Dear Friends,

Our churchwide emphasis Enough: Discovering Joy Through Simplicity and Generosity is nearing its conclusion. Last week, we talked about “Cultivating Contentment.” In our corporate worship, we addressed head-on our human tendency to accumulate possessions and wealth, and we discovered how to consciously change our ways. If you were unable to be with us, check out the sermon message on our website, www.seminaryumc.com. Also, we have some extra “contentment” key tags, which was distributed to the congregation last Sunday. Come on in and get your tag. They are located on the back table in the sanctuary.

This Sunday brings our final topic in the series: “Defined by Generosity.” What defines your life? Is it wealth? Belongings? Faith? Many of us live with a scarcity mentality, worried that we must gather and hoard as much as possible, saving for some imagined “rainy day.” Or we focus on self-gratification. But the Bible promises both God’s blessings and joy for those who choose to live another way. During the service we will take action to change our lives by setting five specific personal goals to work toward over the next year. Then, on the following two Sundays, we will consecrate our gifts to the ministry of our church for the coming year.
I urge you to join us this Sunday as we learn how to live a new way—as people who are defined by generosity and who experience true joy.

Blessings, Kathy

Those who are generous are blessed,
for they share their bread with the poor. Proverbs 22:9