Earlier this year, I participated in a small group study led by Pastor Tracey.  As part of that, we were asked to write our spiritual autobiographies. When I was thinking about what I wanted to say about stewardship today, I went back to what I wrote for that, and I found that my answer was right there. I want to share with you a small portion of what I wrote.
 
I was brought up in the church, the United Methodist Church, specifically. I remember kids’ choir, the Hanging of the Greens, lots of fellowship meals, Christmas Eve services, Easter cantatas, Vacation Bible School, and on and on. 

So many people in that church helped shape me and my early spirituality. Mostly, though, I am struck by the incredible example of my mother, who modeled Christianity and Christian love for me and my brother in so many ways. She taught us about prayer, she taught us the great songs of the church, she showed us how to participate actively in a church community, and to contribute through our prayers, our presence, our gifts, and our service.

Now that I am a parent, I realize more clearly how much she was doing, and what an incredible gift she was giving us, a legacy of faith. I want to give that same gift to my children, and I’m so grateful that with my husband Matt I have a full and true partner in that process.
 
So, why do I give to the church? My gift is an offering of gratitude for my past, a commitment from my family for the present, and a legacy for my children’s future.

Jennifer Dobbs-Oates
 
 

I am Peggy Sample Reen. When I was asked to give this stewardship moment this song came to mind: He Leadeth Me; O Blessed Thought. When I was in high school I took piano lessons and I would sit for hours and play and sing to myself the songs in the little brown hymnal and this is one of the songs I sang. It goes like this:
He leadeth me; O blessed thought
O words with heavenly comfort fraught
Whatever I do, where ever I be;
Still ‘tis God’s hand that leadeth me.
 
I have thought about it and in order to answer the question, why do I give, I feel I need to tell you who I am and where I come from. I was born on a dairy farm in Tennessee and my grandmother took us to church in a buggy from the time I was a baby so I have been part of a Methodist church as long as I can remember. She lost her husband when her children were small. She was a devout Christian and had a very strong character and raised her 4 children alone. We were a very close family and were very involved in the church, it was our family. I spent lots of time with my grandmother and a lot of her character I see in myself.  I love people and have compassion and understanding, thus why I chose nursing as my profession.
 
The second person that helped make me who I am is my mother. She set an example for her children to follow. She loved God and her fellow man unconditionally. She studied her Bible and prayed every day and she loved to go to God’s house. She was very active in the church, and when she died I got her Bible.
 
Thus the answer to the question, why do I support Trinity?, is easy. To me, developing relationships is the most important part of one's life and being committed and involved in what ever you belong to makes one’s life meaningful. Some of the people that have influenced my life here at Trinity are Margaret and Harry Galloway who invited Noel and I to come to Trinity. Genève McCord who was a gracious, giving person, who showed me how to pray. Melba Anderson who taught my children. Gary and Marilyn Forbes helped me become involved in the life of the church. Gary is the only pastor that helped to grow the endowment fund and that made an impression on me. Kim Reisman who taught Disciple Bible that changed my life. I could go on but this shows you how important getting involved and making relationships are to your life.
 
I told myself a long time ago I wanted to be part of the solution and not part of the problem, so I volunteered to be on the Council of Ministries and became involved and God has been leading me ever sense. It is a matter of priorities. Trust the Lord completely and in everything you do, put God first, and he will direct you and crown your efforts. Be truthful and kind, let love and faithfulness always lead you, don’t be conceited, and honor the Lord by giving him the first part of you income. When you serve other or give your money, you are serving God. When I took the oath of membership I vowed to give of myself, my time, my talents and my money to serve the Lord and that is why I give to Trinity.