Nancy Siegel, a member of the communications committee for the capital campaign, provides us with a glimpse of what we can expect in the coming months. So, buckle your seatbelts, we’re just getting started on this ride!
Last Sunday, nearly 480 members attending the Congregation meeting gave almost unanimous approval to undertake the $4.4 million Capital Campaign. We praise God for His leading and look forward to continued spiritual growth as we embark on this journey of faith.
April 20, 2007 is Commitment Sunday when we will formally collect the commitments from the Congregation. Leading up to that event, there will be a number of activities that are planned to inform the members and friends of Tenth so that we can prayerfully determine what God would have us pledge toward the Capital Campaign.
We want to provide information in a number of ways. On Tenth’s website, you can find a wealth of Capital Campaign information including copies of the previous bulletin inserts, the strategic planning committee report and a detailed list of the capital campaign projects. We also anticipate a number of luncheons, geared toward newer members, in which Dr. Ryken will share his vision; campaign praying tours; dessert meetings focused around specific campaign projects; and a seminar on planned giving, tentatively scheduled for March 1.
An important goal of this campaign is spiritual growth, both individually and corporately. With that goal in mind, we will be providing a devotional guide which will aid in prayer for God’s guidance as you consider your level of participation.
Our children – Tenth’s next generation of leaders – are also part of the Capital Campaign. During the Bible School hour, the elementary children will learn what Scripture says about children’s contribution to the body of believers. They will be challenged to participate themselves in this important mission of the church.
This is an exciting time in the life of Tenth Church. Join with us in rejoicing in God’s rich blessings and ask that God will increase our faith as we begin this journey together.
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Welcome!
Welcome! Whether you were directed to this blog by someone at Tenth or just happened to stumble across it, I'm glad you found us. I can joyfully report that Tenth's members approved the capital campaign motions at the January 27, 2008 congregational meeting. As Tenth's capital campaign is now officially underway, there will be a lot of information dispersed to the congregation in many different forms. This information is valuable and vital to understanding the purposes of the campaign and to assist you in deciding what your commitment should be. This blog is designed as a supplement to those communications to show some of the ways God has used Tenth Presbyterian Church to work in the lives of its members and others associated with the church. It will also showcase aspects of different projects that the campaign will support. It is our hope that reading these personal testimonies and hearing about the projects in a more informal way will excite and inspire you. Furthermore, hopefully seeing a glimpse into some of the lives of Tenth's members and friends will serve as a catalyst for actually meeting these people and hearing more about their stories.
While we hope to share the stories of many, I will be the primary host of the blog. My name is Sarah McInnes and I am a member of Tenth. My husband and I are former members of Parish 1 and now reside in Parish 6. I will do my best to provide you with regular posts and I hope that you will check in frequently. (You can also receive the posts via email by signing up at the "subscribe via email" link at the right.) As you can see, I have added the bulletin inserts as background, along with some links for more information about the projects we will support.
Please feel free to email me with suggestions or questions at thispeople2008@gmail.com and I will make sure to share your email with someone that can answer your question. Also, as you may have seen in the bulletin you can also contact the following members of the Capital Campaign committee: Marion Clark mclark@tenth.org, Brian Esterly brian.esterly@rcn.com, Philip Ryken pryken@tenth.org, Elmer Snethen esnethen@cantol.com.
We are embarking on an exciting journey together as a congregation and I am honored to be able to assist in highlighting just a few of the ways that God has been working in the lives of His people at Tenth. Be sure to check back soon!
While we hope to share the stories of many, I will be the primary host of the blog. My name is Sarah McInnes and I am a member of Tenth. My husband and I are former members of Parish 1 and now reside in Parish 6. I will do my best to provide you with regular posts and I hope that you will check in frequently. (You can also receive the posts via email by signing up at the "subscribe via email" link at the right.) As you can see, I have added the bulletin inserts as background, along with some links for more information about the projects we will support.
Please feel free to email me with suggestions or questions at thispeople2008@gmail.com and I will make sure to share your email with someone that can answer your question. Also, as you may have seen in the bulletin you can also contact the following members of the Capital Campaign committee: Marion Clark mclark@tenth.org, Brian Esterly brian.esterly@rcn.com, Philip Ryken pryken@tenth.org, Elmer Snethen esnethen@cantol.com.
We are embarking on an exciting journey together as a congregation and I am honored to be able to assist in highlighting just a few of the ways that God has been working in the lives of His people at Tenth. Be sure to check back soon!
The picture above is of me and my husband Andy. Please introduce yourself to us at Tenth!
Sunday, January 13, 2008
Capital Campaign, Part 8
Key Question: “How can I give?”
