“Faithfulness Throughout the Generations: Financial Wisdom”                October 18, 2009
Matthew 6:  24–34; Psalm 117:  89–93                                                 The Rev. Dr. Beth Braxton

Maybe you know this story about an aging but very wealthy man who told his wife that he wanted to take all his money with him to the grave. He said that his wealth was not to be given to charity, to the family or to the church. “Please honor me with this request,” he said. And he died.
Against the counsel of friends and family and even her minister, the wife dutifully fulfilled her husband’s wish to be buried with his money. At the grave site as the casket was lowered into the ground there was a bushed silence. Finally the minister asked the wife, “How could you bury him all that money?”
“It was easy,” she said. “I wrote him a check.”

What’s wrong with this picture?––Dr. John Greenlees, an economist with the United States government (Dick Gauthey, a math and finance professor retired), in a few minutes, will give his testimony about how God has worked through him and his giving to this church. And I, a pastor will speak to you now about financial wisdom!

Well, Jesus seemed to always be turning things upside down in his first century world too. Actually, I think his words stand us at attention right side up! “You cannot serve God and wealth.” We cannot believe God is our light and our salvation, our security and also believe that our security is in our wealth, and that more wealth means more security! Financial wisdom?–I think so!

Yet our culture is consumer oriented and consumer driven! So much of our economy is based earning wealth AND on our spending. (I can still hear my mother, who came to adulthood during the Depression, saying, “We saved everything”–string, bags, bottle caps (they were the chips for the family card games), etc. We wore hand-me-downs. My family early on followed the Puritan saying, “Use it up, wear it out, make do, or do without.” Financial Wisdom? I think so! Well, then after the war when I came along, she said the call was to spend and buy, buy and spend! And that has been the call ever sense; certainly my generation and those that followed, which is most of us here, has grown up with that admonition. Buy and spend!

We all fight a consumer addiction, if we are not in denial! I went to the Fair Oaks Mall about a month ago now, had not been in a long time. I went with one purpose in mind–to buy my son a pair of shoes for his birthday. We were celebrating his birthday that night, so this was an urgent need to have a successful shopping trip! I parked in the parking lot next to the Macy’s entrance. As I walked through the store heading for the open mall, I saw some really neat handbags; I could use a brown handbag I said to myself. No, Beth you are on a mission for shoes for Peter! I made it through to the open mall. But I walked passed the Pottery Barn for Children; they have such handsome things for children. You know I have a two year old grandson now. I went in and I wondered up and down thinking–a grandmother is supposed to spoil a grandchild. I bet he would love this wooden truck–$40.00! No, he has enough trucks–sanity prevailed. But there were some cute placemats, and… So I got out of the store with only buying some really pretty children’s flatware–small with green handles.

Shoes–I am looking for the Bostonian shoe store where they have the perfect shoes I know Peter wants. I enter the store, no other customers at the moment, walk right over to the pair of black loafers and ask the salesman for size eight and a half. And he brings them out–perfect. “The socks are on sale today–if you buy two, you get the third for half price,” the salesman said. Well, the way men wear holes in their socks, I bet Peter could use some socks. I peruse the array of ‘too many choices’ of socks and pick out three pairs, delighted that I now have two presents for Peter.

Now out of the shoe store, I began thinking about the fact that I need a pair of walking shoes; I left my shoes in Kenya this summer for one of the students. I pass the Lady Locker Foot Store and hesitate, then go in. Oh how cool, Rainbow tennis shoes–those would be good for walking, no Beth, you are looking for a good sturdy pair. Hmm, they don’t seem to have them, and I exit fast.

Walking back through Macy’s I go by the shoe department on my way out. Don’t see the walking shoes I am looking for, BUT the colorful socks are hanging right there and I know I have a pair of slacks that need a pair of navy socks. Yes, there is the perfect pair. I grab them, pay quickly and exit to my car with SIX items: a pair of shoes, four pairs of socks, some children’s flatware.

