Tis better to give ...

When I was a little girl and Christmas would come around, my brothers and sisters and I were always so excited to get up and open our presents, that we would get up before dawn on Christmas morning. I was always in awe at the amount of gifts under the tree and loved opening up each and every present that had my name on it.

As our family went through the years and the dynamics changed, gift giving and receiving took on a different light. When we gathered as a family to celebrate the holidays, I got to see Christmas through the eyes of my niece and nephews. I saw how happy the gifts I had bought for them made them and how much satisfaction I received from watching them open their gifts.

Forward in time a few more years, and I found that I loved to hunt for little treasures throughout the year to give to someone on their birthday, anniversary, Christmas or "just because." Each gift became a personal blessing for both them and me.

As my parents used to remind me, it truly was better to give than to receive.

As I continue on in this life, the other thing I found out was that either gifts I gave or gifts I received took on a different character. "Gifts" didn't have to be physical things wrapped up in pretty paper with a bow. Gifts could be everyday ordinary things: a kind word when you need it, help with a tough task, or clear blue sky and warm weather after a week of rain and cold.

In our church we ask people to give of their tithes, their talents and their gifts. All three of these are important for the health and future of our church. Without tithes we couldn't pay the bills, without talents the service would be quite solemn, and without gifts the church wouldn't be the warm, welcoming, loving place it has become. Each and every member, attendee and guest are important in the success of our church.

Alan Pote wrong a song called "Many Gifts, One Spirit", and it says, "Many gifts, one spirit, many songs, one voice. Many reasons, one promise, many questions one choice."

Throughout the year we see the blessing of our gifts poured out into the community in which we live and beyond. We nurture those at home and those abroad. A gift given can help a homeless person have something to eat or can help a tornado victim find shelter in another state. Gifts can help provide a carnival day for local children or provide mosquito nets for children in Africa. Whether we provide new roofing for a house in Alabama or a new roof for our church, all of this is made possible through the financial gifts of our members.

We ask a lot of our members and attendees, and we are truly blessed with a congregation that is both generous and compassionate. However, one time a year our church asks it's members to evaluate one financial gift in particular: the tithe.

Through our operations budget we make it possible to provide a meeting place for our building partners, a few of which include ACAP, AA, an OCD Group, Healing Hearts, and even a Zumba class. All of these people count on us to give them a safe, warm, dry place to meet.

Through our operations budget we make sure we have the adequate staff to serve our members and guests. This staff is an integral part of our church and is important to maintaining a congregation of our size. They provide care for our spirits and inspiration for our souls. Without them we would be like sheep without shepherds.

The Alan Pote song also says, "Help us learn to love each other, show us ways to understand we are members of one family growing strong by joining hands."

That's what our congregation needs to do during this time of Stewardship: join hands and help support our church. Not just through our talents and our gifts, but through our tithes as well. And even though I give as much as I can, I know that my gift alone is not enough. Fortunately I don't have to do it all by myself. By all of us joining hands and all giving what we can, we can see this church through many more years together.

I give to my church budget because I want the church to continue and grow. My church family gives me community, safety, support and inspiration. Without our gifts--all our gifts--that church family would cease to exist.

"Take our many ways of working," the song says, "blend the colors of each soul into the beauty of a rainbow. Give us life, Lord, make us whole."