Tony Nicastro (right) and Ron Wright
Other Congregational Updates:
– Please keep Michael Wingate, undergoing surgery today, in prayer.
– John Crowell is back home and on the mend, thanks be to God. If you can help him and Robert out with a meal for them, please use this website to register:http://www.TakeThemAMeal.com/meals.php?t=VDZL8376
Dear Caldwell,
When I was in high school, singer Billy Joel’s hit album “The Stranger” hung at the top of the charts and in the 8-track player under the dash of my 1973 Chevy Malibu. His song “Movin’ Out” was a critique of materialism. It portrayed a grocery story clerk and a cop-bartender, both working to attain the outward signs of success … but losing their life along the way. The familiar chorus was “Is that all you get for your money? It seems such a waste of time. Good luck movin’ up ’cause I’m movin’ out.”
We didn’t have that song in mind when we chose “Moving Out” to be the theme of this Sunday’s Commitment Sunday for the 2014-2015 Discipleship Season. We were more focused on our call, as people of God, to “move out” into the world as the hands and feet of Christ, with our time, talent and treasure. But Joel’s critique of the idol of money and upward mobility fits, in a way, with what we are called to consider prayerfully as we pledge our time, talent and treasure.
I hope each Caldwell member or household will take time this week, if you haven’t already, to go through the pledge packet you’ve received. It’s a chance to think about our priorities, our resources, our use of time, what we need and what we don’t … and what we can pledge to return to God, the source of all that we have. That is an individual decision for each of us, one made through an appeal for God’s guidance. With such abundant blessings here at Caldwell and with the demand for our ministries growing, I encourage you to “give God a raise” – through an increased financial pledge as well as a commitment of your time and talent that help bring our ministries to life.
We give of ourselves and our resources not to earn God’s love and favor, but, rather, in response to what we know and what we see. We know God’ love is already given to us in Christ Jesus and, at Caldwell, we are blessed to see the abundance of God’s provision in new friends, a caring church family, deepening faith, meaningful fellowship, spirited worship and many chances to proclaim the Good News to others in word and in deed. In return, we are called to participate with God in Christ by committing what we have to continue building the Kingdom of God on earth.
This year, the Stewardship Committee encourages all who can to adopt online giving. You can read more about opportunities to offer time and talent here and you can pledge online here and you can sign up for safe, secure online giving on our website here.
Come Sunday, we will bring our pledge cards for time, talent and treasure forward in a celebration of all that we have and all that we are called to do (if you’ve already pledged, we will have some something for you to bring forward). Please remember to bring your cards to worship, using the envelope you received in your packet to keep things confidential. Sally Herlong, our business and operations manager, will be the only one to see each individual’s financial pledge information.
Sunday will be a celebration, indeed. More about that and other news in Caldwell This Week on Friday.
In Christ,
John