Reminds me of a quote I read recently, “In department stores, so much kitchen equipment is bought indiscriminately by people who just come in for men’s underwear!” Impulse buying is a money waster! Financial wisdom?–I think so!

I share my story to illustrate that we are a people who love stuff. I think I am not far from wrong in saying that we are all addicted to our desires for more. Our culture obliges with ever new and beautiful things. We look in our closets full of clothes and say we have nothing to wear; we don’t have the latest fashion is what we mean.

We all have the flu–no not the swine flu, but Affluenza. Affluenza as defined in a book by the same name is, “a painful, contagious, socially transmitted condition of overload, debt, anxiety, and waste resulting from the dogged pursuit of more.”  This dogged pursuit of more has been part of our American dream, that each generation will be able to give their offspring more and better than we had. What is happening? I think that the dream is becoming a nightmare!

But what is really happening is that our children are becoming more materialistic and our planet is hurting from all the production. Earth is in the balance as we continue the habit of consuming larger and larger quantities every year of coal, oil, and water, trees, topsoil and the thousand other substances we rip from the crust of the earth, transforming them into, not just the sustenance and shelter we need, but much more that we don’t need… The accumulation of material goods is at an all time high, but so is the number of people who feel an emptiness in their lives.  Maybe you?

We are spending for what we want today at the expense of future generations. How many of us are considering the consequences of our purchases? Just this week I heard a statement that caught my ear on NPR’s morning edition–“If China, a billion people now had all the cars, appliances and goods that the average American has, we would not have a planet.” It was a program talking about the upcoming international meeting on climate change. An alarmist statement!–How true do you think it is? Have we become a nation that is too materialistic, too greedy, too self-absorbed, too selfish? Has our economic down-turn of the last year given us a pause to re-evaluate our lives? I hope so.

We have all been prodigals–squandering the earth’s wealth, our parents’ wealth, our children’s wealth on “riotous living.” (See Luke 15: The Parable of the Prodigal Son) Wanting what we want when we want it! We have been over-reaching with our desires and getting into credit card debt. We not only have affluenza, we also have the disease of credit-it is–buy now; pay later!

What is our life purpose?–to be a consumer and to get as much pleasure as we can? Are we using our money consistent with our life purpose? is an important question.

Maybe that is why we are here at church this morning. The community of faith is our twelve-step meeting, the place where we first admit our powerlessness over our desire for more, our wastefulness. We come to this community of faith to find peace from the excess of our living. We come here to re-claim the wealth of our soul and our relationship to God.

This past week I have received in email several times a particular “pumpkin to jack-o-lantern” story and I also read it in a book called Enough by Adam Hamilton.  Since it is that season of pumpkins and the image is vivid and makes a relevant point for this discussion here, I share it with you. If you’ve picked pumpkins from the field, you know that no pumpkin is perfect. The task is to incorporate you pumpkin’s imperfections into the design you carve into it. You look at the pumpkin and begin to imagine what it can be. Next, you draw on it a face of some sort. Then you come to the first step in the actual transformation of the pumpkin, which also is the messiest. You open it up, and you begin to scoop out all the nasty, slimy seed stuff inside. Then you carve the face or design, which is no doubt a bit painful for the pumpkin. And ultimately, you replace all of the muck with a candle that is lit and shines from within.

This is a picture of what God intends: that the muck of greed and envy and materialism has been replaced and that God’s light shines within us in a way that gives light to others. As we allow Christ to work in us, seeking first his kingdom and striving to do God’s will, we begin to sense a different calling from the consumerism of the culture that consumes us to a calling to simplicity and faithfulness and generosity. We get in touch with kingdom principles to care for the poor and those in need. I think this IS financial wisdom. I think Jesus would ask, “Are you balancing your needs with the needs of the poor?” “Is not life more than food and our body more than clothing?”

