Celebrating the Generosity of our Christmas Eve Offering
By Matt Miofsky
Seeing is believing. I think most of us carry around this idea. It is hard to believe in something you can’t quite see or that you don’t have evidence for. The church is sometimes hard to believe in. We literally see churches on every corner, but people struggle to see the church really living into its call. We want to believe the church is a community that welcomes all people, is generous to those outside its walls, is active in the lives of people, and is a voice of hope and good news. Too often the church is experienced as close-minded, judgmental, hypocritical, or self-centered.
At The Gathering, we began a tradition over a decade ago to commit 100% of our Christmas Eve offering (the largest of the year) to dig wells for clean water in Mozambique. The idea is simple. We want to be a church that really lives into its calling. A place that is generous, that works outside its walls, that is committed to the good of the larger community and world (and not merely its own institutional survival). That is who we strive to be.
But, seeing is believing. It is one thing to say that, but it is another thing to actually do it. This Christmas, we once again committed to this practice and the results were miraculous. The Christmas Eve offering was over $343,000, shattering a record here at the church (for context, prior to the pandemic two years ago, our offering was $275,000). All of this money will fund wells for clean water in Mozambique. We estimate that we will be able to dig at least 20 wells with this money (many of them in refugee camps), impacting the lives of about 150,000 people. It is truly a gift that will make a difference, both in our lives and in the lives of our friends in Mozambique.
I want to thank all of you that participated in the offering. You give me hope, you encourage me, and you keep me pressing on in believing that the church can be what we say it should be. In this difficult time with resurging COVID, it is hard to sometimes see the church at work. Many of us are worshiping online, it is harder to gather with others in groups, and certain activities are postponed or modified. Yet, this offering reminds me that the church is not only alive but thriving, growing, and continuing to respond to the work of God in the world. The offering is a sign that Jesus is alive and at work, even when it is hard to see. So Gathering, thank you – for your generosity, your commitment to the church, and for hanging on in the midst of this pandemic. Thank you to everyone who worshiped with us on Christmas Eve in person or online. Most of all, thank you for helping me and so many others see the church. I couldn't be prouder or more honored to be your pastor.
Peace,
At The Gathering, we began a tradition over a decade ago to commit 100% of our Christmas Eve offering (the largest of the year) to dig wells for clean water in Mozambique. The idea is simple. We want to be a church that really lives into its calling. A place that is generous, that works outside its walls, that is committed to the good of the larger community and world (and not merely its own institutional survival). That is who we strive to be.
But, seeing is believing. It is one thing to say that, but it is another thing to actually do it. This Christmas, we once again committed to this practice and the results were miraculous. The Christmas Eve offering was over $343,000, shattering a record here at the church (for context, prior to the pandemic two years ago, our offering was $275,000). All of this money will fund wells for clean water in Mozambique. We estimate that we will be able to dig at least 20 wells with this money (many of them in refugee camps), impacting the lives of about 150,000 people. It is truly a gift that will make a difference, both in our lives and in the lives of our friends in Mozambique.
I want to thank all of you that participated in the offering. You give me hope, you encourage me, and you keep me pressing on in believing that the church can be what we say it should be. In this difficult time with resurging COVID, it is hard to sometimes see the church at work. Many of us are worshiping online, it is harder to gather with others in groups, and certain activities are postponed or modified. Yet, this offering reminds me that the church is not only alive but thriving, growing, and continuing to respond to the work of God in the world. The offering is a sign that Jesus is alive and at work, even when it is hard to see. So Gathering, thank you – for your generosity, your commitment to the church, and for hanging on in the midst of this pandemic. Thank you to everyone who worshiped with us on Christmas Eve in person or online. Most of all, thank you for helping me and so many others see the church. I couldn't be prouder or more honored to be your pastor.
Peace,
P.S. Last week, I started a new series, Loving People You Don’t Like. If you missed part 1, you can listen to it below. Join me this weekend in person or online as I continue talking about how we deal with difficult people in our life.
Posted in M-Note
Recent
Archive
2023
2022
January
February
March
M-Note 3.1.22Lenten Devotional // Day 1Lenten Devotional // Day 2Luke: The Gospel For Rebels Week 5Lenten Devotional // Day 3Lenten Devotional // Day 4Lenten Devotional // First SundayLenten Devotional // Day 5Lenten Devotional // Day 6Lenten Devotional // Day 7Lenten Devotional // Day 8Lenten Devotional // Day 9Following Jesus: Some Assembly Required – Week 1Lenten Devotional // Day 10Some Assembly RequiredLenten Devotional // Second SundayLenten Devotional // Day 11Lenten Devotional // Day 12Lenten Devotional // Day 13Lenten Devotional // Day 14Following Jesus: Some Assembly Required – Week 2Lenten Devotional // Day 15Lenten Devotional // Day 16M-Note 3.20.22Lenten Devotional // Third SundayLenten Devotional // Day 17Lenten Devotional // Day 185 Benefits to Embracing Your Uncertainty of GodLenten Devotional // Day 19Lenten Devotional // Day 20M-Note 3.24.2022Lenten Devotional // Day 21Following Jesus: Some Assembly Required – Week 3Lenten Devotional // Day 22Lenten Devotional // Fourth SundayLenten Devotional // Day 23Lenten Devotional // Day 24Lenten Devotional // Day 25Lenten Devotional // Day 26
April
Following Jesus: Some Assembly Required – Week 4M-Note 4.1.2022Lenten Devotional // Day 273 Implications of God's Humanity on YoursLenten Devotional // Day 28Lenten Devotional // Fifth SundayLenten Devotional // Day 29Lenten Devotional // Day 30Lenten Devotional // Day 31Lenten Devotional // Day 32Following Jesus: Some Assembly Required – Week 53 Misunderstandings of Easter that Impact YouLenten Devotional // Day 33Lenten Devotional // Day 34Lenten Devotional // Palm SundayLenten Devotional // Day 35Lenten Devotional // Day 36Lenten Devotional // Day 37M-Note 4.14.2022Lenten Devotional // Day 38 Maundy ThusdayLenten Devotional // Day 39 Good FridayLenten Devotional // Day 40 Holy SaturdayLenten Devotional // EasterMysterious You: How your union with God makes you divineM-Note 4.20.2022No Filter: See The Real You – Week 14 Ways Embracing Your Sin Serves the WorldM-Note 4.28.2022No Filter: See The Real You – Week 2
May
3 Reasons You Should Embrace Your WeirdnessM-Note 5.5.22No Filter: See The Real You – Week 3Identify Your Purpose and Empower Your FutureM-Note 5.12.22No Filter: See The Real You – Week 4Confidently Approach Life as a Second ChanceLearning to Enjoy LIFE by Eliminating DistractionsUncomplicating the “God” Question to Simplify Spirituality
No Comments