My name is Holly, and for those of you who don’t know me, I’d like to start by saying that this church has been our home for the past eight years. It has also been a home for our children. Allow me to provide a bit of background about myself: I was raised in a very small Baptist church, and my parents instilled in me the practice of giving 10% of my allowance, earnings, or whatever money I made, to the church. As a rule follower, I obediently followed this practice as a young child, even though I didn’t particularly like it. I’d rather have spent my money at the Hello Kitty store or on something I personally enjoyed. I reluctantly parted with my money as part of my upbringing.

As I grew older and started earning my own income, I continued to give that same percentage of money to the church. However, I still found myself feeling somewhat resentful about having to give up my hard-earned money. I was selfish in that regard, wanting to use that money for my own needs and desires. But I continued doing it out of a sense of duty and faith.

As I matured in my faith and spent time in prayer and Bible study, I began to understand that I should be a cheerful giver. It’s challenging to be cheerful when you’re filled with resentment. I prayed and reflected on this for a while. Eventually, I began to see the good that the church was doing with the money – supporting mission work, youth activities, and helping people go overseas for mission work. I witnessed how the funds were being used for the greater good, and my perspective shifted.

I no longer saw it as giving up something I could use for myself but as an opportunity to participate in helping people learn about Jesus. I realized that I wasn’t just contributing financially; I was investing my time in helping the youth grow in their faith. I was singing in the beautiful choir, led by the wonderful Tim, and I want to extend an open invitation for anyone interested in joining. We especially need deep male voices in the choir, and it’s a blessing to share our voices every Sunday.

I also found fulfillment in being part of the United Methodist Women (UMW). It allowed me to connect with women in the church whom I might not have met otherwise and build personal relationships. Through UMW, we engage in mission work and uphold our faith. Our meetings are on the first Tuesday night at 6:30 in The Parlor. For women with young children needing childcare, please let us know; we will provide childcare. We wholeheartedly welcome your participation because what we do in UMW is all about sharing the message of Jesus.

In conclusion, stewardship is about giving ourselves to the church so that we can collectively share the message of Jesus with our community and the world. Thank you.