The United Methodist Stewardship Foundation

Originally from GBOD

Note: Beginning in January we expanded the Offertory Prayers to include at least one "Invitation to the Offering" (see below) along with a digital image for those who might want to use it. We hope you will find this a helpful way to remind the people in your pews that their offering travels to many places to make a powerful difference in the lives of people they may never meet. If churches find this helpful, we will work to provide more of these invitations. You can find great stories of the difference our giving makes at  http://umcgiving.org

Invitation to the Offering
The offering you made last week empowered ministry within our congregation and in response to the needs of our community. It also helped support the work of ministries beyond the local church that reach people who are in desperate need to hear the good news of love and redemption. People here in our cities and communities who are immigrants trying to navigate their way to working status and citizenship find help through ministries such as Justice for Our Neighbors (JFON), which is a network of monthly clinics, hosted by more than 30 local United Methodist churches across the U.S. They provide professional legal services to immigrants for free, helping to reunite their families, secure immigration status, and enjoy the right to work. It also encourages churches to extend radical hospitality by providing places for community gathering and table fellowship. Coordinated by our General Board of Global Ministries, it is supported through our church’s giving to the World Service Fund. I invite you once again to give generously as we worship God through the sharing of our gifts, tithes and offerings

May 5, 2013 — Sixth Sunday of Easter
Gracious God, giver of all good things, as we give our gifts this morning, help us to shift our focus from what we have to what we have to give away. Help us this day in our giving to focus on the gift of peace that Christ gave to the disciples and that he offers to us. May the gifts we offer this morning bring peace to lives that are in turmoil, hearts that are troubled, and people who live in fear. We pray this in the holy name of Jesus the Christ. Amen. (John 14:23-29)

The Rev. Phyllis M. Bowers, Executive Director of The United Methodist Stewardship Foundation, serving the Susquehanna Conference, and Mr. Shaun Smith, President and Chief Executive Officer of Albright Care Services celebrate Albright’s investment of more than $1 million.  This investment will be held in trust by The Stewardship Foundation for the purpose of securing the future ministry of Albright Care Services.

Earlier this year, Albright Care sought a partner for the creation and investment of The Spriggle Fund for the Endowment of Benevolent Care.  “The opportunity to partner with Albright Care has been a blessing.  We welcome them into our family of investors,” says Bowers.