Stewardship at... John

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1 Stewardship at... For fiscal year 2018 Mailing Date October 13, 2017 Featured in this issue: HBPres members speak Practical Financial Info You HAVE Made a Difference! Our vision statement at HBPres is Making a Difference by Making Disciples. So it is fair to ask, What difference have we, as members of Harvey Browne Church, made in the world? It is a good question to ask as we begin another stewardship season. What are the results of our commitment to this vision? I was cleaning out a drawer in my office recently and came across a letter from George Telford, a member of Westminster Presbyterian Church in Charlottesville, Virginia. It was dated February He was writing to express his appreciation for a sermon preached by Betsy Frentz, who was then a senior at the University of Virginia. He wrote, In her sermon she spoke of the numerous opportunities she was given, as a member of Harvey Browne, to grow in and reflect upon her faith through the years, and about the retreats, the Montreat conferences, the mission trips and other events on her own journey. Were you to have heard her, you would have been confirmed once again of the importance of what you do when you provide those opportunities for your youth. She spoke of the church there as family, and of how grateful she then was to find that same sort of family of faith here. Here is what is amazing to me: Rachel and Liz Harrod; Miriam and Amanda Dolin; Bruce, Keith, Brian and Kirk Pollock; John, Will and Elizabeth Seewer; Melanie and Ryan Cundiff; Megan and Nate Evans and so many more it would take me pages to list them all are others whose lives have been positively affected by the ministry of this church. You have made a difference in their lives and they are out making a positive difference in the world. Betsy was elected to serve on our Session about 18 months ago. She has been an outstanding elder. You helped Betsy and all of these young people grow into the fine Christians they have become. Pay close attention to all the ways we are making a difference. The youth program is but one of our many fine ministries. Read the testimonials in this special stewardship newsletter and rejoice that you are making a positive difference in what is often a very negative world. John A Silent Campaign This year s stewardship campaign will be a little different than in recent years. It will be largely a silent campaign that will also save on paper and postage. You won t be getting weekly letters asking you to give but, rather, this one-time newsletter plus inserts in your Sunday worship bulletin. You won t be hearing Minutes for Stewardship in worship, but you can still read what HBPres means to some of our members and why stewardship is important. Pledge cards will be available in pew racks as we move toward Commitment Sunday, November 12. We will also share a lunch after worship that day. If you have questions about this year s stewardship campaign, please ask one of our Stewardship Committee members: Maggie Chilton, chair; Doug Mann; Gary Luhr; and Sara Sutphin. Harvey Browne Memorial Presbyterian Church 311 Browns Lane Louisville, Kentucky Phone: Web:

2 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:21 Sometimes Heard at this Time of Year We talk too much about money. Or perhaps not enough. Stewardship season comes once a year, but we are called to be stewards of God s gifts (and the church s resources) throughout the year. We shouldn t talk about money in church. Money is mentioned in the Bible more than 800 times. Like any of us, the church requires money to fulfill its mission God s mission, really. To pay the preacher (and the rest of the staff), maintain the building (a big and costly structure) and engage in the many ministries and programs that fulfill God s mission. A pledge is the price of church membership. Not true. We are called to give freely, not as an obligation. (2 Corinthians 9:6-7) When we give money to the church, we give it as an offering a voluntary gift not as a tax or membership fee. Making a pledge helps the church to budget for the coming year, just as we do in our own households. Where does tithing come from? The tithe was an obligatory offering that was used to meet the needs of the religious, economic and political system of ancient Israel. In the Old Testament, tithes were also used to meet the needs of foreigners, orphans and widows. The New Testament does not give any specific rules about tithing, though Jesus made it clear that we are obligated to be generous to those in need. Are people better Christians if they tithe? Is something wrong with me if I don t? No and no. The Bible does not require Christians to give any certain percentage. The right amount to give may be more or less than ten percent based on one s circumstances. Giving generously acknowledges that everything we have is a gift from God and is to be used in God s service. Am I obligated to give to the church even if I am having trouble paying my bills? No. We must pray and listen to our consciences and consider the needs of ourselves and our families when deciding how much to give. (1 Timothy 5:8) No one should feel pressured to give a certain amount of money or a certain percentage of income to the church or any other ministry. Is money the only way to be a steward? No. The Bible urges us to share generously of whatever talents, abilities or wealth God has entrusted to us. (Romans 12:6-8) But do we really have to talk about money during worship? Yes. Because giving is not done solely to help the church pay its bills. As Christians in the Reformed Tradition, we believe our lives and all that we have belong to God and are to be offered as a response to God. Gathering an offering on Sunday morning, one that is freely given, and receiving it with prayer is also an act of worship. Praise be to God! Page 2 October 13, 2017