Is not life more than a new pair of shoes or a remodeled kitchen?
In her book, The Soul Of Money: Reclaiming the Wealth of Our Inner Resources, author, Lynne Twist tells this story of a young family before the economic downturn but one that still illustrates our plight living the American dream. A young MBA hired by a fast growing company dealing with large-scale leasing of transportation and computer equipment. There business became more and more successful and they pushed themselves to be even more productive so they set a goal to be a billion dollar business, even when it meant late nights and earlier mornings and weekends away. We were all seduced by this money target, they said.

They had three children, who they said were the center of our lives, or so we thought. Our marriage and our relationship with our children were the most important things in the world to us, or so we said. Yet, if someone had filmed us during this time and looked at it objectively, they would have said–No, they don’t care about the children. The kids are with the nanny, the wife is always off on these boondoggles with her husband, or shopping or entertaining, and they’re missing out on the most important stages of their children’s development, …. They’re able to purchase child care and purchase toys and a great house, but even when they’re with their children their heads are spinning with what they need to do next to achieve financial goals.

The money was flowing in and everything we acquired or used the money for led to the desire for the next thing, the next purchase, or the next reason to buy more. To be socially literate, we felt we needed to learn about fine wine, and when we did, we needed a wine cellar. We bought a fast, hot sports car, and then needed another car, a station wagon, for our family life with the children. We had a wonderful house, but somehow it didn’t seem finished without some impressive art. As soon as we began to lean about art, we wanted to buy at a higher level. Our friends began to have summer homes, so that seemed like the next must for us. Once we began to buy more expensive clothes, we needed newer, nicer shoes to match. Then our coats had to live up to the clothes they covered. And our watches had to keep pace. The list of upgrades was endless. … One thing led to another, and it all seemed so important. Something drove us, and we didn’t stop to question any of it.

The Hunger Project–woke me up. When I first heard about a commitment to end hunger on earth, I felt that its mission matched deep feelings I held about responding to human suffering. I remembered when I was a child, a happy and contented child, there was a point at which I had realized that somewhere there were people who were hungry, and it made no sense to me. It was upsetting to me that a child just like me somewhere on earth didn’t have enough to eat. When I heard The Hunger Project’s message–that it was possible using existing resources to end chronic persistent hunger on earth–it resonated right into the heart of my heart … and I wanted to do something about it. I felt a call from my soul that was so deep and profound that I couldn’t deny it. In that moment, I began to separate myself from the chase, from the rat race!

Now, two and a half decades later, I can say that one of the unexpected gifts of my Hunger Project involvement was that in taking a stand to end world hunger I came to recognize, and had to address, my own inner hunger and the inauthentic and inappropriate way we were living. It was then that we purposely began to turn our resources–our time, our energy, our money, the accumulation of material wealth–toward our longing to make a difference with our lives.   We all want to make a difference in our lives.

Here at Burke your gifts can make a difference to the lives of so many–they HAVE made a difference in people’s lives! Last night in this room we had the Peace buy Piece gathering; we had Muslim. Jews and Christians talking together around tables about peace in the Middle East; I know it has changed my life and the lives of others. Through good education and mission opportunities, people have discovered their call–some to ministry. One of the students who went on our first work camp to Kenya is now waiting for ordination as a hospital chaplain; some who take a greater stand for ethical principles in their work places, some who have gained knowledge for better understandings in their families and some who have found the joy of serving the homeless. Through pastoral care and small groups persons have been nurtured back to health, have been given strength and support in their struggles. Children have been given love and encouragement through tutoring here and in Kibwezi, Kenya. and Tanjikistan. Youth lives have been changed by going to Montreat, Kenya, to NYC and to nursing homes. People have found the health of prayer here and people have found the gift of prayer and medicines in Malawi. Children, youth, adults have come to know Jesus–the way, the truth and the light for their lives! Burke Presbyterian Church is about becoming disciples through Sabbath, study and service–about transforming lives through discipleship to Jesus Christ! Can our resources go for any better gift?! Can our resources be used for any better gifts than transformed lives?

