Stewardship Sunday is November 20th, 2022
September 7th, 2022
Dear Church Family,
Throughout our faith journey, we are given invitations. From the invitation to make our confession of faith to the invitation to care for our neighbor, to the invitation to bring food to the next church event, our life in a community of faith is full of invitations. This fall, our church community is going to be intentional about how we respond to the variety of invitations we receive and how those invitations spur us along in our faith development. Jesus invites us to bring all that we are and all that we have when we become a follower of Christ. It is a journey that is meant both to form us more into the image of Christ through worship, study, prayer, service, and generosity; as well as to strengthen us in becoming faithful agents for the good that God is doing in our world.
When we make an intentional decision about what we bring before Christ, we extend a blessing of health and wholeness to all of creation, because we are certain that this is ultimately what God desires. Currently, our world is broken and hurting, and we are called to be a movement for wholeness among its many fractured pieces. We can be agents of grace if we are generous in our response to the invitations that are presented to us. Our faithful financial stewardship is one way we are invited to respond to Christ’s invitation. Our generosity funds the mission and ministry that we are deploying as a sign that God’s Realm is among us.
Beginning in mid-September, we will begin an intentional reflection entitled Devoted to Generosity as a preparation for determining our investment in the ministry and mission of First Christian Church in Chico. The time of study and reflection will culminate on Commitment Sunday as part of worship on November 20th and I hope you will be intentional about responding to this important invitation to be us, not simply to offer your estimate of giving card, but to join us for the celebration. God has done and continues to do remarkable things through us and with us – things that matter in our community! Your prayers and your participation are keys to helping us advance further on the pathway of discipleship. We know that when the early church gathered, they did so with glad and generous hearts and that there was no need among them (Acts 2). We desire such a spirit of true community to be among us. I look forward to considering with you what it means for us to be Devoted to Generosity, as we seek to be faithful disciples in this place. Thank you for being a part of First Christian Church in Chico.
Grace and Peace,
September 7th, 2022
Dear Church Family,
Throughout our faith journey, we are given invitations. From the invitation to make our confession of faith to the invitation to care for our neighbor, to the invitation to bring food to the next church event, our life in a community of faith is full of invitations. This fall, our church community is going to be intentional about how we respond to the variety of invitations we receive and how those invitations spur us along in our faith development. Jesus invites us to bring all that we are and all that we have when we become a follower of Christ. It is a journey that is meant both to form us more into the image of Christ through worship, study, prayer, service, and generosity; as well as to strengthen us in becoming faithful agents for the good that God is doing in our world.
When we make an intentional decision about what we bring before Christ, we extend a blessing of health and wholeness to all of creation, because we are certain that this is ultimately what God desires. Currently, our world is broken and hurting, and we are called to be a movement for wholeness among its many fractured pieces. We can be agents of grace if we are generous in our response to the invitations that are presented to us. Our faithful financial stewardship is one way we are invited to respond to Christ’s invitation. Our generosity funds the mission and ministry that we are deploying as a sign that God’s Realm is among us.
Beginning in mid-September, we will begin an intentional reflection entitled Devoted to Generosity as a preparation for determining our investment in the ministry and mission of First Christian Church in Chico. The time of study and reflection will culminate on Commitment Sunday as part of worship on November 20th and I hope you will be intentional about responding to this important invitation to be us, not simply to offer your estimate of giving card, but to join us for the celebration. God has done and continues to do remarkable things through us and with us – things that matter in our community! Your prayers and your participation are keys to helping us advance further on the pathway of discipleship. We know that when the early church gathered, they did so with glad and generous hearts and that there was no need among them (Acts 2). We desire such a spirit of true community to be among us. I look forward to considering with you what it means for us to be Devoted to Generosity, as we seek to be faithful disciples in this place. Thank you for being a part of First Christian Church in Chico.
Grace and Peace,
