Annual Giving Campaign

Terry Johnston, Committee Co-chair

This is the time of year when our parish asks each member to make a thoughtful stewardship commitment in terms of time, talent, and money to share with the Church. I ran into the wonderful head chaplain at work recently at Murdoch Center in Butner, where 600 severely retarded people live and, on a regular basis, worship at a cheery chapel built with private funds. Having annual giving on my mind I got around to asking him if he 'passed the plate' during services. He told me they did, that he had started it with the fund drive for the new chapel years ago and continued it because of the obvious joy that giving provides the folks living there. He shared with me that the original training for the residents to prepare them for what to do when the plate passes focusing on ensuring that they did not take money out. Earning money is a very real part of life at Murdoch, and the residents like their money and the things it can purchase. Lo and behold, the chaplain quickly found out that the training was backwards; many residents wanted to give all of the money they had every week because they understood that it was giving back to God and would be used to benefit others. He said giving always picks up when they announce that the Salvation Army or other such groups will be receiving the money given that day. One resident who can communicate verbally makes it a point to tell him every Wednesday and every Sunday, “I put my dollar in the plate”. She probably makes 15 to 20 dollars a week.

Obviously, the severely disabled individuals who live at Murdoch as wards of the State can teach us a great deal about giving back to God what God has provided, about caring, and about love for one another. Their daily world in their little village is so different from ours, but their example can be used for our 'training' of what to do when the plate passes.

By Mid-October you should have received your annual pledge card in the mail. About 50 parishioners have already volunteered to get together and make sure that all parishioners get a phone call on either October 21 or 22 to encourage them to return the pledge card and the time and talent survey. Please take time to answer your telephone early those evenings and share your thoughts about the Chapel of the Cross, or any needs for a prayer or assistance that you may have with your fellow parishioner. And please consider prayerfully your pledge of money, time, and talent for the coming year.