2019 FIRST CHURCH STEWARDSHIP CAMPAIGN

Transcription

1 2019 FIRST CHURCH STEWARDSHIP CAMPAIGN

2 OUR STORY At First Church, we believe that we are each born in love, by love, and for love. One way we live out our Divine Image of love is through generosity. This is certainly true for First Church. From its very beginning until now, our church s story is one of generosity. Countless people have given of themselves and of their resources to build this church, to grow its ministries, and to make an impact in the community around us.

3 ROOTED IN GENEROSITY In the late 1800s as Birmingham was forming, a group of Methodists began the first Methodist church. They flourished and soon outgrew their meeting space. As they began to explore how to build the sanctuary there was one problem: it cost $160,000 an enormous sum of money at the time. One family in the church, the Hillmans, had saved money to build a new home, but chose instead to contribute $30,000 to kick-start the fund to build our sanctuary. They never built the house they had planned, but through their gift they laid the foundation for what generations to come would call home. First Church is rooted in generosity. Our sanctuary stands because our founders believed in the ministry that this building represents. They believed that Birmingham needed a church that would be an example of how to share God s love with this city. They believed so much in the vision of First Church that they were willing to give generously, thinking beyond themselves toward a mission that would embrace ALL. FORMED IN GENEROSITY As First Church grew as a downtown church, so too did its generosity. People like Dr. Louise Branscomb and Sam and Mary Reid have provided a legacy of generosity. Because of their endowments and bequests made by others to First Church in their wills, we continue to utilize these resources to grow our ministry in this city. In fact, for a number of years, our endowments have allowed us to have a greater impact than we would have been able to with offerings alone. The generosity of those who came before invites us to join them in their efforts to give beyond ourselves so that others can experience abundant life too.

4 CALLED TO GENEROSITY Just as we ve been rooted and formed in generosity, we are called to generosity. We need each of you to prayerfully give of your time and your resources to not only continue our good work, but to do more. We are called by God to share the message of God s inclusive love with people of all ages and abilities and to reach outside our walls to embrace the community around us. To live into this great calling requires each of us to give generously. It s obvious from the stories you will read in this booklet and other stories being told in our community, that First Church is changing lives through your gifts. Let us continue the mission our founders began and joyously live into our call to be people of generosity.

5 WILLIAM EVANS My name is William and something that is unique to me is that I live in Helena but my family attends church in downtown Birmingham. We go to church at First United Methodist Church in Birmingham. We sometimes call our church First Church. Sometimes people ask me and other members of my family why we go to church all the way downtown. I am in cub scouts at Helena United Methodist. My great grandparents met at the church and that is how my family ended up attending there. My great grandparents are no longer alive. I would choose to go there anyway. We have members from all over including Tuscaloosa, Cullman, and Sylacauga. We are pretty diverse. We have people from many different backgrounds like how much money a family has, different ages, and different races. I learn a great deal about God and Jesus through many different teachers and also with how we are as a church family. We are a family. We take care of each other. A few years ago, some of my friends who are in the same family lost their mother to domestic violence. One of my good friends was shot, too. This was very hard for me to understand, but I knew I loved the kids, especially one of them, who I was close to. We listen to each other when we have problems and try to be there with prayer and other support. We give each other many hugs. I am glad that we drive downtown to such a great church! It is my other family! I give to First Church so that others can experience a family that loves them no matter what.

6 JESSIE GRIMMETT PHILLIPS I was invited to First Church by a friend and then started to attend on my own. You see, I was in a place where I really didn t want to attend any church. I was raised in a Baptist church. Later in life, I joined a non-denominational church. And it was wonderful for a long time! But it was not the place for me nor my family. After visiting First Church, we really liked the way we were able to be a part of so many things! People were very accepting of new experiences and new ways. It was refreshing to see so many people showing kindness and love - and accepting us for who we were and not what we had! In February of this year our church went on a retreat. After our sessions, we would all go back to our rooms where we would find all of the children playing together! I would just sit back and watch the children playing. They were not looking at the color of each other s skin or hair. They were just enjoying each other! And I started to think, how do we prepare them for the world outside of First Church? Because I have come to learn that not all people are as accepting, caring, loving, or understanding of what these children represent as the people here at First Church. I pray that we learn to extend our love further out into the world. I give to First Church so that other families and children can experience the justice that allows you to be accepted for who you are and not what you have.

