Story after story about Jesus shows us how he brought new life to all manner of hopeless situations--disease, hunger, injustice, even death. As followers of Jesus, we are called to bring new life where we can. We have had the opportunity to bring new life in a huge, tangible way via our recent medical mission to Bolivia, and we do it as a church in smaller, more local ways, via our giving to the CROP Walk, to Food and Shelter for Friends, and to various Oklahoma United Methodist mission agencies.

Our congregation has a particular and unique call and contribution to make to God’s world. We do our best as a congregation to use our time, energy and resources as a church in a way that makes a unique difference in the lives of others. You are invited to join in this process by making a monetary pledge to the church budget for the year 2012. How will you put your faith into action in new and challenging ways this year?

As of this printing, we have received twenty pledge cards total, which won’t quite make it happen! We have set November 6th as our deadline for pledges to be turned in, and as I said on Sunday in my sermon, my greatest hope is that we “pull it off” once again this year. Please take a moment to review your pledge information and mail, e-mail, call or hand in your total by this coming Sunday. As I said Sunday, there is no “wrong” pledge number! Even if circumstances in your life have changed this year and you need to write ZERO on your card, please turn one in. No one here will argue with the amount you pledge.

Thank you, in advance, for sustaining the flame that is St. Stephen’s United Methodist Church.