2019 Grace & Gratitude Stewardship Drive Begins
This year’s stewardship drive gives congregants the chance to join in and commit to growing in grace and gratitude with their faith community at the First United Methodist Church.
Please consider how you will support the 2019 work of the church and help our ministries continue to make a positive impact in the world around us and create a welcoming space in the heart of the city.
To participate, please return a completed 2019 commitment form to the church office or in the offering plate during a worship service. You can print the commitment form here or fill out our online form.
Completed print forms can be sent to Accounting Manager Joy Vinluan at joy@chicagotemple.org. Please contact Joy with any questions or concerns by email or at (312) 236-4548 ext. 116.
From the Stewardship Committee
Dear Fellow Worshiper,
What does grace and gratitude mean to you? The Stewardship Committee invites you this fall to reflect and recommit to your participation in the ministries at the First United Methodist Church at the Chicago Temple. Specifically, what actions, skills, and resources are you gratefully sharing with your faith community? Where are you being called to share them in the next year?
Just how might you do that?
1) Prayerfully consider what you are grateful for at the FUMC at the Chicago Temple.
There will be gratitude cards in the sanctuary to write down your reflections. Drop the card in the gratitude box and together we will decorate the Narthex with a celebration of the gifts of our community. Pausing to reflect in thanksgiving before recommitting to further action.
2) Prayerfully consider your tithe to the FUMC at the Chicago Temple.
The practice of gifting money to the church makes ministry work possible. The church’s income budget is influenced by recorded promises received. The more recorded promises, the more funding can be allocated to ministries, working to be the active outreach arm of our church community. Your promise, no matter the size, is a leap of faith to follow where God is calling us to be active Christians.
3) Prayerfully consider where your skills and talents can support the faith community, committees, and ministries of the Temple both inside and outside the church.
You are freed by the grace of God to be grateful for all that you have received and to choose to share the gift of you with others. In a spirit of thanksgiving, join the 2019 Stewardship Campaign to grow in grace and gratitude. Rededicate yourself to giving of your financial gifts, spiritual gifts, and the gift of your time. You are a precious gift to all who connect with you as you share God’s love in our church community. Together, when we combine all our diverse gifts, we weave a brilliant pool of resources capable of more service to others than we could have ever imagined as individuals.
4) Please fill out the attached form and turn in it to the church office or in an offering plate during any worship service at your earliest convenience. There is no need to wait to turn in your form until a special date—do it today! You can find an online version of the commitment form above.
Your financial promise will directly influence the income budget for 2019. Your time and talent commitment will directly influence the capacity of our community to be a vibrant example of gracefully and gratefully growing in our Christian faith during 2019. You are an important and vital member of our church. Thank you for considering your commitment possibilities for 2019.
Wishing you abundant grace and gratitude in the coming year,
Jennifer Trautvetter and Akin Walter-Johnson Stewardship Committee Members
October 2018