Do not allow this world to mold you in its own image. Instead, be transformed from the inside out by renewing your mind. As a result, you will be able to discern what God wills and whatever God finds good, pleasing, and complete. – Romans 12:2. VOICE Translation
Dear Caldwell,
The passage above, which Gail and I spoke about Sunday, begins with a sense of urgency. “Do not allow” the world to get you, Paul writes to those early believers in Rome. Do not (I hear an exclamation mark)! Hear the good news – Christ has come and in him we can be renewed!
So, let’s follow Paul’s advice, push back on the world’s soul-crushing pressures and Renew Our Spirits! I hope you will set aside an hour tonight at 7 p.m. for another first for Caldwell, a “Renew Your Spirit” concert online. We’ve learned to be community, even when we are apart, watching online. This is a chance to gather as our friends and familiar faces lift up their voices in celebration of what Caldwell means to them. To watch, click here. To watch with chat, click here.
The concert signals that we are in the home stretch of our “ReNew” Stewardship Season. I am delighted to report that you are well on the way to raising the budget we need to be the hands and feet of Christ in the world in 2022. (THANKS TO THOSE WHO’VE PLEDGED!) If you haven’t already, you can read about our hopes and dreams for the year to come here, including how your pledge is used. Then, after prayerful consideration, you can pledge online here.
On Sunday, if online pledging isn’t for you, you will find a pledge card and envelope in your bulletin. In the service, we will celebrate our renewal and bring our pledge cards forward. If you’ve already pledged, you can just write that on your card and bring it forward to celebrate. Start thinking (Gail would say journaling!) now about what renewal looks like to you – in your life and at Caldwell – and stay tuned for more about how to submit your thoughts so that your voice can be lifted up in worship Sunday.
Stewardship is core to our life in faith. Old Testament scripture speaks of a tithe, a tenth of our income, in return for all that God has done, is doing and will do in our lives. How you interpret that is between you and God. Every pledge, of any size matters and pledging, rather than giving whatever, whenever, helps us plan our ministries.
We are striving for an 8% increase in overall pledges this year to regain some momentum and scope in our ministry after 18 months of pandemic-caution in budgeting and planning. That’s ambitious I know. But, look what our Lord is already doing. We’ve built a new community hall almost ready to be shared (thanks Sarah and Sally!), Gail has been ordained, Justin and others have built our online presence so worshippers and friends can join in through the pandemic and we have found ways to feed, sustain and support neighbors in need locally and as far as Guatemala.
When I think about how many ways Caldwell renews my soul and spirit, I cannot count the blessings – the blessings you are to me and to each other and to our neighbors in need in a hurting and wounded world.
Surely, as Paul wrote, we are being renewed day by day. Let’s celebrate that with what we have to give!
In Christ,
John