3 Honor the Lord with your substance and with the first fruits of all your produce. Proverbs 3:9 The Rent You Pay Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on earth. - Mohammad Ali I have tried to dedicate my life to serving others, which all began with a youth mission trip in the 1960's from my home church in New Jersey to Eastern Kentucky. I began accompanying youth on mission trips during the 1980s and continued that when I arrived at HBPres in the 1990's. When employed, I used a week's vacation to participate in these trips. Over the last seven years of retirement, I have joined many volunteer organizations including Presbyterian Disaster Assistance and I try to help around HBPres on Monday mornings with Harvey's Helpers. My Presbyterian church started me on this path during high school and continues to make much of my work possible accompanied by my church family. HBPres continues to be my support for my work with others and allows me to show others the importance of working together. Having a strong group of friends, my church family, encourages me to keep going, stay strong during difficult times and reminds me of my priorities. What I give to others is given back to me in a multitude of ways. I am thrilled to be a part of the mission of HBPres and get "goose bumps" seeing all the new missionaries arriving at HBPres. ~ Dave Doehnert Saying Hi to Anybody Interview with Micah Drake, second grade: What do you love most about HBPres? Listening to the scripture read in church. It gives me information about the Bible that I didn t know before. I also like the new playground. I like Sunday School. It helps me to learn stuff I didn t already know. Can you recall an experience at church that was particularly meaningful and why? I got to read the last prayer at the 100th birthday party. I always wanted to read something to the church. Also, everybody knows me at the church, and it s OK to say Hi to anybody I want to. How does your involvement at church affect other aspects of your life? I get to visit my grandparents more. I have a friend at school, and we like to talk about church. What do you think of when you hear the word stewardship"? Giving clothes, money, and toys that I don t play with any more. I can also show a new kid around the church. Why is it important to support the church financially? So they can help people who have lost stuff in the hurricanes. We also have to pay for electricity. Does it ever bother you to hear the church talk about money? No, because people need to give money. But, you shouldn t brag about how much money you have. Guarding the Resources When the members, through their stewardship, give money to the church, it s important to guarantee that the church (staff and Session) can protect it. The Support Committee of Session is responsible for the financial process, and it is working on a Finance Policy that will be presented to the Session at the November meeting. In addition, an audit of the books of the previous five years is being conducted by a CPA. That report is also expected in November and will likely result in revised accounting procedures. Look for detailed information at the end of the year. October 13, 2017 Page 3

4 All shall give as they are able, according to the blessing of the Lord your God that he has given you. - Deuteronomy 16:17 Those Budget and Staff Reductions Many of us were surprised this year when we learned of the need to cut our budget significantly and reduce our staff in order to live within our means. Our projected income and the need to earmark a sizeable amount for deferred maintenance of our aging building required that the budget for 2017 be reduced by $120,000. A quick overview of the budget reveals the challenge we faced. Personnel costs (salaries and benefits) account for 64% of the church s total budget. Maintenance, building and office expenses account for nearly 26% That leaves just 5% for outreach contributions to organizations such as Cabbage Patch, Habitat for Humanity and St. Matthews Area Ministries, and 5% to cover the costs of worship, music, children s programs, youth activities, adult ministries and more. Unlike some churches, Harvey Browne doesn t have a huge endowment upon which to draw to help cover expenses. Typically, around 80 percent of our income comes from pledges and offerings. Only about five percent comes from interest on our endowment. The rest comes from various sources, primarily rental income from the preschool and others. We are a church that is truly blessed. We are blessed to have a generous congregation that gives freely of its dollars to help HBPres meet its needs. We are also blessed to have a Session, a dedicated staff and a host of volunteers who stretch those dollars as far as they can go. But as fixed costs continue to rise, it is more important than ever that we all do our part to continue God s work through Harvey Browne Church. What Is Per Capita? In recent years you have received a letter each year asking for a per capita donation. Per capita is the money congregations pay to cover the operational expenses of larger bodies of our denomination presbyteries, synods and the General Assembly. We do this because we are a connectional church, where different parts of the total church body support one another. Per capita is based on membership; the 2017 rate is $23.08 per member. For Harvey Browne the total assessment for 2017 is $17,102. At one time we paid the full amount from our annual operating budget, but as church membership has declined, the session has chosen to ask members to help cover this expense over and above their annual pledge. Page 4 October 13, 2017