7 TRINA RAMSEY BUDDY RAMSEY In 2001, our daughter, a single mother, adopted the most adorable baby boy ever! As every grandparent knows, we immediately fell in love with this beautiful, amazing, and surely gifted, dark skinned grandchild. Of course we worried at that time if he would be accepted in the white world in which we lived. Were we doing the right thing for him to subject this beloved child to the racism which still exists in our culture? Even our church, which had become our second home, where we had been members for 24 years was all white. Would he be accepted there, the only black baby in the nursery, the only black baby in the congregation? Was that even fair to him? Should we take him to a black congregation? What we soon learned was that our church, First United Methodist in downtown Birmingham, was a place of love and inclusion, rather than of hate and exclusion. Our baby was not only accepted by our First Church family, he was welcomed with open arms, he was loved, he was embraced, he was showered with kisses. In other words, he was cherished. Our church family simply did not care about his color. They saw only a child of God; and he grew and thrived in that environment! Now in 2018, First Church has become a model for what can happen when we truly practice what it means to be an open church for all. Inclusion is one of our guiding principles. No longer is our grandson the only black child in our church, but one of many black and brown children, teens, and adults who have found First Church to be that warm, loving, welcoming, giving, and compassionate church where they belong. It is a church where unconditional love has opened our hearts and minds to treasure diversity. We give to First Church so that others can experience the wideness of God s Beloved Community in all of its diversity.

8 KELSEY DREYFUS HALLIE LUCKIANOW When Hallie and I first started dating, it was on the night of our second date that we dove head first into the conversation about our faith. We both grew up in the Methodist church and it was funny how similar our backgrounds were. On that night, we both decided that finding a church who fully accepted us was important in our lives and in our relationship. Imagine one day you see a large sign outside of a gorgeous church that reads, LGBTQ Community Welcome. God is Love. Growing up in Alabama is not always easy for the LGBTQ community and that sign was almost too good to be true. We decided to try a service at First Church and see what they had to offer. I had heard stories of others walking into new churches for the first time and not even being acknowledged. Let me just say that we were given the complete opposite greeting. Everyone we came into contact with made it a point to welcome us with open arms and genuine happiness. During the announcements they professed that they were an open place for all. During the service they spoke about the inclusion of the LGBTQ community and it was obvious that they were not putting on a show. Hallie and I left knowing that there was no need to continue church shopping. We had found our home. First Church is not just welcoming, they are affirming in their love for us. It is amazing what a difference it makes to not be afraid to introduce your partner as your fiancé. It is freeing to be able to wear what we feel comfortable wearing to church every week. Most importantly, it is wonderful how much our faith has grown because of the First Church community. It is now a year later and we are proud members who want to continue sharing the love and acceptance that we have received to everyone who steps through the doors at First Church. We give to First Church so that others can experience the hospitality and acceptance that comes from this church family.

9 ANDY KEITH My story began May 27, 1967 when Dr. Edwin Kimbrough married Ann (plus her two kids) and me at Trinity UMC where he was senior minister. Two years later we left Trinity and moved to Fort Bragg, North Carolina where I was stationed as an Army doctor. It was relatively easy duty, certainly easier than medical school or internship, and I was fortunate to miss a tour of Vietnam. Upon returning to Birmingham in 1971 and looking for a church, we found that Dr. Kimbrough had moved to First Church. It was an easy decision to join as soon as we heard him preach again. And by this time, we had added two more children to the Keith clan! I like to say that my feet are in the concrete around here and are staying put. It s the same church now as then, but really not the same. Most of the members then, as well as Dr. and Mrs. Kimbrough, have died and gone on to their heavenly reward. There were no African Americans or openly LGBTQ persons in our congregation. Now we have become a beautiful kaleidoscope of persons and colors worshipping together every Sunday. While our congregation has changed for the better, so have I by becoming more aware of all of our wonderful differences. During these last 47 years at First Church, I and my family have experienced what I like to call the STUFF OF LIFE things like births, deaths, funerals, marriages, divorces, illnesses, and graduations. One of those STUFFS was Ann s death in August 2011 after 44 wonderful years of marriage. Another STUFF occurred in November 2012 when Emily became my wife. Many do not have the privilege of even one special marriage and yet I have been blessed by God with two! The church, who has become our family as well, mourned and celebrated with me on both occasions. Although the complexion of First Church has changed dramatically in 47 years, the loving, rejoicing, crying, caring, sharing, and supporting have never changed. And that s why my feet are firmly planted in the concrete around here! I give to First Church so that others can experience the STUFF OF LIFE within a diverse community that loves and cares for us all throughout the journey.

