An article from the Cathedral Times
by the Very Reverend Samuel G. Candler,
Dean of the Cathedral of St. Philip
I will begin with the main point: we need you to make a major summer offering to the Cathedral of St. Philip.
Here is why. How many times a year do you make an offering to the church?
Okay, we might say, our answer depends upon the definition of "offering." If an offering is any act of self-giving or self-sacrifice on behalf of our church, many of us make an offering at least once a week. We give ourselves to worshipping together. We give ourselves to teaching. We give ourselves to feeding the hungry or caring for the poor.
But I hope that the notion of "offering" also includes "money." Money is our culture's primary way of expressing cost and relationship. We spend money and time on things and people that are important to us. For instance, I will spend money to pay for travel and food and accommodations for my family this summer. I care for them, and we will vacation together.
Okay. If an offering definitely includes money, how many times a year do you make an offering to the church?The Cathedral of St. Philip, like many churches these days, receives most of its financial gifts-most of its money offerings-at the end of the year. I definitely appreciate those winter offerings. I also understand that end-of-year giving is good for tax and accounting benefits. In the past, I have often fulfilled the bulk of my own pledge in November or December of each year.
But, this summer, I will act differently. I will try to make sure I have fulfilled at least half of my 2008 financial pledge by the midway point of 2008. The Cathedral of St. Philip needs me to give in this way; and the Cathedral needs you to give in this way, too.
Remember: the Cathedral makes use of our financial gifts throughout the year, not just once a year. Every day and every month, the Cathedral is paying for cooling and heating, for salaries and compensation, for grants and mission, for music and learning. Those expenses are steadily incurred throughout the year. The Cathedral needs our own gifts to support that work-not just once a year, but throughout the year.
Thus, the Cathedral of St. Philip (or whatever church you belong to!) needs your summer offering as well as your winter offering. Please offer a gift to the Cathedral this summer, especially as you prepare to spend money in so many other places! For those of you who give weekly, or even monthly, may God bless you richly! The more often we write a check to the community and mission we love, the more often we are reminded of the grace of God.
At the end of June, the Finance Office of the Cathedral typically mails a contribution statement to each of us. We are reminded of our annual pledge and the degree to which we have fulfilled it. What a great joy it would be if your June statement shows that you have fulfilled at least half your annual pledge!
What?! Have you not made an annual pledge to the Cathedral? Well, we need money offerings whether or not you have pledged. In fact, it is God who needs those offerings. God needs our generosity if the world is to know through the Church what the wondrous love and grace of Jesus Christ are.
So, the grace and love of Jesus Christ needs your summer offering! May that grace and love bless you always.
The Very Rev. Sam Candler