We are moving forward with a new and exciting stewardship program for this fall’s campaign.  We will be using Herb Miller’s “New Consecration Sunday”.  We are looking to shift from a “budget-centered “program to a “God-centered” program for encouraging our giving.  A  Stewardship Team of eight members of our congregation has been meeting to implement this program and plan our celebration event which will be held Sunday, November 22.  You will be hearing more about this program as preparations progress further.

New Consecration Sunday — Philosophy
New Consecration Sunday  is a stewardship education program based on our Christian acceptance of God’s unconditional love and our need as stewards of God’s Word to make a faith commitment by giving a percentage of our income to God’s household, the Church. This is a spiritual growth program teaching giving as a response to God’s love and part of the worship act. The New Consecration Sunday encourages joyful giving rather than fund raising to meet a budget.

I can think of quite a few answers to this question.  But more importantly, how do you answer this question?  On Tuesday, November 3, we will have the opportunity to gather with six other United Methodist congregations at the Seville UMC for our annual Church Conference.  This question will guide our time together.
In preparation for this guiding question of Church Conference, I emailed our host church photographs of Nothing But Nets, the SOWER mission trip, our Sunday School classes, our fall youth kick-off, our all-church picnic.  Those who come to Church Conference will see some of the familiar pictures and also new images from our sister churches.  Together, we will remember how Christ’s power is transforming us as individuals and as a congregation.  You can expect a time for testimonies that evening – words and stories from the floor, from any of us about Christ’s transforming power.  So as we move towards our November 3 Church Conference, here are some ways you can prepare yourself:

1. Begin to think about your personal experience with Green Valley UMC this past year.  Consider how God has challenged you, strengthened you, transformed you because of our church.  You might journal about this over the next few days and weeks.

2. Tell someone about your experience of GVUMC.  Over a cup of coffee, while driving in the car, on the phone, at a family dinner, open the conversation about how God is working in and through our church.  Perhaps you want to share one of those stories at Church Conference.  There will be time made for such testimonies.

3. Make plans to attend our Church Conference on November 3 at 7:00 p.m. A car pool will leave from our church parking lot at 6:15 to make this trip more enjoyable and easier.  Let us know in the church office if you will be joining the carpool.

4. Pray.  Pray for the Holy Spirit to inspire our conversation and worship that evening, that each of our churches is experiencing Christ’ transforming power.

I hope to see each of you at Church Conference and in worship in the weeks to come.

Faithfully,

Jennifer Olin-Hitt, your pastor

Tell about the fundraiser, dinner, benefit, etc. Let your readers know who sponsored the event, how much money was raised, who was there, and any fun details about the event!

Tell about the fundraiser, dinner, benefit, etc. Let your readers know who sponsored the event, how much money was raised, who was there, and any fun details about the event!