Practicing GratitudeBeginning on Sunday, September 23, our Sunday Worship themes will focus on an exciting perspective around our opportunities to become closer to the people God calls us to be.
Pastor Ben introduced the series like this: “In his book, The Life You’ve Always Wanted, John Ortberg said that he ‘always had the idea as a child that adults were pretty much the people they wanted to be.’ I remember that feeling too, and yet, now as an adult myself, I continue to find a gap between the person I am - the husband, the father, the pastor, the person that I am - and the person I want to be. Closing this gap, becoming the person I want to be, the person God is calling me to be isn't easy. Just "trying harder" to be more patient, more compassionate, more generous doesn't seem to work. That's where spiritual disciplines come in. Disciplines aren't rules imposed on us by other people. Disciplines are choices we make for ourselves, things we can choose to do, to shape ourselves - to shape our hearts - into becoming the people we want to be. Over the course of this series, we will look at practices - spiritual disciplines - that we can choose, to help us become the people God is calling us to be, the people we want to be... Disciplines to help us live the lives we've always wanted.” Our spiritual connection with Stone Church includes the choices we make around financial support for the overall mission and vision of the church. Our generosity makes possible the ministry of this church here in Huntingdon and around the world. As we participate in this worship series, your Finance Team invites us to consider our opportunity to continue to provide financial support for the mission we share through Stone Church. Enclosed with this letter are materials for your use in making your financial commitment for the 2019 church year. Making these commitments now allows your Finance Team to create a healthy, realistic budget so that your Leadership Team can live most fully into God’s call for us in the coming year. There are four ways for you to return your commitment form: 1. Include it with your Sunday morning offering on October 21st 2. Take your commitment to the church office by Friday, October 19th 3. Mail your commitment to the church 4. Submit online by clicking here or by going to the link http://www.huntingdonstonechurch.org/pledge.html With your help, we hope to have all commitment cards returned to Stone Church by Sunday, October 21st. That Sunday the worship theme will be “Gratitude” and we plan to celebrate our shared commitments to the work of Stone Church and our aspiration to practice gratitude as a spiritual discipline. Please take time to prayerfully consider your commitment, complete the form and return it as soon as possible. With all of our commitments in hand, the Finance Team (in consultation with the Leadership Team) will develop a 2019 budget for your review, comment and approval. If you have questions or suggestions, please contact a member of the Finance Team. Peacefully, simply, together. Stone Church Finance Team Jeff Closz Daisy Decker Bob McMinn, Chair John Wright, Treasurer |
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