FROM THE PASTOR

Giving from the Heart

In 2 Corinthians chapter 8 we hear about the Macedonian offering.  Paul is taking an offering to support the hungry and beleaguered Christian community in Jerusalem.  The church in Macedonia was  one of the most impoverished churches in the Christian movement.  Paul contrasts their poverty with their generosity.  Here is Paul describing the offering: 

And now, brothers and sisters, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches.  2 In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity.  3 For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own,  4 they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the Lord’s people.  5 And they exceeded our expectations: They gave themselves first of all to the Lord, and then by the will of God also to us. (2 Corinthians 8: 1-5) 

The heart of the offering is this: “they gave themselves first of all to the Lord, and then by the will of God also to us. 

I am very pleased to share with you that your generosity abounded as we gathered the end of year offerings.  The response was terrific! 

The year-end offerings were $179,000.  Thank you!  (I was told that year end offerings often averaged about $50,000) 

We went into the offering carrying a $100,000 deficit. 

We ended the year with a surplus of $62,000.  Thank you!  And thank God! 

I believe that the heart of this offering was the same as that of the Macedonian offering.  It is about relationships.  First you gave yourselves to the Lord, and then to us in the beloved community of St. Luke’s. 

We also gathered pledges for regular support in 2023.  Our ability to sustain support for our church and the vision and mission of our Strategic Plan will depend on regular, timely offerings, a dependable “Giving From the Heart.”   

Every day of our lives:  

First, we give ourselves to the Lord 

Then then we give our selves to one another in the Body of Christ. 

With gratitude,
Pastor Stephen Paul Bouman