A Sense of Joy - Al Airola

The following was a minute for stewardship in church on Sunday November 13, 2011 by Al Airola:


There are 2 words at least which make any of us nervous. One is the “e” word, for evangelism, and I think we are getting better at that. And the other is the “m” word, money, which Alex so carefully presented to us as something that is uncomfortable. I know it is for many of you, and it is for me. I can remember as a young man my father telling his children that we did not talk about money. It wasn’t a thing you raised with your friends. And it was a private matter. And I can remember when I was teaching school when a young man or a young woman in their own curious way would say, “And how much do you make?” And my inside would just wanted to say something, but I would say, “You can read it in the paper, it is published every year.”

So anyway, in the stewardship season I cannot presume to tell you what you should do or how you should come to that decision, but I can share with you what Carolyn and I have done over a period of time.

Many years ago when we first joined this church, we became acquainted with stewardship through various needs and for some reason we took it seriously. We had never really been that involved in a church and had never actually made a commitment to provide money, so we thought about it. And, of course, we thought about tithing. Tithing is the giving of 10% of your income and I looked at that figure and I said, “Whoa, I don’t think so, not this year, not next year.” But then we thought about it a little bit, and we decided we would do something very straightforward. I would look at my income tax returns and I at that line and every year, we would try to increase our giving by .5% or 1%. And just do it automatically. It was easy. We didn’t have to think about it. We could start where we were and we would just move along. And we did that for a number of years.

And then I began to tithe to the University of Iowa. I had two children. Two children who were students, through careful planning, two children who were students at the same time and I remember tithing was not going to happen that year, or the next year, or the next year, or the next year. And we were trying to do the best we could. But then when the kids got through their educations, Carolyn and I went back to looking at our income tax returns. And, of course the eternal question for serious people is “Do I tithe on my net or do I tithe on my gross ?” Well, at the beginning we tithed on our net, and then it began to occur to me…the government doesn’t take its stuff off the bottom. Nobody else takes their stuff off the middle, so we decided that we would tithe off our gross. And, it took a number of years, and we finally reached that particular place at which I began to hear the words of Ray Lasell. And Ray Lasell said, “Tithing is a great place to start.”

Now, we are still wrestling with that, but I would encourage you to think seriously about tithing, and the way that we chose to achieve that took many years, and there was some backsliding, and some turning around, and some soul-searching about what we could or could not do, but it seems to me that having reached this particular point, it’s as if we have been doubly blessed. The money is there, it’s not a concern. We have a lot to share. And it seems to ease the burden of the thing about what to give to the church. So I would suggest you think seriously about it.

The only other thing I would mention to you is that Carolyn and I try to write that check at the very, very beginning of the month. It sort of makes me feel that I’m giving to the Lord first fruits. I know if I wait until the end of the month, there is nothing ever left over and God then gets the leftovers and I’m not very happy with that.

So, I would suggest to you to think seriously about whatever you do. Whatever you do is certainly a matter between you and the Lord. There are also many other ways to tithe, than financial. I believe that too, there are things that you can do with your talents and with your gifts. But, think seriously about it. And know that it can be achieved. And once it is achieved, there is a sense of joy. Thank you.



Al Airola
11.13.2011

the Lord of fear

Our stated clerk has written a nice blog based on the Taize song "In the Lord I'll Be Ever Thankful."  It is in the blue Sing the Faith supplement.  I don't think we've sung this in our church, but I'm thinking it would be easy to learn. 

Gradye reminds us that Jesus is the Lord of fear and concludes with this:

It may be tough to pray thankfully at your house this year. So pray the prayer that is honest and allows God in Jesus Christ to hear your fears. And may the peace that passes all understanding enter your heart and the hearts of those you love.

Happy Thanksgiving!  David

Friday & Sunday

Friday is known as "Black Friday" and is often considered the busiest shopping day of the year. Some have begun referring to it as "Debt Friday," because so many of us go shopping for Christmas on credit, living beyond our means.


But wait: tomorrow is Christ the King Sunday. It is the Sunday that believers recognize that Christ is the Lord of all creation. We remember that to Christ alone belongs the supreme allegiance in our lives. The day exposes all the idols around us that claim our allegiance of time, money, energy and focus.

The message of Black Friday is that you are valued because you are a consumer. Your job is to go spend your money so that someone else can make money. The message of Christ the King Sunday is that you are valued because you belong to Christ who reigns with grace and beauty. Your joy is to respond with gratitude because of the gift of Life you have been given. What a contrast!

As you find yourself living between Sunday and Friday, I'd ask you to try to find the proper balance. Try to spend as much time praying over your financial commitment to a tithe (giving away 10% of your income or wealth) as you do planning your Christmas shopping. Whether you give to church, charities like United Way or Red Cross, I hope you will discover what so many others have: tithing is more life-giving than buying.

