Dear Saints in Santa Fe, and other far-off places:
Greetings in the name and spirit of Jesus Christ!
My mom gave me a dime to give away.
I was five, it was Sunday morning, I was probably running late again, and as I raced out the back door to cross the alley to church, my mom gave me a dime.
“Now remember to put this in the offering plate when you get to Sunday School,” she told me. I said I would, and I did. Every Sunday.
Mom gave me a dime to give to the church which would then be given to someone else. That’s how this giving thing works. Oh, I know it wasn’t my dime but at that young age it was the actual act of giving that made an impression on me. Mom thought it was important and I learned that it was important, too.
As I got older it was my own dime, then a quarter and a dollar then much more, so that for the last many years my wife Jenny and I tithe. It is a joy not a burden. It is exciting because we are part of good things happening in the world. We have been blessed and giving has become a blessing.
I flew to Pittsburgh this past week to see my closest, dearest friend who I met the first day of college. He’s dealing with a very bad cancer, so on Tuesday I sat with him and his wife in a hospital room as he received his weekly treatment. We laughed over all the old times and wiped back tears for this present time. We talked until midnight, and I didn’t want the night to end. I realized that he had given me a mountain of holy dimes through the years. Old friends do that.
I have been given so much and I am most grateful. Now I hope I act that way. Now I hope I live that way. Each year I am reminded through our pledge campaign, how important it is to give back, to visit people, to offer my time, to give to good causes, to give to my church, to give my weekly dime.
I hope you will as well this year. I am most grateful for all you have given in the past and all the good and important things you have done. Unfortunately, several faithful supporters of the church are no longer with us. They have either died or moved away. The rest of us need to give more this year in their honor, and to take up the mantle they have passed on to us. I am ready to do this, as are many others, and hope you will join us.
Pledge packets will be available tomorrow in the church lobby. Your name is on one of them. Please pick it up, look over the information inside, see our budget, see what we do, notice all the ministries and missions, and be part of supporting them. We need you and all the others who make up this wonderful church, this outpost here in Santa Fe representing the movement Jesus started 2,000 years ago.
We have benefitted from all those who have come before us, from those who still sit with us in worship, to those who now make up that great cloud of witnesses, to my mom and maybe yours who taught what it means to give. One dime at a time.
It’s our turn now.
Pledge Sunday is November 10th.
Grace and peace,
Harry