Tithes

Think with me for a moment about the financial potential we have here at Trinity. I asked Cindy Funk, who has worked in the financial offices of Ashland county for years, what the median household income is. For Ashland County - $45,641. For Ashland City - $40,503. I asked Dan Scott, our Financial Secretary, how many giving units we have at Trinity, minus high school and college students. He said 716. 

Let's suppose that we at Trinity make only the median income. (Although from the number of persons with excellent jobs in our congregation we probably do much better than that. But let's suppose!)  Let's suppose that all of us live in Ashland City (Although we don't! But that makes the number smaller by over $5,000 per household unit. So let's use the smaller number.) 

So let's multiply 716 (number of households) by the median household income, using City rather than County. What financial potential is there in our congregation to do good works? What income do we have.....together as a congregation? $29,000,148. That's a little over 29 million dollars. Amazing!

If we all tithed to Trinity (...and none of us do. All of us, I hope, give money to other worthy causes.), Trinity would have received $2.9 million last year. That's a lot of money. 

Think with me for a moment what percentage of your income you gave last year to the work that the Lord does through Trinity Lutheran Church. As you can see from the above, we have room to grow before we bump into that 10% mark. As we fill out our income tax returns perhaps now is a good time to calculate the percentage we gave. Can we grow a percent next year? To what is God calling us?

In Christ,

Pastor Mitchell

Is Ashland a Mission Field?

Think with me this week about a very famous missionary from the last century, Leslie Newbigin. He worked with Christians in India, who had to explain the faith to people there with radically different values from those taught in church. Teachings there had to spell out Christian personal and corporate behavior patterns that distinguished them and showed Indian society what the kingdom of God was all about. 

When he returned to England after decades of being away, Newbigin found things had changed dramatically. Society, which in England had been a very "churched" society, was now indifferent to or hostile to Christianity.  (Presently in England 6% of the population is at worship on any given weekend.)  But the church kept acting like everybody went to church all the time, and nobody needed to invite anybody to worship with them.

Newbigin said the church needed to act like the one in India. Realize that there is a "mission field" out there with thousands of people who are not a part of the people of God. (In Ashland 70% of the population is NOT at worship on any given Sunday.)  The church needed to be an inviting church, a church that lived out their faith on the job, in the neighborhood, at school. 

It seems very strange to think of Ashland as a mission field. And two generations ago that was not the case.  But it is now.  Are you and I living in such a way that others see our behavior and think, "I'd like to know where that person got his or her goodness and faith."?  Are we inviting them to join us at worship? If we don't.....who will?

In Christ,

Pastor Mitchell

Girlfriend's Corner

We all possess a special package - a spiritual gift package. It consists of our God given spiritual gift(s), the way we like to work,  our passions and life experiences. All of these things combined, create what we do in Christ. It is the answer to the question: to what is God calling me?

Megan Mitchell has taken her life experiences, gifts, and style to create a non-profit ministry, called Girlfriend's Corner.  Founded in 2010, after her own treatment for breast cancer, Megan was prompted to bring good out of a bad situation and felt a desire to help other younger women diagnosed with the disease. The mission of Girlfriend's Corner is to give the younger woman diagnosed with breast cancer, undergoing chemotherapy or having a mastectomy, a gift bag that contains many items that helped Megan through her treatment for breast cancer. Valued around $250.00, some of the items included in the gift bag are an iPod Shuffle, pashmina scarf, lip balm, and gift cards, among other items that bring comfort. These women, some of whom are single, young marrieds, young mothers, and even pregnant, need to know that someone acknowledges and understands their journey.  During her journey, Megan was supported and helped by others.  She also became aware that while there were resources for research, which is good and necessary, there were less resources for younger women diagnosed with cancer.  In addition, because of their place in life, many of these women have very limited resources. Treatment can take up to a year or more, so this simple act of kindness shows these women that someone knows where they are and gives them something tangible to show them someone cares.

In 2012, 45 bags were distributed from Girlfriend's Corner through doctor's offices in Wooster, Canton, and Akron. Megan usually does not meet the recipients unless they request a special meeting. She has received much positive feedback from those distributing the bags reassuring her that this is a valuable ministry to many. Funds for the gift bags are raised through small fundraisers or personal donations. In addition, an original bracelet was created for sale to help fund the bags.  The bracelet is a subtle reminder for support of the cause or as a support for a loved one who is on or has taken this cancer journey.  For more information about purchasing a bracelet you can visit the website www.thegirlfriendscorner.org or Boland Jewelers. 

Megan reminds us that we can bring good from our difficult situations and utilize our gifts to serve the Lord in amazing ways! To what is God calling you?

Michelle Vanderzyden