To some, $4.4 million may seem an insurmountable goal. Yet we believe this is the capital campaign God has called us to undertake—a prudent investment in kingdom work that by the grace of God is also a reachable goal for Tenth Church. In contemplating your role in the capital campaign, consider the following:
1. Everyone plays a role. It should come as no surprise that the congregation’s tithes to cover our annual expenses are unequally distributed. However, every contribution is necessary for us to fulfill our ministry commitments. The same will be true in this campaign. Everyone’s commitment, regardless of the size, will be necessary for us to meet our goals. A successful campaign does not require equal gifts from all, but it does require equal sacrifice.
2. This is a spiritual journey. The campaign is first and foremost a spiritual process. We know from Scripture that Jesus honors sacrificial and cheerful giving. We believe that giving to this capital campaign will result in spiritual growth and maturity. Investing in the future with our gifts today allows us to seek God’s work in our lives both individually and corporately as a church community.
3. Committing to the capital campaign should not replace our regular offerings. By definition, a capital campaign is a season of extraordinary financial giving in which—in addition to making regular tithes and offerings from their income—the people of God make a corporate, cheerful, and prayerful financial commitment to advance the gospel mission of the church.
There are many ways to give, such as designating Tenth in your will, donating stocks, bonds or mutual funds, or giving through charitable annuities. We will be providing more specific information about noncheckbook giving as the capital campaign approaches. Regardless of how we give, we should remember that everything we possess is the Lord’s and that we are only returning a portion of the resources of which God has made us stewards.
Prayerfully consider ways in which you might make a commitment that includes giving from monies regularly spent on non-necessities. Do you really need the latest electronic gadget? Can you forgo your purchase of the $4.00 gourmet coffee twice a week? How about “bagging” your lunch or cooking a meal rather than ordering take-out? Is there an outing or vacation that your family would be willing to sacrifice? Can you increase your tithe to 10%, 15%, or even 20%? When we honestly examine our spending habits, we can appreciate the wealth of disposable income with which the Lord has blessed us.
Campaign Timeline
January 27, 2008: Congregational Meeting to seek approval for the Capital Campaign (an information packet was mailed to every member this past week and a Congregational Forum will be held on January 20).
Assuming the campaign is approved by the congregation, the following additional activities are planned:
To some, $4.4 million may seem an insurmountable goal. Yet we believe this is the capital campaign God has called us to undertake—a prudent investment in kingdom work that by the grace of God is also a reachable goal for Tenth Church. In contemplating your role in the capital campaign, consider the following:
1. Everyone plays a role. It should come as no surprise that the congregation’s tithes to cover our annual expenses are unequally distributed. However, every contribution is necessary for us to fulfill our ministry commitments. The same will be true in this campaign. Everyone’s commitment, regardless of the size, will be necessary for us to meet our goals. A successful campaign does not require equal gifts from all, but it does require equal sacrifice.
2. This is a spiritual journey. The campaign is first and foremost a spiritual process. We know from Scripture that Jesus honors sacrificial and cheerful giving. We believe that giving to this capital campaign will result in spiritual growth and maturity. Investing in the future with our gifts today allows us to seek God’s work in our lives both individually and corporately as a church community.
3. Committing to the capital campaign should not replace our regular offerings. By definition, a capital campaign is a season of extraordinary financial giving in which—in addition to making regular tithes and offerings from their income—the people of God make a corporate, cheerful, and prayerful financial commitment to advance the gospel mission of the church.
There are many ways to give, such as designating Tenth in your will, donating stocks, bonds or mutual funds, or giving through charitable annuities. We will be providing more specific information about noncheckbook giving as the capital campaign approaches. Regardless of how we give, we should remember that everything we possess is the Lord’s and that we are only returning a portion of the resources of which God has made us stewards.
Prayerfully consider ways in which you might make a commitment that includes giving from monies regularly spent on non-necessities. Do you really need the latest electronic gadget? Can you forgo your purchase of the $4.00 gourmet coffee twice a week? How about “bagging” your lunch or cooking a meal rather than ordering take-out? Is there an outing or vacation that your family would be willing to sacrifice? Can you increase your tithe to 10%, 15%, or even 20%? When we honestly examine our spending habits, we can appreciate the wealth of disposable income with which the Lord has blessed us.
Campaign Timeline
January 27, 2008: Congregational Meeting to seek approval for the Capital Campaign (an information packet was mailed to every member this past week and a Congregational Forum will be held on January 20).
Assuming the campaign is approved by the congregation, the following additional activities are planned:
- January–March: Provide information through events and communications so that members can learn more about the campaign and prayerfully determine their level of participation.
- March 30–April 20: Personal and public preparation for the campaign, including biblical messages and a devotional study guide
- April 20: Commitment Sunday—Congregation makes financial commitments to the campaign
- May 18: Celebration Sunday—Communicate to the congregation what the Lord has done through his people in enabling us to achieve our God-given mission
- May 2008–May 2010: Provide ongoing followup so that members can track their commitments and be informed about status of projects
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