We live in a consumer driven society; we pay money and expect to get what we want to our
satisfaction in return. It makes sense when we are talking about shopping for groceries or purchasing something for our home or clothes for our children.  If the quality of the food changes in a restaurant, we stop eating there.  If the grocery store clerks are not friendly enough, we shop somewhere else.  It is very much driven by what we want and need as individuals and getting our needs met.  One of America’s large discount stores began carrying organic dairy products, not because they felt it was important for the environment and health of human beings – but because it made them money.  Money talks in a consumer society.

A relationship with a church, the investment of our time, talents and financial resources is not
intended to be modeled after the consumer society.  As children of God, as members of a faith community, we are in covenant with God and with one another.  We give for the sake of the
bigger picture we are committed to – God’s compassionate and justice-seeking love.

We give of our resources not just for our sake, but for the sake of the children and teens, for the sake of the elderly and others who need care and support.  We give in order to keep alive a community of faith that strives to live out its mission of “Peace, Respect and Love in Action” in the broader world through faith formation and service for all ages.

We are in covenant with one another in such a way that it keeps us involved even when we might not agree with everything or everyone.  Being in community is hard work – that is why the United Church of Christ emphasizes the importance of covenant.  We began as four different denominations coming together, each with their own histories and perspectives – choosing to covenant together to be in community because we knew we could accomplish so much more of God’s work if we did it together rather than apart.

We at RBCC UCC are a beautiful, diverse community of faith – we may not always agree or understand one another or why a board or committee or staff person might do one thing and not another – but as people in covenant, we stay in relationship for the sake of our bigger commitment.  We get involved in areas we are passionate about – we talk with people we need to rather than about people; we seek to walk gently on the planet and with each other – knowing full well that we are all unfinished and imperfect.  We remember that it is not our church, but God’s church and it is important how we live out our covenant with one another whether gathered or scattered.

Friends, we have been alerted by our wonderful treasurer that we are about $5,000 behind in keeping up with our budget this year.  We are feeling the pinch more than usual because it is one of the first times we have not had a roll-over from the year before and we started out the year already behind on our financial support to OCWM (Our Churches Wider Mission = our support of the United Church of Christ in its broader ministry).

As people in covenant with one another, who are committed to the ongoing mission of RBCC UCC, I believe we can each dig just a little deeper to help bridge this gap – it would not take that much digging if we all participate to the best of our ability. Money is not meant to “talk” in the church like it does in our consumer society. 

Money is a resource that keeps the mission moving on behalf of all – I invite each of you to prayerfully consider helping bridge the gap as people in covenant with God and with one another. It would be exciting to finish out the next six months of this year feeling like we can continue to fulfill our commitments to ministry and mission.

Thanking you in advance,

Peace, Pastor Joy