Letter

January 5, 2012

Dear Church Members,

The Stewardship Committee has chosen the theme “Bold Faith, Bright Future” to guide us as we make decisions about how to commit our time, talents, and resources in the coming year. I like the theme because it both resonates with what has made South Main a great church for more than a century and “Bold Faith, Bright Future” calls us to make our own great investment in the Kingdom of God.

The thing about the past is, we can see it; because we know how things turned out, the great risks taken and bold faith lived out seem sensible and almost simple. Yet it takes a bold faith to take an unproven step toward the bright future ahead. We can understand what God asks of us by reading Paul’s first letter to Timothy giving him help and advice for the people of Ephesus. (1 Timothy 6:8) “Put your hope in God who richly provides us with everything.  Do good, be rich in good deeds, be generous and willing to share.” The incredible thing is that we have the precious opportunity to “take hold of the life that is truly life.” We can lay up for ourselves “a firm foundation for the coming age.” Are you willing to live into bold faith? To go against what common sense and past experience may tell you is the right path to take? The bright future that God wants to give us awaits. 

Please take the next few weeks to pray about what you want to give to the church’s budget in 2012. We want to help you live into the decision you make. Part of the way we help each other do that is to write our decisions down and share them. At South Main we ask you to make a pledge to the church budget. In a very real sense, you share you pledge with God by placing it in the offering plate. In the practical mechanics of the life of the church, our finance secretary, Jill Faragher, will enter your pledge in the church’s software and send you periodic reminder of what you planned to give. You can increase or decrease your pledge at any time. Your pledge is not a legal contract, it is simply a tool to help you grow into the bold faith that built our church and which God uses to bring the Kingdom through every church. You will see the decision card in the worship guide each week in January and we hope you will choose to make a decision and to share it in worship.

grace and peace,
 
Steve Wells