Consecration Sunday is Coming!

Dear Friends,
Parishes that approach financial stewardship from a biblical perspective do not view the money their members give to their parish merely as a way to pay its bills. Rather, these parishes see financial contributions as a way to help people grow spiritually in their relationship with God revealed in Jesus Christ – who gave himself for us. 

Based on our good experience with such a faithful and spiritually-based approach to Stewardship Education for the past three years, your Vestry again selected the New Consecration Sunday Stewardship Program as we look forward to our common life in 2020, and as we celebrate Christ Church’s 275 years of worship and witness in Guilford.

New Consecration Sunday is based on the biblical insight that each of us needs to give for our own spiritual development, and that this need is greater than our parish’s need to receive. Instead of treating people like members of a social club who should pay dues, we will treat one another as followers of Jesus Christ – followers who want to give unselfishly as an act of discipleship. New Consecration Sunday will again encourage us toward proportionate and systematic giving, and will encourage us to prayerfully respond to the question, “What percentage of my income is God calling me to give?”
 
During both the 8 and 10a.m. services on Consecration Sunday, November 17, we will provide an opportunity for all present to offer their Estimate of Giving Card for 2020 as a faith commitment to God’s mission through our shared ministries.  Our guest leader, the Rev. Mary Anne Osborn, will offer a message of inspiration, and set the devotional context for us to personally offer our Estimate of Giving cards on the altar.

Every parishioner who completes an Estimate of Giving Card will do so voluntarily and privately.  We will also encourage people who are not prepared to complete a card to attend.  Since we will make no follow-up visits to ask people to complete their cards, we are making every effort to inform and inspire the entire parish to participate on November 17.
 
Indeed, our Vestry and Consecration Sunday team, encourage the whole parish to participate in Consecration Sunday worship and the Celebration Lunch on Sunday, November 17.  As we look forward to 2020, a special dimension to our Celebration Lunch will be to recall Christ Church’s 275 years of worship and witness
 
Thanks in advance for your enthusiastic participation in Consecration Sunday worship and our 275th Anniversary Celebration lunch.
Faithfully,

Rose Robinson
Senior Warden