At our most recent stewardship dinner, participants lifted up ways that McFarland UCC has been a blessing.  They celebrated our support of local charities, our Open and Affirming commitment, our ministry to people in all ages and stages of life, and our ability to make people feel at home.

This community of faith is able to be in ministry because of faithful commitments by people like you!  Would you like to contribute to our ministries with time, talent or treasure? Click here for our printable pledge forms.

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God is doing a new thing at McFarland UCC.  In the past year, we have

• grown in worship, incorporating new worship music, storytelling and visuals, as well as installing a new sound system with audio assistive devices and large-print worship materials

• had steadily growing worship participation, added six new members and celebrated an infant baptism
  

• reinvented our Sunday School (Growing In Faith Together) and renovated our nursery

• fed the hungry (with produce from our own garden!), supported people with AIDS, sent 7 youth to church camp, offered holiday cheer to those in need, and re-launched our Still Listening Youth group

• reached out to greater McFarland through the summertime Sundaes on Thursdays concert series, and participation in other community-wide events.

• been a safe place for LGBT folks, where they can feel accepted, and offered a community witness that we are all children of God.

Check out the interviews at the right for what some of our members have had to say about why they prioritize giving through the church.

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What does the Bible say about generosity?

• "Take from among you an offering to the Lord; let whoever is of a generous heart bring the Lord's offering." (Exodus 35:5)

• How we use our resources either honors or dishonors God.  Many passages refer to tithing (giving a tenth) and giving of the first fruits, rather than the leftovers of our lives:  "Honor the Lord with your substance and with the first fruits of all your produce."  (Proverbs 3:9)

• Giving rewards the giver, not only the receiver:  "You will be enriched in every way for your great generosity."  (2 Corinthians 9:11)

• God is generous beyond measure:  "For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son." (John 3:16)

• Generosity is one of the fruits of the Spirit, along with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.  (Galatians 5:22)

• People of faith are "to do good, to be rich in good works, generous, and ready to share, thus storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of the life that really is life." (1 Timothy 6:18-19)

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Some questions for reflection:

• Where did you first remember learning about giving to others?  How can you help model generosity for someone else?
  

• How have you been blessed?  How can you be a blessing?

• All that we have, all that we are, and all that we give belongs to God.  From all that God has given to you, what will you choose to give back to God?

• Pray, reflect and make it a point of discussion for adults and children in your household - how is God calling you to use your blessings?