September 2016 – Ecumenical Stewardship Center

30Sep 2016 by Marcia Shetler No Comments

ESC NEWS October 2016

There's still time for a 2016 Congregational Stewardship Emphasis An annual focus on congregational stewardship can provide the foundation for creating an ongoing culture of generosity in your congregation. It allows you to highlight your ministry, celebrate supporting that ministry in community, and affirm your call to provide a Christian witness in your neighborhood and in the world. The Ecumenical Stewardship Center provides 18 different biblically-based stewardship emphasis themes. Review them all in the ESC web store. Visit the web store Just 6 weeks left to register for Generosity NEXT November 30 - December 2, 2016 Coral Gables Congregational United Church of Christ Coral Gables, Florida • Outstanding leaders from the Lake Institute on Faith & Giving: David King and Melissa Spas • Five excellent conversations that will change the…

30Sep 2016 by Marcia Shetler No Comments

New Engine, New Tires & Luke – Faith in the face of debt

General

Student loans? Broken down cars? How am I ever going to pay this off? Those are some pretty normal reactions to debt. What strikes me though as I think about these questions, is a reminder of the way God is present even in the face of our stress, uncertainty, doubt, and fear, all of which can surface when thinking about money and debt. The Gospel of Luke is full of stories and parables from Jesus about money, wealth, poverty, and debt. For example, there is the confusing parable of the Dishonest Manager found in Luke 16:1-13. In this story we hear of a manager who has been called to account for his business. In the face of what sounds like the manager’s certain firing, he goes about reducing the amount…

29Sep 2016 by Marcia Shetler No Comments

Registration Opens for Theological Principles of Stewardship Online Course

General

Registration is now open for the Theological Principles of Stewardship online course that begins October 30. Theological Principles of Stewardship is jointly offered by the Ecumenical Stewardship Center (ESC) and transformingthechurch.org. The Rev. Scott Jacob is the instructor. Theological Principles of Stewardship features four video lessons that students can view at their convenience, and three live conference calls on November 1, 15, and 22 at 6:00 p.m. Central time. .7 CEUs are available. This course focuses on developing or defining the student’s understanding of the theological principles of their stewardship practices. In the stewardship ministries or programs of our congregations, we use various biblical passages and references that speak to our need to be good, intentional stewards. Some of those biblical references are universal. Others may be more unique to…

11Sep 2016 by Joe Tolton No Comments

Conquer Your Debt

COMPASS

During September 2016, COMPASS focused on “Conquering Your Debt: the Overlooked Key to Faith and Finances,” including the live chat with Darryl Dahlheimer. Along with this chat there are blog posts by Marcia Shetler, Jessica Zakavec, Devon Matthews, and Timothy Siburg. Monthly Blog Posts: Conquering Debt by Marcia Shetler 5 Practical Applications for Overcoming Debt by Jessica Zakavec Reducing College Debt: a Group Ride. A Community Slides Toward Lower Education Loans. by Devon Matthews New Engine, New Tires & Luke – Faith in the Face of Debt COMPASS Chat Compass Chat with Darryl Dahlheimer on 28 September 2016, 8:04pm.

02Sep 2016 by Marcia Shetler No Comments

Giving Thanks for the Absent Guest

General

Leah and her son Nick followed their Thursday routine of setting the table for their evening meal. Late work days, school activities, open skate nights, church choir rehearsal, and babysitting for friends meant mealtimes were seldom relaxed. By design, Thursdays were different. They reserved that one day each week for a quiet meal and conversation. They set three places, a place for each of them and one for a guest. During the week, Leah or Nick would cut a photo of someone from the newspaper, a magazine, or a church publication. The photo, representing their guest, was placed on the extra dinner plate. Having saved money through the week, they placed these funds into the guest’s salad bowl. At the end of the month they would gather the money and…