5 Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received. 1 Peter 4:10 Sharing One s Self in All Ways Interview with Dawn Cundiff What do you love most about HBPres? We joined HBPres a month after John Roper came. We loved the things that were being done with the youth and loved the things Marty and I did with them. Can you recall an experience at church that was particularly meaningful? A youth mission trip to Memphis didn t start well; the youth were apprehensive and less than enthusiastic about the work they were about to do. Then a huge storm swept through and took out power to 300,000, including the church where we were staying. The group was put on storm cleanup. I was the cook for the group of 30 and had to make do with coolers and tabletop grills. The local Kroger store had power and, therefore, could provide ice and graciously charged our cell phones. God answered a lot of questions that needed to be answered that week. The power came back just as we finished up our work week. What do you think of when you hear the word stewardship? Sharing myself with the church in all ways, not just financially. Harvey Browne Means Everything When I was asked to write a note about what Harvey Browne means to me, I immediately thought everything. Most of my friends are here because we have served on committees together and found we had the same goals to give HBPres our time, our efforts to reach our goals, and our gifts of money. Over the years we have become lifetime friends. The happiest times in my life have been spent there. Two years ago, I was hospitalized for six weeks, and I will never forget the number of people from Harvey Browne who visited, brought flowers, cards, ran errands and would absolutely do anything for me. The ministers were wonderful with their uplifting prayers and visits. I have been a member of Harvey Browne for 50 years. Our children grew up at Harvey Browne. My husband s funeral was held at Harvey Browne. I will always be indebted to Harvey Browne for being a large part of my life, which makes me welcome stewardship time when we can give back for all the gifts that have been given to us. God is good. ~ Barbara Noland Caring for All God Has Given Me Interview with Doug Mann What do you love most about HBPres? What I feel every Sunday during worship that carries me to the next Sunday. Can you recall an experience at church that was particularly meaningful and why? Being the Chair of the Committee that brought John Roper to HBPres. How does your involvement at church affect other aspects of your life? It teaches me how to treat others. What do you think of when you hear the word stewardship? I think of taking care of all that God has given me and making good use of all resources. Why is it important to support the church financially? I feel the church is the moral compass and source of compassion for our society and without it I think we would flounder. Does it ever bother you to hear the church talk about money? We as a church must talk about money and all the good we can do with it. October 13, 2017 Page 5

6 And my God will fully satisfy every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. - Philippians 4:19 A Theology of Stewardship In the Bible, Jesus talks a lot about the use of money. A good example is the parable of the Rich Fool (Luke 12:13ff). Jesus clearly sees a connection between the way we use our money and the state of our souls. The most complete statement of giving, in my opinion, is in II Corinthians 8-9, where Paul commends churches that have given to the poor. The Revised English Bible says, If we give eagerly according to our means, that is acceptable to God; he does not ask for what we do not have.each person should give as he has decided for himself; there should be no reluctance, no sense of compulsion. God loves a cheerful giver. (II Cor. 8:12, 9:7) Cheerful in Greek is hilarion. God loves a hilarious giver, one who delights in giving. This is the opposite of being guilted into giving. The Bible clearly commends tithing (See Deuteronomy 14:22), though Jesus mostly saw tithing as an exercise in self-righteousness (See Matthew 23:23). Of more interest to me than tithing is proportionate giving, i.e. giving a disciplined percentage of income, even if it is only one percent. The first step toward this practice is moving from an occasional dollar in the collection plate to the regular discipline of giving, even if only a small amount. Stewardship has little or nothing to do with supporting the programs of the church. Instead, it is an occasion for the giver to examine the relationship between his/her faith and the way we use our money. Our checkbooks are theological documents, showing what s really important in our lives despite what we profess on Sunday. The theologian Karl Barth said, I know I am a Christian because I am grateful. Gratitude leads to generosity. But the reverse is also true: generosity can jump-start my gratitude. The Book of Order says: Those who follow the discipline of Christian stewardship will find themselves called to lives of simplicity, generosity, honesty, hospitality, compassion, receptivity and concern for the earth and God s creatures. That s a pretty good payoff for practicing stewardship. Someone once said, Stewardship is not about the need of the church to receive, but the need of the giver to give. I give to the church because, for all its faults, it is still the place where I and others encounter Jesus. ~ Bill Williamson Page 6 October 13, 2017