Let us pray:  O God giver of every perfect gift, we are so grateful for all your many blessings. Keep us faithful in building your kingdom here where we are and help us to be good stewards of all that you have entrusted to us. In the name of Jesus, The Gift, we pray, Amen.

Minute for Stewardship
Dick Gauthey
October 17-18, 2009

Good morning, I’m Dick Gauthey. A few words of background about me–thirty years ago my wife and I were in the first new member’s class of, what was then, Burke Presbyterian Mission–meeting in the Oaks Community Center. I’ve served on our Session three times between 1980 and 1991 and since then I’ve been the chair of the church’s Budget & Finance Committee.

The theme of this fall’s Stewardship Campaign is “Faithfulness Throughout the Generations.” I’ve feel truly blessed by God to be part of this community, this family, that is Burke Presbyterian Church and I’d like to tell you about some of my favorite memories of the generations of people in the church.

Beginning with the youngest–it’s always a joy to have a baptism here–the kids gathered around the baptismal font, Beth carrying the baby around while the congregation sings “Jesus Loves Me.” The baptism that I remember most clearly was for Elizabeth Sutton, when we were meeting in the Terra Centre School. She was the happiest, most joyful baby I’ve ever seen. Her parents are still here in Burke but no longer members of BPC. But her grandfather, Bob Fox, who lives in Westminster at Lake Ridge, is still a member.

At a baptism an elder asks the congregation to promise “to tell this new disciple the good news of the gospel, to help him/her know all that Christ commands, and to strengthen his/her family ties with the household of God.” I think that all of you who volunteer in the programs of BPC, with the leaders of the church, do a wonderful job in fulfilling that promise. I think of the many, many programs we have for the children and youth of the church like Sunday school, Preschool, Stepping Stones, Godly Play, Rainbow, Vacation Bible School, Youth Connections. I am proud when I hear about the youth’s mission trips, their conferences at Massanetta and Montreat, their involvement with Kibwezi, the Impact Choir’s tour, and the youth musicals. I can picture so clearly Eric Fischer singing in “Honk” two years ago, and Kaitlin Lee and Brittany Carter singing in “Joseph” this year. Wow, they’re so good and so inspiring.

For most of my thirty years here I’ve been involved with the new members classes. And what a joy it is to welcome new members into our family. After a new members class is introduced to the congregation Beth says that now we are a new family–come meet our new members. When I was on the Session in 1984 we received the new members from that year’s confirmation class. One young confirmand was Jerry Reece. As elder for stewardship, he’s now my boss!

I guess after youth comes the marriage generation. Our daughter Julie was married here in this Meeting House in 1994. The next year I helped Beth with a new members class which included two young adults, Ron Marlow and Ann Gurney. They first met in the class, went on to be members of a K Group, and then got married. You never can tell about these new members classes. Oh, by the way, our next new members class starts here next Sunday.

Now skipping to my senior generation. There are good times and bad time within every family and individual. I had a bad time in April last year. Very early one Sunday morning I woke up in great pain–it turned out to be an intestinal blockage–and I ended up in the emergency room. I had the offering counting duty that Sunday so about 8 o’clock Janet called the church to pass the word to my counting team that I wasn’t going to be there. Well, an hour later Deryl walked into the emergency room. I’m sure you know that the emergency room is not a very pleasant place. It was really reassuring and comforting to see a friendly, caring and supportive person to hold one’s hand and bring to me the peace of God. As a senior I feel extremely blessed here to know that when I have the need I have in this family pastoral support, and Stephens Ministers, and Deacons, and the Sweet Team, and we now have a seniors’ bulletin board opposite Beth’s office.