There is nothing wrong with Christmas shopping. This is a wonderful time of the year. Yet Laura and I have found that our giving to church has helped put the rest of our finances in the proper balance and perspective. Read the scripture above. It says that they gave themselves first to the Lord. It also says that it brought them joy. I hope the same for you. 
 
Peace, David

A Book of Grace

The word Halloween is derived from the Old English "All Hallow's Eve." Which is to say it is the evening before All Saints Day, which occurs on the Christian calendar every November 1st. All Saints Day is important, for it is the time that we recall the saints of the church who have held us, loved us, taught us, inspired us and, by God's grace, changed us. Spiritual writers consider All Saints Day a "thin time," when the barrier that separates the known and the unknown worlds is less firm than usual.

We will observe All Saints Day on Sunday November 6th. We need this observance so that we may name our griefs, which are many. We carry grief and loss from years past. I will remember Bill Shaw, a leader in my childhood church. I will also remember my mother who died in 2002. We also mourn more recent losses. As difficult as it is we will remember Charlie Negus, whose death has not only affected his family but also our congregation and community. It is important that we acknowledge that impact on All Saints. It helps us with the long, ongoing healing process.

I am touched and inspired by Carl & Elizabeth's list of "Charlie-isms," one for each month of his life (see page 6 of the newsletter). This pretty much defines faith--to look for and find grace in the midst of pain. This is what saints inspire us to do, to create a book of grace that gives significance to our loss. I encourage you to write down your own "isms," perhaps a handful of ways that you have found grace in your own life. Create your own book of grace. In doing so, you will be living out Jesus' words when he said, "blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted" (Matthew 5:4). You will be joining your voices with the saints of all time and places who together worship and sing: "Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen" (Rev 7:12).

David

To Be Changed

I took this photo of the inside of our church over a year ago. If I took the photo again today, it would look essentially the same. The only difference perhaps would be the light from the windows would be different--today is overcast and rainy. And the table is set differently.

The only thing that changes much inside the sanctuary is the people inside. And that is what church is about--changing lives.

We come to worship to be changed through an encounter with the living God who created us, redeems us and sustains us from the cradle to the grave.

The space is important, to be sure. But it is what happens when you are there that makes all the difference. Rather than making sure nothing changes, come to worship expecting to be changed.

Back online

Due to some error on our blog template, we were unable to make any new posts recently.  I apologize for this delay.  Today I was able to change the blog template, so we have a new look.  This change also cleared up whatever it was that was preventing new posts to be created.  So we're back online now! 

I recently listened to a Presbyterian Outlook webinar from church consultant Tom Ehrich entitled "Overcoming Invisibility."  This is part of the series he is doing over the next few weeks--"Turnaround Strategies for Your Church." 

It's interesting to me that he didn't say anything at all about the physical location of churches.  All he talked about was the virtual presence that we have online.  He said every pastor should be a blogger and should blog daily.  Every pastor should have a Facebook and a Twitter presence. 

The key is not to reach out to existing church members, but to have an online presence that reaches new audiences.  This is nothing new to millions of people who already use social media.  The trick is can the church recognize this as the way to connect with people?  Will the church support ministries that don't get people here on Sunday mornings, but still help to change lives? 

I'm going to do my part. 

You can follow me on Twitter:  @davidivie1 

Peace,
David

In Our Work & In Our Play

The Spirit of God is working in our midst.


We have an Organist Task Force that is searching for an organist/pianist to enhance our worship experience. This person will fill the same role as our previous organists and will work with David Coleman. We have carpet in our Parlor/Fellowship Hall that is rippling, so we have a Parlor Task Force that is exploring options to remedy that tripping hazard. We have a noon bible study on Mondays led by one of our session elders, Mike Eversmeyer. We, especially Deacons, continue to reach out with love and support to those in our community who are bereaved and suffering. We have an opportunity to send a new generation to the Walk to Emmaus. We have raised money for Camp Wyoming in support of their needed property updates. This weekend many of us will walk to help in hunger with CROP Walk. The Presbyterian Women are hosting their Fall Gathering here in two weeks. Children will be baptized on Sunday, October 16th. Confirmation class resumes soon. And stewardship will become more of an emphasis over the next weeks. This summer our Book of Order changed (a completely new Form of Government and Foundations of Presbyterian Polity) which gives us the opportunity to reshape priorities around our mission goals. Our session continues to emphasize a priority for our church regarding welcoming, greeting and acclimating new attendees into our midst (Radical Hospitality).

Radical doesn’t mean that we get all wild and crazy and torch the place. Radical means that we follow Jesus’ lead to get back to the “radix”—back to the heart of the matter. God has placed us together at this particular time and place so that we may celebrate and share the grace, love, forgiveness and hope that is Jesus. We are here so that God may changes lives through our ministries. In our work and in our play may this be true today.

~ David