Cutler Ridge United Methodist Church

The Holy Post - Dec 07 [PDF]

Friends,

At the Church Council meeting on October 1, our leaders took a step of faith. We decided to give away the chicken dinners at our annual Country Fair on November 3. Instead of charging $6.00 each for the 700-800 dinners, we would not charge but accept donations. It was not blind faith because one of our members offered to donate $1800 toward providing for the dinners before we made our decision. Nonetheless, as the pastor, I felt that our leadership was catching the vision that we need to become known in our community as a giving church.

There were concerns that once the word got out, we would be overrun by people wanting dinners. But we decided to go ahead in a spirit of grace and generosity toward our community trusting that all would work out.

What happened? We gave out several hundred tickets ahead of time to needy families. (Some members paid the old price for the tickets to help with costs, then gave the tickets away.) Our first priority was to give dinners to persons in need. When people came to purchase tickets on the day of the sale, they were told they were free, but that they could make a donation. About 800 dinners were provided free of charge to persons in our community. As always people were working hard, grilling chicken, boiling corn, making cinnamon rolls, serving people, and doing many other tasks. It was a great time of fellowship.

Did we lose money? Actually $2,952 was donated over and above our expenses for the barbecued chicken dinners! (See inside for other income from the Country Fair.)

I think there is a lesson here. If we give to others, especially those in need, God will provide for us–an important lesson for the Christmas season. I am confident that we can put this lesson into practice in new ways in the future. Merry Christmas!

Basking in God’s Amazing Grace,
Sam

Read the entire newsletter online: The Holy Post - Dec 07 [PDF]