Giving

Faithful giving knits you into the life of our church. In one simple act of putting money in the offering plate or signing up for PAR you are helping support every aspect of worship that occurs here on a Sunday … the music that is heard, the wonder of children hearing the Christian message, perhaps for the first time, the beautiful images you see on our screen, meeting the needs of missions supported by Winsloe United Church, providing for the maintenance of our church building, making sure the families of our community have something to eat, and on top of all that, reaching people in our community and beyond with the truth of Scripture.

Giving is more than keeping the lights on and the gears turning; it’s about personal worship to God and handing Him back what He already owns…and it’s about lives changing through the transformative power of the Gospel in our region and beyond.

But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this?

Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand.”

~1 Chronicles 29:14

Finances are not the only thing that we can give to the church. There is also our time, our talents, and our skills. These are gifts that God has blessed us with. Faithful giving of these gifts knit our lives into the life of our church and supports everything that the church is involved with. Whether it is greeting at the door, singing in the choir, teaching Sunday School, helping to maintain the building, or visiting someone in the hospital, there is a place for you and what you have to offer. When we give of our time, talents and skills, God uses them to shape us and shape our community.

Now we don’t have to give to anyone of our time, talents, hospitality or skills. As people of faith we have choices. In our congregation it may sound like this “Oh, I don’t have any gifts to share.” “What, me be a Sunday school teacher? Oh no, not me. I could never do that.” Or, “I could never be a member of the council.” Or. “I don’t have the time to sit on a committee … or the talent … or the money.” Yes, we can refuse to give of our time; talents, hospitality and skills – and we do refuse for all kinds of reasons, real or imagined, that seem important at the time.

BUT

Jesus shows us another way. He tells us to live differently, confidently, to live in faith. Jesus says, “No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel.” Pretty much every week we recite the words from our Creed that says “We are called to be the church.” We do this to remind us that our community needs what Winsloe United Church has to offer. So, no, don’t hide your light or deny it. Rather, set your light on a lamp stand, where it can do what it was meant to do. This is how our prayers get answered. This is how God recreates and heals the world, one life at a time, one family at a time, one community at a time – that is why we are called to be the church.

2 Corinthians 9:7-8 “Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart what to give, not reluctantly of under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.”

We are asking that you prayerfully come along side and be part of the next phase of our miraculous story, and prepare to be blessed.