have seen the impact church communities can and do have. By our commitment of our prayers, presence, gifts, service and witness, we continue to help our brothers and sisters in need at home and around the world. We demonstrate that by our giving as illustrated in 2 Corinthians 9:11, “You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.” As we know, there is a time to give and a time to receive.

Thus brings me to announce the emphasis for this year’s stewardship/generosity campaign: Count Yourself Blessed, “Give and it will be given you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap, for the measure you give will be the measure you get back." Luke 6:38

This theme was chosen to emphasize that we all have been blessed in some manner in our lives and when we give of ourselves, we do receive blessings back. This ties with our church mission; a growing body of Christ, glorifying God and serving others helping us focus on how we glorify God when we give of ourselves through our gifts, whatever gift that may be.

Each year our staff and lay leaders respond to the needs of our community with a projection of how much money will be needed to continue our missions into the coming year. Needs grow annually as more people locally and around the country need support. People who used to be on the giving end, now find themselves in a challenging place of needing the assistance of others. We are all faced with challenges that make us humble and rely on others to see us through. That is actually one of the many things we all have in common.

Over the next five weeks, in collaboration and support of our ministers, you will be exposed to messages from the pulpit and church family members that will share their faith stories, their thoughts on giving and give you their perspective on the power of prayers, presence, financial gifts, service and witness. You will be receiving a weekly link to one of their messages to view and contemplate. We will have the video message of the week on the Providence website so in the event you do not have email, can see it on the web. We will also be running their video message in the atrium on Sundays between worship services. For the first time, we will offer the opportunity to make your financial pledge on the website to make it as easy as possible to make your gift however you desire, online, through the mail or in person on Stewardship/Extravagant Generosity Sunday, November 20, 2011.

I received a blessing from God on January 15, 2009 when God’s hands guided US Airways flight 1549 to a safe conclusion. I have had and continue to have the opportunity to share God’s grace around the world, impacting places and people who need to hear a message. I count myself blessed and I do know that we all have been blessed some way and know and believe in the spirit of generosity that exists at Providence. That is where our faith steps in that God and this church will be there for you if your circumstances ever change. Count yourself blessed, knowing that give and it will be given you, for the measure you give will be the measure you get back.

November 20, 2011 will be a day that is meant for ceremony as we deliver our pledge cards to the altar during worship service or go online to make our commitment. On that day, we have the privilege of practicing the commitment we all made when we became members, praying, being present for God, giving our financial commitment of what we can give, serving God and being a part of our mission, being a part of a growing body of Christ, glorifying God and serving others. I look forward to seeing you there.

Grace and Peace, Dave Sanderson, Chair 2012 Stewardship-Extravagant Generosity