10 SARA BAKER The church has always been an important part of my life. I was baptized as an infant at First Methodist. As a young child, I attended Sunday School across the street at Sixth Avenue Presbyterian Church and then would come to worship at First Church. My mother, Ethel Ward, worked in the church office during the week and sang with devotion in the choir. Being an active part of the church was an essential part of our family life. I became an official member in 1948 when my husband Walter and I married. We were both active in the young adult ministry which met in the small auditorium but is now our main foyer. Time changes so many things! We were both raised in Christian homes where we learned the importance of tithing and giving generously to the church. After we married, we decided together that we too wanted to prioritize giving to the church. Through the years, we have been both financially and physically active in the church and have made the church the center of our lives. We, along with the help and generosity of other members, have built the Education Building, the Office Building, bought parking lots, parsonages, and been through many renovations. Each time we were asked to make 3 year pledges over and above our regular pledge. And we made the decision to do so. It was not always easy, but we saw each project and pledge through to the end. We never regretted it. I love First Church deeply and pray that we will all continue to work together to keep it alive on the corner of 19th Street and 6th Avenue in downtown Birmingham. The vitality and love of this place can only continue if we all come together! I give to First Church so that others can experience a legacy of generosity.

11 BRAD GREEN I was raised in a small rural and very traditional Southern Baptist Church. My father was a deacon and my mother was the church pianist. As a child I knew everyone that went to our church and they all knew me. From the beginning, I thought that most of the people that went to my church were loving, wonderful people. I think back to sweet memories from Vacation Bible School, church cookouts, and Sunday School. I felt loved and safe at that church for a long time. By the time I reached high school, I began to notice that not everyone at my church was so loving or wonderful to everyone. But, they still acted that way toward me. Probably because they still thought of me as the child that they had always known. I began to notice that what I heard from the pulpit and the pews could be harsh and scary. Scary because of how they spoke about anyone who was gay. They didn t realize that I was, and for a long time I didn t consider myself gay, but I still knew that what I heard bothered me. Through college and law school, I remained outwardly the same, but inside, I detested what church had become. I knew that if I was honest with those people whom I had known my whole life, I would no longer be welcome. Over time, I left that church of my childhood and really didn t prioritize finding any other church to call home. Eventually, I came to terms with how God made me. I fell in love with another man, and eventually came out to my family. I have been fortunate in that my family has accepted who I am and that I am now married to that same man that I fell in love with. Together he and I found First Church. From our first visit, it felt like church used to feel when I was a child. I was welcomed, I felt love here, not judgment. But this time it wasn t because I was hiding who I was. It was because the people of this church authentically cared about all people, not just people that looked a certain way, lived a certain way, or acted a certain way. We felt God s love through the people of First Church. Because of that, we felt that we needed to be a part of what God was doing here. And that has been one of the best decisions that we have made. We give to First Church so that others can experience the truth that they don t need to hide who they are because God s love is inclusive of ALL.

