2 Corinthians 9:6-7, English Standard Version
The Cheerful Giver
The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
Our Great and Holy God,
In this time of our Stewardship Campaign we thank you for all you have given to all of us, for you are our Provider. Guide us and inspire us to feel the needs of those around us, and how we can share our bounty with all of them. May we find in our hearts a spirit of generous and cheerful giving.
As the Bible tells us in 1 Peter 4:10), “As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace”
God gives each of us the ability to be a blessing to others. From welcoming guests to volunteering time to help others, we believe that our combined efforts will reflect God’s love throughout our community and around the world.
Help us to reflect upon the many ways that our pledges enable the works of Genesis in our facility and in our community:
- Our services, where all are welcome to join in community and fellowship to celebrate the love of God through worship and music
- Our ministries: adult, youth and children which deepen our understanding of you Lord, and what you ask of us
- Our Christian Care efforts, reaching out to those that are suffering and need to feel the love of God through our efforts.
- Our local missions including Dorcas Ministries, Methodist Build, our teachers at Kingswood Elementary, Hats for Duke, Chatham Commons, The Carying Place, The Methodist Home for Children and others.
- Our regional missions NC Serve Mission Trip and our Down East Mission
- Our international mission in Honduras with The Leadership Center and others.
And we ask that you remind us of the example of The Widows Offering, that she gave all she could. And that which we have is not ours, but the bounty provided by you Lord for us to help others with.
Mark 12:41-44, New International Version
The Widow’s Offering
Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents.
Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.”
We ask these things in the name of your Son, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen
Prayer written by Mike Walsh