7 Give, and it will be given to you for the measure you give will be the measure you get back. Luke 6:38 Learning How to Help Interview with Eric Hilyerd, first grade What do you love most about HBPres? I like to play on the playground. I feel comfortable here. I like playing a lot. I know a lot of people here. You can do music and learn about the Bible. Can you recall an experience at church that was particularly meaningful and why? I like playing Orff and handbells because I really like music. How does your involvement at church affect other aspects of your life? I learn how to help my family and how to help my friends. What do you think of when you hear the word stewardship"? It means being a good citizen, cleaning up, and donating stuff. You can donate old toys, clothes, money, and food. I would have more money to donate, but my cat keeps stealing it. Why is it important to support the church financially? Because we need to give money to people whose houses have been destroyed. We need money to fix up the church, like a new roof. We need to repair the church when it falls apart. Does it ever bother you to hear the church talk about money? No because that s what the church needs. It doesn t matter if you re rich or poor. Helping Any Way I Can Interview with Keegan Henderson, tenth grade What do you love most about HBPres? I really like the youth group and the A/V system. The A/V is my way to contribute to the church. Can you recall an experience at church that was particularly meaningful and why? Montreat and other youth trips are helpful in that they help me feel peaceful and connect more with God and other youth. How does your involvement at church affect other aspects of your life? I feel more open in my relationships with others. I m also nicer and feel more relaxed. What do you think of when you hear the word stewardship"? Helping the church in any way I can. Why is it important to support the church financially? Because money helps to run the church and helps others in need that can t support themselves. Does it ever bother you to hear the church talk about money? No because everyone needs money. Money is essential to live, and it s good to give to others. Opportunities When asked to provide some thoughts on what Harvey Browne means to me, I decided to see if I could boil it down to a single word. After a bit of thought, I arrived at the word opportunities. Opportunities to lead and opportunities to serve. Opportunities to teach and opportunities to learn. Opportunities to celebrate new life and opportunities to support old age. Opportunities to make a joyful noise and opportunities to sit in silent contemplation. Opportunities to provide meals to the homeless, and opportunities to enjoy burgers and beer at Food Truck Fridays. Opportunities to worship to the rich notes of a pipe organ and opportunities to worship to the distorted notes of an electric guitar. Opportunities to share the heartbreak of the cross and opportunities to share the joy of the empty tomb. Opportunities to celebrate our rich heritage, and opportunities to work toward the possibilities that lie ahead. ~Scott Doelling October 13, 2017 Page 7

8 Nonprofit Org. To Open Grab and Pull at top corners. Harvey Browne Memorial Presbyterian Church 311 Browns Lane Louisville, KY ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED U.S. Postage PAID Louisville, KY Permit No Cashless Gifts Forget the Benjamins in the collection plate. HBPres makes it easy to pay your pledge through a monthly electronic funds transfer. In the same way that you can pay your utility bills, your pledge can be directly drawn from your checking or savings account. It means you don t have to remember to write a check, and you will never get behind in your pledge payments. This is a reliable and secure process. If you want to start this for 2018, fill out the back of the pledge card. Another way to give is through a stock transfer, which can ease the tax you would otherwise pay on the capital gains. HBPres policy is to sell your stock immediately, giving cash to the church and a tax deduction to you. Ask your financial advisor if this is a good idea for you, and ask Cheryl Granger for instructions. Finally, if you are already at or approaching age 70-and-a-half, you might consider a direct donation from your IRA account to the church. This may have tax advantages. Consult your financial advisor about this. If your gift to the church uses one of these cashless methods, pick up a wood chip for the offering plate. This is not a license to brag. Giving is an act of worship, and that is why these chips are available. You can join others in the congregation in the response of gratitude to God s gifts to us.