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Our jubilee to proclaim the year of the Lords favor 2008
Dear Community at First
Stewardship Sunday is November 11th, a time to reconsider our pledge of Time, Tithe, and Talent to our community of faith for the year 2008. These three should be viewed as equally important parts of our commitment to our community. We have built a theme for consideration, prayer and commitment for 2008 around the concept of Jubilee, building on last year’s theme of Sabbath. Our Hebrew forbears took the concept of the Sabbath, the celebration of the day the Creator rested, and expanded it to a concept of the Sabbath year (seventh year), in which there were further celebrations and the relief of certain debts. It progressed to the Sabbath of Sabbaths (49 years), leading to the concept of the Jubilee, celebrated in the 50th year. In the Christian gospel, the concept of Jubilee is discussed in Luke 4:16-19. The story recounts Jesus’ proclamation: 18b He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor. In its 50th year, the UCC chose the theme of Jubilee to celebrate. The essence of Jubilee is rebirth and renewal, the virtual cleaning of the slate, which is our focus for 2008.
In 2003, Pastor Briget arrived in our midst, and First dedicated itself to building a community of Open and Affirming Christians who are listening for that “still small voice” that is “still speaking to God”. We set a goal of freeing ourselves from debt in five years, with the result that in 2008, we would become self-supporting, not drawing on the reserve invested by those gone before. In this final year, we must actively consider our stewardship obligation...deep reflection followed by “digging deep” in the commitment of our Time, Tithe, and Talent. This reflection includes consideration of what each of us has received through our association with our community and our obligation to give back, recalling the admonition “Give and it will be returned many-fold." Based on our estimate of income from amounts pledged and income from other sources, our community needs each member and friend to consider well, dig deep, and be generous in determining what they can afford. We are assured the gift will be returned many-fold. The enclosed pledge card indicates the areas for you to consider as you contemplate your contribution.
Thank you for your support and the commitment you give to this community so we may thrive and grow!
Steve Carter, Finance Minister
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