Overflow 2019 STEWARDSHIP CAMPAIGN

Overflow 2019 STEWARDSHIP CAMPAIGN Overflow in a wealth of generosity. 2 Corinthians 8:1

overflow in a wealth of generosity Dear Friends of LOPC, Where would you go to determine your level of wealth? I suppose most of us would run to the bank, check the stock market or look up real estate values. That s where our wealth is, right? In a rather shocking bit of writing the Apostle Paul described a group of believers in Greece who, despite not having much on their balance sheets, were wealthy. We want you to know, brothers and sisters, about the grace of God that has been granted to the churches of Macedonia; for during a severe ordeal of affliction, their abundant joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. 2 Corinthians 8:1 What made them wealthy? Generosity. Come to think of it, we all know this to be true, don t we? The true wealth we possess is not what we keep in storage, but the lives of family, friends and strangers who are blessed by the gifts we give. Christians are the kind of people whose lives are built on the principle of stewardship. All we have, and all we are, is a gift of love from our creator God for which we are responsible caretakers. What we keep supports us in life, but what we give is the portion that God calls forth from us for the healing of the world. As Marcus Aurelius observed so long ago, The only wealth which you will keep forever is the wealth you have given away. We are a community of faith that believes in the call, whatever our individual circumstances, to overflow in a wealth of generosity. Your giving keeps this church moving forward in service to many, and an annual pledge that honors God from your substance allows us to plan and direct our ministry to the greatest and most efficient good. Please take some time to review the materials in this brochure, pray over what level of giving God is leading you and your family to offer, reflect on all the blessings you have received, and plan to return your Estimate of Giving card in worship on November 4. Blessings, Peter Whitelock 2 / Overflow

generosity matters to children This summer, Jeanette Shearer and her bunny rabbit volunteered at Vacation Bible Camp as a group leader with children during camp week. Jeanette was awesome with the kids and her bunny whose name is Rabbit was a huge hit too! Jeanette s generosity with her time and her pet made a difference in the lives of the children in her VB Camp group. -Lori Robinson, Children s Ministry for interfaith work We already knew that there is more that unites us than separates us, but it was so meaningful to gather as families at the Interfaith Family Circles to build friendships, learn about our different faiths, and share meals and our lives. The best part was seeing all our kids play together. I grew up with Jewish and Muslim friends and benefitted so much from their perspective and family stories. I love that my daughter is starting to develop similar friendships. -Anonymous to senior adults Thursday Fellowship is the bright spot in our week. We never want to miss a week. We have met wonderful people, enjoyed hearing speakers on diverse topics, and have even done pretty well at crafts. Our family feels that Thursday Fellowship is a prescription for happiness. -Cathy and Sam Gallinger to those receiving care In this hustle and bustle world, it was a tremendous blessing to have someone set aside an hour a week to support and encourage me, giving me the chance to share what was on my heart and mind. We laughed, cried, prayed and talked. Some weeks were lighter than others as the burdens lifted for a while. And some weeks I could hardly wait for the loving care awaiting me on that park bench. -Leslie Finertie Now as you excel in everything in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in utmost eagerness, and in our love for you so we want you to excel also in this generous undertaking. 2 Corinthians 8:7 Overflow / 3

growing our giving by 10% can do these amazing things 1. Grow mission We are called to serve, and LOPC is currently involved in many worthwhile mission projects locally, regionally and globally. But how can we do more? In 2019, our Mission in Society team would like to consider growing our mission through funding a new trauma healing cohort in the Congo, helping upgrade the campus of FotoKids in Guatemala, and implementing critically needed services to move families into permanent housing through Shelter, Inc. 2. Work for a better, more just world We work towards this in many ways, but one new way is through producing a series of weekly videos, uploaded to the LOPC website every Thursday, designed to help kids navigate a broken world by discussing tough issues like inequality, racism, and other systemic injustices in a kid-friendly way. It s called The Fantastic Project, and you should check it out! We d like to keep it going in the new year and develop our technical ability to produce the videos with some new equipment. 3. Special needs ministry We are moving as much of our ministry as possible to be inclusive of families with special needs children, and that will require additional resources. Many participants report that LOPC is the only place in our community where they can come together as a family, and through expanding educational and fellowship opportunities, we can reach even more families. 4 / Overflow

