Faithful Giving

I’d like to extend a special 'thank you' to the folks of Milton and especially the families on Chicago Street and High Street. Each Friday following Thanksgiving Day I hand deliver a personalized letter asking families to fill a grocery bag (which I provide thanks to Jason at the Piggly Wiggly) with non-perishable food and toiletry items. I deliver the letter to about 45-50 homes. In my message I say that I will pick up and deliver these items to the Milton Food Pantry the following Friday.

Each year my “city block community” responds faithfully and helps provide for the families of our community who are in need. This year was no different! On December 2nd I picked up 23 bags of groceries and assorted items, including one very large box. I dropped these items off at the Milton Food Pantry. In four years this city block community has given over 95-105 bags and boxes of food, toiletries, and assorted stuff! What a blessing!

Thanksgiving and Christmas are a time of celebration and rejoicing, gifts and big meals, family gatherings and more. Yet many in our community are feeling the pinch of the economy and may not celebrate with big meals because the cupboards are bare. The gifts may not be as plentiful as one would like. Some may not have family to share with. Yet because of the generosity of the community, and people like you, we can help.

This Advent and Christmas season I’d like you to give thought and prayer to where you might be able to help out someone in need. Do you know a family that won’t have a Christmas meal? Someone who is staying home, by him or herself, at Christmas? Someone who needs to hear the message of Jesus Christ and the peace and grace a personal relationship with Christ brings? How can you help? Who can you invite to worship with you?

Blessings to you my friends. I’ll see you on Sunday!

The Gift of An Eraser

This Sunday we continue sharing the gifts God has blessed us with by opening The Gift of An Eraser. Do you remember playing those games as a child and someone would call out, ‘Do Over!’. We need a do over! And all the children, some grumbling but most eagerly accepting would do just that – do it over. Whatever was done incorrectly, whatever mistake had been made was erased. As if it had never happened.

Don’t you wish you could do that in real life? I said something I didn’t mean to – oops, do over! I made a huge mistake – do over! In reality we can’t always have a do over. There are consequences for our actions that we need to take in to consideration and live out. Ideally, we take those consequences in mind, before saying or doing or responding to a situation… but we don’t always do that.

Yet we can be a part of wiping the slate clean and starting over, letting go, forgetting and moving on. This is an important part of our relationships with one another and with God. Christ teaches we are to forgive 70 times 7 the one who has hurt, offended, or disappointed us. As important as this is, we must learn to forgive ourselves as well. Do not carry the weight of past mistakes on your shoulders. Let them go. Christ forgives you. You can forgive you.

Blessings to you my friends,

Patrick

Holiday Spending...

I came across this suggestion for holiday spending in an email sent to me from Church of the Resurrection. I thought I’d share it with you, as many of us get ready to do our Christmas shopping (or find ourselves in the midst of our shopping!)


• Create a budget before you start spending – The first step in smart holiday spending is to create a budget. List the areas in which you will spend money and assign dollar amounts to each area. Be realistic or you will be tempted to change the budget midway and that will defeat the purpose of your budget. The budget is there to tell you how much you can spend. Keeping to your budget is the smart way to shop.

• Shop with a list – Make a list of everything that you intend to buy and stick to your plan. Don't buy anything that is not on your list unless you absolutely must.

• Set expectations – Have the "talk" with your family to see if you can exchange names for the adults and place a dollar figure on the amount to be spent on the gift. If the budget will be tight, let everybody know ahead of time and you will all be on the same page.

• Make your own gifts – Everybody loves a gift that comes from the heart. If you are handy or artistic, you might consider making your own gifts for family and friends. Gift baskets of homemade foods, picture books, crafts and artwork are all great ideas.

• Do your homework – Do your homework before you leave the house. Know where the sales are. Many stores price match, so always ask “for your best price” especially on large ticket items. Look for coupons and discounts at every opportunity.

• Shop with a plan – Never go shopping without a plan on where you are going to go and what you are going to buy. This will avoid those impulse purchases.

• Track your spending – Make a list of everything that you buy and how much it cost. Comparing your spending with your budget can keep you on track and prevent you from spending more than you originally planned.

Hope this helps!

Blessings to you this Christmas,

Patrick

An interesting thing happened...

About two weeks ago I had to return a new laptop to HP – it did not work upon arrival. I had received a return authorization from HP and was to ship it via FedEx. While my time on the phone with HP (troubleshooting, on-hold, getting a new laptop ordered...) wasn’t the most enjoyable time I’ve ever had; I did have a wonderful experience with FedEx. I parked at the Plainfield office in Janesville, carried my box into the building and the first thing I noticed was the door opened automatically! At first I looked to see who was coming out, but no one did. The automatic sensors sensed me coming and opened the door for me. How great! I thought. If my arms are totally full, I don’t have to fiddle with the door handle.

As I brought in my box (and pre-printed shipping form) a lady came from the back, greeted me with a warm smile and said (pointing her finger at my printed sheet) 'Hello, I'll need that'. I waited for her to go on telling me what else was needed, but that was it!

So I asked her, 'Is that it?'.

'Yes, that’s all I need.' she said.

'You mean I’m done', I asked?

'Yes, you are done.'

Wow, that’s great I thought. And then I told her how much I appreciated the opening door, the welcoming smile, the quick and easy service. Wouldn’t it be awesome if all business experiences went this smoothly? Then I thought, I wonder if this is what visitors and guests (and even our church members) experience when they come to our church? Are they welcomed? Received with smiles? Helped when they need help? Do they walk away feeling like this was the best experience of my week?

I hope so. Help me to make this so for all those who come into our church. Smile and smile often. Welcome and welcome warmly. Help and help often. Make this be the best experience of anyone’s week!

If you are a visitor to our church (Milton UMC in Milton WI) I'd love to hear your feedback. Did/do you feel welcome? Were you helped? Was this a best experience type feeling?

I am thankful to God for the ways he is changing all our lives.

peace to you,

Patrick