Finally there is one more generation–the next, the future generation. Did you know that BPC has an endowment fund? It’s pretty small right now. Its purpose is to provide long term support of our programs, for the future generations. Ed Marberg was the senior, senior member of the congregation twenty years ago. He was a painter and many in the congregation owned one of his watercolors. He remembered BPC in his will and his gift is the major part of our endowment. Just last month we received a check from the lawyer who is settling the estate of Rex and Marilyn Wingard. Rex and Marilyn and his mother Olive were in the same new members class as the Marlows. Olive died in 1994 and the next year Rex and Marilyn moved to Michigan. They have died, but they too remembered BPC in their will and I hope the Session will add their gift to our endowment fund. Janet and I aren’t going to see the next generation, but, with our kids gone and living far from here. Burke Presbyterian Church is our family here, and we thank you all for that. We want to continue to help this church tell the good new of the Gospel and to strengthen family ties in this house hold of God, so we too have remembered BPC in our wills. Thank you again.

Minute for Stewardship
John Greenlees,
October 17-18, 2009
My wife Linda and I have been BPC members for 16 years.  That means we aren’t charter members like some of you are, but we probably qualify as “senior members.”  Certainly we have been here long enough to see what kind of impact Burke Presbyterian can have.
In the case of our family the impact has been very powerful and dramatic.
Linda and I don’t come from religious families, and until we came to BPC I don’t think we had been to church once in our whole marriage of 24 years.  BPC immediately filled so many gaps in our lives, in some cases gaps we didn’t know existed.
BPC gave us what we had been missing in all four of the fundamental ministry areas:  Worship, Education, Misson/Outreach, and Inreach.
In terms of Worship we have heard wonderful sermons, we’ve sung wonderful hymns, and we’ve seen a great variety of choirs and special services.  BPC has also given us opportunities to participate in worship; for example as lay leader or communion server.
In the education ministry our daughter Lizzie went through Rainbow, children’s pageants, confirmation, and youth musicals; for Linda and me there were Disciple classes and Sunday School classes such as a Christian writing class that started me writing again for myself.
In the outreach area there have been countless Mission opportunities—Miriam’s Kitchen, Christ House, and the hypothermia program locally.  Further afield there have been work camps on the gulf coast or in Kentucky or Kenya.
Finally, the Inreach ministry has offered women’s circles, K groups, Deacons, pastoral visits, All church Retreats, and much more.
And there are so many more examples; the ones I’ve mentioned are just things that our family has benefited from directly!
Finally, we’ve met people in the staff and the congregation who were frankly unlike anyone we had known before—we have found so many friends through being in classes or on teams or just worshiping together.
So BPC is a special place.  
Now, it does take money, as well as contributions of volunteer time and talent, to make it all possible.  But after 16 years I can see that the BPC budget, and the gradual increases in the budget over the years, have borne tremendous fruit.
For example, if you look at the budget detail in your stewardship packets you see that most of the budget goes to staff salaries.  But in 1993, when we arrived, we had no Associate Pastor or Pastoral Associate like we’ve had with Reverends Emily, MaryAnn, and Deryl.  We also had no Director of Children’s Ministry like we have with Arlene Decina, and no Communications Manager like we have with BJ Postlewaite.
We also had no CoffeeHouse services, no All Church Retreats, no Godly Play program or IMPACT choir or Stephen Ministry or TreeHouse ministry.  
And our Mission programs were much more limited budget-wise:  for example we weren’t supporting an orphan care program in Kenya or an anti-retroviral program in Malawi, and we had no Snacks&Backpacks tutoring program.  
So when you consider your pledge this year I ask you to think about all these things that God, through your pledges and volunteer work, has brought to us here at Burke.
There is only a 2.6-percent increase in the program budget this year.
I ask you to pick up and read through your stewardship packets, and between now and Dedication Weekend in three weeks consider whether even in these tough times you can do your part by maintaining or even increasing your pledge, and your time and talent contributions, so that the church’s ministries can continue to thrive and expand as they have these 16 years.
Thanks a lot.