Stewardship 2021 -
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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. Or a story that our actions won’t have an impact. Or a story that we don’t have enough. Where might God be speaking a new narrative into the limited stories we have told ourselves?
I know 2020 is the craziest. Some churches have opted not to engage in a stewardship season. Part of the reason OPCC will continue to share in a stewardship focus is that it’s not only about raising money for the ministries and missions of our church, it is about reframing the way we understand our work with God. No matter what’s happening in the world, it is a good time to discover and tell our money stories in light of God’s story of liberation and justice. It is a good time to encourage on another to transform our stewardship practices into fuller expressions of who we are and what we believe.
October 18 - November 15 you are invited to remember, release, reimagine, restore, and rejoice in your money stories so that we can write the one God is begging us to live into.
These next few weeks we will be intentionally direct—naming exactly what we’re talking about and not skirt around it. Too often, we avoid talking about money with transparency and vulnerability. It’s time we reframe this. Money and possessions are one of the most common topics in scripture, and Jesus talked about money more than faith and prayer. Our money story, therefore, is a spiritual story.
The best stories captivate and transform us—they change how we live. This stewardship season, we invite you to remember, release, reimagine, restore, and rejoice in your money stories so that we can write the one God is begging us to live into.
I know 2020 is the craziest. Some churches have opted not to engage in a stewardship season. Part of the reason OPCC will continue to share in a stewardship focus is that it’s not only about raising money for the ministries and missions of our church, it is about reframing the way we understand our work with God. No matter what’s happening in the world, it is a good time to discover and tell our money stories in light of God’s story of liberation and justice. It is a good time to encourage on another to transform our stewardship practices into fuller expressions of who we are and what we believe.
October 18 - November 15 you are invited to remember, release, reimagine, restore, and rejoice in your money stories so that we can write the one God is begging us to live into.
These next few weeks we will be intentionally direct—naming exactly what we’re talking about and not skirt around it. Too often, we avoid talking about money with transparency and vulnerability. It’s time we reframe this. Money and possessions are one of the most common topics in scripture, and Jesus talked about money more than faith and prayer. Our money story, therefore, is a spiritual story.
The best stories captivate and transform us—they change how we live. This stewardship season, we invite you to remember, release, reimagine, restore, and rejoice in your money stories so that we can write the one God is begging us to live into.
- October 18 – Remember (Exodus 16:1-18 & Luke 22:1-23)
- October 25 – Release (Deut. 15:1-11 & Matthew 19:16-22)
- November 1 – Reimagine (Leviticus 19:9-10; 25:8-12 & Mark 12:38-44)
- November 8 – Restore (Genesis 33:1-17 & John 21:1-19)
- November 15 – Rejoice (Psalm 98)
Consecration Sunday - November 15
Though we would normally love to invite you tell even more of your story by joining in a celebratory luncheon after in-person worship, we know that is not possible this year. Yet, it is possible to still offer that invitation to give another sign of hope as we live into God’s story and call in our lives.
Click Here to Find an Electronic Copy of Your Estimate of Giving Card.
The OPCC Board invites you to prayerfully consider if you are able to join OPCC in sharing the hope, joy, and provisions that God has given to you with your church community and our neighbors, especially in 2021. As we conclude this series about stories, you are invited to consider how your story is shaped by stewardship and generosity, and how you might incorporate those into your story of 2021.
A practice in estimating your giving might be new for you, or the OPCC community might be new for you. No matter what, you are receiving this invitation to prayerfully consider your commitment to God’s story with OPCC, because we have recognized your commitment to OPCC, and give thanks for the ways your are becoming part of our story.
If you are able to return this estimate of giving card, you assist our Staff and Board with the practicality of planning for the year to come (as much as any of us can make plans right now!). We know with the uncertainty in so many of our lives right now, returning this card this year may be a huge step of faith. Please know, if circumstances change, what you pledge on this card is not an obligation, but a sign of hope and faith that God’s story is our story. If you are unable, or choose not, to provide a pledge, we still celebrate all the ways you are part of our OPCC family, and give thanks that you are part of our story!
You may return this pledge electronically by downloading it, completing it on your computer, and then emailing it back to our Bookkeeper, Michelle Reiter.
On Sunday, November 15th we will conclude our series on Our Money Story, by rejoicing in the goodness we share when our stories align with God’s. Though the commitments may come in many forms, and by differing mediums, we will celebrate together in worship all that we commit to OPCC, all that makes us OPCC. Let us commit to tell the story of joy, let us commit to tell the story of love, let us commit to tell the story of hope, and commit to make our story one with God’s.
Click Here to Find an Electronic Copy of Your Estimate of Giving Card.
The OPCC Board invites you to prayerfully consider if you are able to join OPCC in sharing the hope, joy, and provisions that God has given to you with your church community and our neighbors, especially in 2021. As we conclude this series about stories, you are invited to consider how your story is shaped by stewardship and generosity, and how you might incorporate those into your story of 2021.
A practice in estimating your giving might be new for you, or the OPCC community might be new for you. No matter what, you are receiving this invitation to prayerfully consider your commitment to God’s story with OPCC, because we have recognized your commitment to OPCC, and give thanks for the ways your are becoming part of our story.
If you are able to return this estimate of giving card, you assist our Staff and Board with the practicality of planning for the year to come (as much as any of us can make plans right now!). We know with the uncertainty in so many of our lives right now, returning this card this year may be a huge step of faith. Please know, if circumstances change, what you pledge on this card is not an obligation, but a sign of hope and faith that God’s story is our story. If you are unable, or choose not, to provide a pledge, we still celebrate all the ways you are part of our OPCC family, and give thanks that you are part of our story!
You may return this pledge electronically by downloading it, completing it on your computer, and then emailing it back to our Bookkeeper, Michelle Reiter.
On Sunday, November 15th we will conclude our series on Our Money Story, by rejoicing in the goodness we share when our stories align with God’s. Though the commitments may come in many forms, and by differing mediums, we will celebrate together in worship all that we commit to OPCC, all that makes us OPCC. Let us commit to tell the story of joy, let us commit to tell the story of love, let us commit to tell the story of hope, and commit to make our story one with God’s.
CHANGING THE CONVERSATION
When it comes to stewardship, OPCC is committed to the truth that it is not about money - so much so that we will repeat it. Stewardship is not about money.
Yes, stewardship does have an important financial aspect to it, but it is not about money.
When we focus on stewardship, we are focusing on the ways that we share gifts from God that CHANGE THE WORLD.
Yes, stewardship does have an important financial aspect to it, but it is not about money.
When we focus on stewardship, we are focusing on the ways that we share gifts from God that CHANGE THE WORLD.