Let our abundance overflow into generosity. 4. Service learning for youth We re launching a Youth Service Academy to draw more of our youth, and interested people across all generations, into active, collaborative service in some of the most needful areas of our region and community. We have staff and volunteer resources, but will need additional funding to procure resources and supplies to work with our partners. 5. Take care of our staff We live in an area where the cost of living seems to constantly go up, up, up. You should know that LOPC seeks to compensate our hard-working staff fairly and competitively. Still, working in ministry involves more modest compensation levels than out in the public sector, so we need to make sure there is an annual salary adjustment for 2019. 6. Develop new formation opportunities We have a lot of new folks showing up at the church these days, and many of them are asking for classes, courses and groups to develop their faith. Beyond the many offerings we currently have, we welcomed a consultant, Dr. Kathy Timpte, to be with us for one year to develop more lay leadership, initiate a new class offering, and help us build out more groups in the life of the church. Overflow / 5

why i give Patricia & Brandt Andersson Giving to LOPC provides us with the opportunity to involve ourselves in all of LOPC s activities. We each have our own personal involvements, whether it s flower arranging or youth or Bible study. But LOPC is involved in so many things, that our pledges let us know that we have also played a small part in every mission, music, community outreach, and many other activities that are part of LOPC s contributions to its congregation, its community, and the wider world. Johan & Gerda Snapper We give to LOPC because it is our spiritual home, where we are nourished, loved, and educated. Giving to LOPC provides us with an opportunity to share our gifts with our community and the world at large. Pledging is important to us because it reminds us of the responsibility we have towards our church family. After all, LOPC does so much for us, it is only right that we do our share to help sustain it. We give to LOPC because it is a token to show Jesus Christ that we, too, can give a little when he gave so much. Fred & Lisa Toth We give to the church for various reasons. First, we like the idea of helping people, and we appreciate the different ways LOPC provides support to many different organizations. Additionally, we LOVE our church with the great variety of pastors and programs offered. For example, the children s ministry has been a blessing to our family and children. 6 / Overflow

I give to LOPC because it is my spiritual home, where I am nourished, loved, and educated. Linda & Bruce Johnson We give to LOPC because we can t serve or take advantage of all the outreach, spiritual growth opportunities and missions of the Church. When we pledge a portion of our income we feel that we are serving in every ministry in the church not just those we can physically serve in. Thus we become Christ s hands and feet in the community and the world. Sharon Bartlett I give to LOPC because I know that my gifts will be wisely stewarded. They will be well used in ways that are consistent with Christian values, both on campus and in the world beyond. Peter & Melinda Darbee We give because we recognize that worship is only one part of a Christian life. To be the best Christians we can be, we believe we are called upon to both support the church and worship and support its mission work with our financial resources and the talents God has given us. why do you give? Overflow / 7

how do i pledge? How do I pledge? Enclosed in this stewardship packet is a pledge card for you to fill out, and, hopefully, bring to worship with you on November 4. If you cannot make it that day, please feel free to mail it to the church at your convenience, or drop it by the front desk in the Ministry Center because Janet is always happy to see you! How do I pay my pledge? You can elect to pay by check, cash, credit card, ACH debits, and even stock transfers. You can set up a recurring pledge on the website or the new LOPC app. When and how you pay is up to you whatever best suits your circumstance. If you need to adjust your pledge during the year for any reason, contact Lidia Jesionek, LOPC Accountant, at (925) 283-8722, x229, or lidia@lopc.org. When do I send in my pledge payments? You can choose to pledge a certain amount for the year and pay your pledge every week, once a month, or quarterly. You also have the option of paying the full amount at any time. What if I m not ready to pledge right now? As always, how, when and what you choose to give is up to you, your family, and God! All we ask is that you consider making whatever commitment you can now, since that helps us put together a workable and fiscally prudent budget for the coming year. You can always raise or lower it at your discretion. Will I receive pledge envelopes? If you indicate on your pledge card, we ll order up a set of envelopes you can use to make your gifts. 8 / Overflow

