NOTE: I am putting my weekly sermons on the church website. It will be on for two weeks (usually posted on Friday) and then placed in the Archives area by date. You can download in a matter of seconds.

Let me know what you think. The church Email is: SLUMC@att.net, Phone: 480.895.8766

Sunday, November 9, 2003
Sermon: "Open Hearts/ Open Minds/ Open Doors"
Scripture: I Cor. 9:6-8,11-13
Reverend Larry Gerber

Wouldn't it be nice if every morning when you awaken, you could hear the voice of God saying: "I think of you every day, Love God." Well, if you listen close enough, I am sure you could hear God greeting you each morning. Today is Stewardship Sunday, a time when we take inventory of that which God has given us, and in return, taking a look at what we have done for God. Wouldn't it be nice, if every morning, God could hear all of His children say: "I think of you every day, Love, Sally, John, Mary, Carl, Sophia, Larry", Oh, yes, God would like that very much. Unfortunately, all too many of us find it hard enough to get up in the morning, let alone talk to God.

We are entering that time of the year, when we celebrate many things. Thanksgiving is just around the corner. We, hopefully take time to thank God for the freedom of America. Stores are already filled with Christmas decorations and seasonal music. Love is in the air. Excitement is everywhere. Salvation Army bells are ringing, bidding you to place some money in the kettle. Hundreds of other organizations send you return address labels, note cards, angle pins, etc. hoping you will feel the need to send a donation to their cause. You, and you alone, must decide if it is a worthy cause, or a scam.

It is the same time of the year when your church must set the budget for the coming year, and we will be sending you a pledge card, in fact it will be in the mail tomorrow. Tomorrow is also the day that Neighbors Who Care will be sending out their pledge card. On both accounts, it is not just a plea for a mood of the moment giving, but a pledge for year round giving to support their respective programs. Read both letters, pray about your ability, and your desire to support these programs that exist for you and your benefit.

The United Methodist Church across the country, has a theme: Open hearts, open minds, open doors. This church had a vision in 1987 that has become a reality. It began with 8 persons gathered together in Jo and Harry Kenney's home. Your founding Pastor, Marshall Lindsay was sent here to build a church. What were they going to do, where would they start. There vision was to build a place of worship, where persons could feel welcome, and find spiritual food. The 8 grew to 20, then 40 , then 60, and on through the past 16 years, to where there are now over 825 households who consider Sun Lakes United Methodist Church their home, at least for a part of each year. 825 households represents nearly 1250 individuals.

You built a place of worship. Most recently, you built a beautiful Administrative Building, complete with a library/conference room, the Alpha education room, a reception area with the main office, and 6 individual offices. All offices are in use today. You built a chapel for small weddings, memorial services, and seminars. It is used almost daily. If you walk near the chapel on M-F form 8-4, you will hear sacred music. You can read, study, and watch Christian videos, or videos of our War Vets., or check out a book.

A typical week begins on Monday, with volunteers loading up a van or two with clothing and food for UMOM, you will find the Krafters busy as bees in the Kraft building and Lindsay Hall every Monday, getting ready for the next bazzar/. Lindsay Hall is used on a regular basis for Monday and Friday computer classes, Yoga, Bridge, and a host of other seminars and meetings.

Recently, over 350 persons from the greater Sun Lakes area walked through our doors, and visited 50 vendors, offering health and wellness material, flu shots, and asking for your blood.

This past week was a typical week. Some of the activities included: The Good Book dialogue, a UMW meeting, making plans for the cookie walk and outreach to missions, Choir practice on Wednesday, Stephen Ministries Leaders meeting on Thursday morning, followed by The Education meeting, and Ethics, Morals, and Values class, and then the Stephen Ministers meet two Thursday evenings a month, for check in and education. Other classes being offered right now, include Disciple 1, United Methodism 101, a Grief Counseling group, several wellness opportunities, and more.

Yes, this is a busy church. Monthly mailings, and special mailings don't just get mailed. They must be typed folded and stuffed, sorted, and finally mailed. And, your Sunday bulletin: thanks to an automatic folding machine, all we have to do is collate the pages and add the inserts to about 600 bulletins each week right now, and over 750 in December, Jan, Feb, and Mar.

We perform weddings, baptisms, and memorial services. We visit the hospitals and care centers at least 3, and usually 5 times a week, besides home visits to the sick and the shut ins.

I will miss some of the programs, but one final one: The Gazelle Society. You have seen the ads, received letters, and asked questions about this group. It is your Planned Giving Committee at its best. They are encouraging you to remember the church in your will, or make a cash donation to The Foundation, where your money will remain secure, and the earnings can be used for programs and outreach of the church for years to come. Your founding Pastor started the program with a gift upon his retirement. It has been slowly growing, to where there are now over 40 persons who have given a gift, or have indicated that the church is in their will. To date there is nearly $40,000 in The Foundation.

The church is not just a club to feed the desires of its members, it is a body of Christians reaching out to God's needs here and around the world. The insert about Sophia is a story of your ministry in action. UMOM, Wesley Community Center, Camping scholarships, Neighbors Who Care, Indian missions, Heifer Project International, etc. are all working because of our corporate support. In this final slide, I want to show you where the money comes from to support our budget.

Of the 825 households who receive the church mailings, 600 households have responded with a pledge, or an identifiable gift. 207 family units ( 34.5%) of the 600 give 75.22% of the income.
126 family units (21%) contribute 14.94% of the income, and another 267 households (44.5%) contribute 9,84%

We are running about $23,000 behind budget currently. That represents only 3 1/2% of the years budget. Yet it is enough to keep us from fulfilling our missional outreach programs.

As we look at the budget for 2004, we are looking at about a 1 1/2% increase over 2003. That is less than a $10,000 increase, or $192/week more than we needed this year. Divide that by the 600 identified givers, and individually we need to increase our giving by $.32

But, we are still running $23,000 behind our needs this year. Some have died, moved away, or have heavy medical bills, and will not be able to fulfill their pledge, so others of us will have to step up to the plate by something more than $.32 per week. Where are you on this chart, and where should you be, in your support of this ministry. You need to look at your income, set aside the 10% that God instructs you to do, and then divide it up, through your church, Neighbors Who Care, and other charitable entities. Jane and I set aside 6% for the working of this church, and divide the other 4% among NWC, Heart Association, Cancer Society, Altzheimers Organization, School of Theology at Claremont, Arkansas College, and the like.

Please read the letter from your Stewardship Committee, look at your sources of income, pray about your commitment to the church, and fill out the pledge card, and bring it with you to church on Sunday, November 23, for dedication. If you will not be in church on the 23rd, please get it to the office before that date. Your pledge is accepted as your intent to give in 2004, and can be changed if need be. It is the only way we know of, that allows us to set a balanced budget.

Let me know what you think. The church Email is: SLUMC@att.net, Phone: 480.895.8766