October 2025 Newsletter – Pastor’s Page
Greetings church,
At the end of summer, one of the kids in my neighborhood was selling apple juice at a roadside stand. Despite the sign saying each cup was $1, one of my children used their own money and paid $5 for two little daisy cup servings of juice. Eek! “That was too much money!” I thought. But also, “that was generous,” and “It’s your money – do what you want.” In childhood, those complex thoughts and reactions shape us when we learn about money. We carry those lessons and experiences with us as we grow in faith, experience, and age.
We all have a money story, whether we recognize it or not. Perhaps we are living from a story of fear or shame. Or a story that the church is dying and no longer relevant. Maybe our story tells us that our actions won’t have an impact. Or that no matter what – we don’t have enough. Where might God be speaking a new narrative into the limited stories we have told ourselves?
Our stewardship theme this year is entitled “Our Money Story.” Our focus will invite us to discover and tell our money stories in light of God’s money story of liberation and justice. This series encourages us to transform our stewardship practices into more full expressions of who we are and what we believe. We’ll explore ‘money stories’ in scripture, in our lives, and in our culture. As we set the stage for a capital campaign to renovate parts of our building, we will consider the money story of our congregation, and the story we’d like to tell future generations.
This series begins on Sunday, October 19. Let us lean in together and discover God’s money story for our lives, our church, and our community.
Grace and Peace,
Pastor Jared