how much should i pledge? This is something we approach as a matter between you and God, so let s start there! When we say it s not about the money, it really isn t in this case. Jesus taught about a woman who gave two pennies as superior to a rich man who gave sacks of money. Why? Because the woman was poor and gave sacrificially of her substance to God, while the rich man was just showing off! Seek a pledge amount that is significant for you, and don t worry about what others think. what do others give to LOPC? For 2018, 553 households pledged $2,297,097 54 families pledged $1 to $500 169 families pledged $501 to $1500 130 families pledged $1501 to $3000 110 families pledged $3001 to $6000 39 families pledged $6001 to $10,000 43 families pledged $10,001 to $25,000 8 families pledged $25,001 to $120,000 do i really need to pledge every year? We know all of us from personal experience that our fiscal lives have their ups and downs, making it difficult to make a pledge with confidence sometimes. If giving were an optional thing for believers, we might consider taking a pass on it some years. Pledging is ultimately rooted not in the church s need to receive, but our need to give. It builds confidence in tough times, gives us a sense of making a difference in this world, provides spiritual growth and contentment, and most of all honors God. Overflow / 9

God, is this what you want me to give this coming year? Giving Sunday is November 4 On this day we encourage members and friends to bring their pledge cards to worship. If you can t come to church that day, you can always mail your card or drop it by the church office. When considering your gift: REFLECT on the gifts God has entrusted you with, and for which you are grateful. This is a powerful exercise to do with a spouse or family. IDENTIFY the charitable causes that you plan on supporting this coming year, and rank them according to how important they are to you and your family. ESTIMATE family income for the coming year and then write down the percentage of that amount you want to deploy to the church and other charities. PRAY over it, asking, God, is this what you want me (us) to give this coming year? COMPLETE the enclosed pledge card and know how much your gift is appreciated, and will be put to good use through LOPC! 10 / Overflow

overflowing with love LOPC is a community overflowing with an abundance of gifts, talents, and resources. When one of us is in need, God provides through that abundance. Overflowing with love, this community pledges to: Be a Christ-centered community of faith, grounded in the scriptures, and open to new ideas and approaches. Provide care and support for you and your family when times are hard and you need a place to turn. Use all the resources you give wisely and effectively with transparency. Be a place where people of all faiths, or no faith, can turn for help and comfort. Provide compelling worship that feeds the heart and soul. Serve the poor and those in need, and create opportunities for you to be involved. Respect your convictions and create a place where there is joy in diversity and an opportunity to respectfully engage other people. Help you find genuine relationships and grow as a faithful person in today s world. 2017 Ministry Spending Children, Youth, Families & Senior Adults 15% Facilities & General Administration 27% Mission & Outreach 25% Congregational Care 9% Congregational Life & Spiritual Formation 8% Worship 16% Overflow / 11

We want you to know, brothers and sisters, about the grace of God that has been granted to the churches of Macedonia; for during a severe ordeal of affliction, their abundant joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. For, as I can testify, they voluntarily gave according to their means, and even beyond their means, begging us earnestly for the privilege of sharing in this ministry to the saints and this, not merely as we expected; they gave themselves first to the Lord and, by the will of God, to us, so that we might urge Titus that, as he had already made a beginning, so he should also complete this generous undertaking among you. Now as you excel in everything in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in utmost eagerness, and in our love for you so we want you to excel also in this generous undertaking. I do not say this as a command, but I am testing the genuineness of your love against the earnestness of others. For you know the generous act of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty you might become rich. And in this matter I am giving my advice: it is appropriate for you who began last year not only to do something but even to desire to do something now finish doing it, so that your eagerness may be matched by completing it according to your means. 2 Corinthians 8:1 11 (NRSV) Questions about pledging? Contact Lidia Jesionek at (925) 283-8722 x229 or lidia@lopc.org Thank you for taking the time to prayerfully consider your pledge this year. Lafayette-Orinda Presbyterian Church 49 Knox Drive, Lafayette, CA 94549 (925) 283-8722 www.lopc.org