12 ANNA BLACKMON One visit to First Church was all I needed to know this was my new home. I craved a church where diversity was celebrated, where gray areas weren t just tolerated but embraced, and where my uncertainty wouldn t be held against me. This church was that place. I was raised in religion and was taught to know and follow the truth capital T at all times. To rip apart and examine the Bible in detail, and then live a holy life in line with its teachings. To know, do, and be right. Always. The thing is, I don t know how to do that anymore. I don t even know if I want to try. I just want to be loved for who I am, right now, in this moment. Similar to Matthew s parable about the weeds and the wheat, our lives are like flower gardens filled with dozens of types of plants, all sprouting and growing together. When I pulled up the weeds in my life my uncertainties, doubts, and darkness I pulled up my flowers, too. The beautiful things couldn t sink deep roots because I was always ripping them up by accident. All the while I felt ashamed for not having a better looking garden at this point in my life. So now I am letting my patch of garden grow, untouched and wild. I will no longer spend my life on the ground, staring at the dirt and feeling shame. I will hold my head up, and devour the fruit that I find growing in the wild thicket. I will let everything rise up together, even knowing that some of it is weeds, and I will trust that God is more understanding, and more kind, than I have given God credit for being in the past. I trust that God can see my heart, and see the flowers mixed in with the weeds. I trust that I am soaked in grace. I trust I am loved, accepted, and welcomed by God even if I am wrong because the people who gather here in this place have shown me that I am loved, accepted, and welcomed exactly as I am. I give to First Church so that others can experience the beauty of being authentically soaked in God s grace and love.

13 JILL ROGERS Coming to First Church was like coming home for me. My husband, Nick, and I had visited many United Methodist churches in the city after we married and moved to Birmingham, but nothing had really clicked for us. The moment our family walked through the doors of this church, though, I knew it was where we were supposed to be. I saw at least three people that morning in the service who had greatly influenced my faith journey, not to mention the minister at the time, Rev. Ralph Bates, who had been my first boss out of college. Sometimes you just don t argue with fate! In the 27 years that we have been members, we have seen many changes in clergy, members, and attitudes, including times when we didn t know if our church would survive. Sometimes beautiful things emerge from the ashes and I think that applies to our church. With God s guidance and our faith in believing we were here for a reason, we have emerged from being a dying suburban church trapped in a downtown location to being a vibrant, inclusive downtown church that is thriving. Our church has had the courage to be the hands and feet of Christ as we have said yes to all of those around us who have asked to be included in this family of God, many of whom have been marginalized by society in some shape, form, or fashion, and told on numerous occasions that they don t belong. If there s one thing I have witnessed over the years, it s that you don t become a member of our church by accident or by default. You don t come to our church because it is the closest one to your home. You don t come to our church because that s where all of your children s school friends go to church. You don t come to our church because it s new and modern, with all of the latest in gadgets and gizmos. You come to First Church because you HAVE to it becomes a part of who you are and what you believe a belief that God loves us all no matter who we are. Our motto of An Open Place for All is not just a string of words to us it is the heart and soul for all of us here who seek to know God and want to reflect God s love in everything we do. Ralph Waldo Emerson said It s not the destination, it s the journey, and what a journey our family has had at First Church in the last 27 years, and I wouldn t change a minute of it. We give to First Church so that others can experience a community of faith that journeys together through the tough parts of life and allows for hope to arise out of the ashes.

14 CONCLUSION For over one hundred years, the people of First Church have left a legacy of generosity, a legacy that has laid a foundation and continues to support the work and ministries in this place. It s up to us to continue that legacy. One way we can live into that call is to prayerfully consider making a pledge for the coming year. Click HERE to fill out your 2019 pledge card now and set up your recurring gift online. We can also carry on our legacy of generosity by choosing to include First Church in our wills. First Church is making an impact on the lives of individuals as well as the community around us with the message that God loves ALL. By financially supporting First Church, our collective gifts continue to propel the Gospel of love and mercy for ALL both within our walls and beyond our corner on 19th Street and 6th Avenue North. Love s impact grows as our gifts extend wide! Online Pledge Cards AND Giving One of the best ways you can help your church is by filling out your PLEDGE CARD ONLINE and then immediately clicking through to set up online giving. Often, giving is tied to literally showing up at church which creates financial strain during high travel seasons like the holidays and summer. However, with today s technology we are able to set up automatic drafts for everything from Netflix and Amazon Prime to Alabama Power bills. The same is now true for your pledge each year. Setting up online giving allows the church to function with greater stability and accountability. No matter the amount given, receiving it consistently over time helps First Church faithfully plan and operate throughout the year. When you fill out your pledge online it is secure, accurate, and one simple way to help your church! Click HERE to set up your online giving now.

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