Eternal Stewardship
It is right and good to remember those who remembered us by remembering the church and its ministry through their estate planning and end-of-life gifts. These members, who were faithful in their stewardship of their resources while on earth, continue their generous stewardship while in their heavenly reward. Through their gifts and this church’s wise investments, they continue to contribute to the ministry of Christ’s church every year since the beginning of their gift, and will continue to do so in perpetuity.
To list all those who have given end-of-life gifts in our 190+ year history is impossible due to our records, but these are those whom we are certain have remembered the church in their stewardship beyond death:
Roger Cole Maude McCracken James Drum Lois Cox Drum
Carson and Joan Cox Roxanne Reed Corrine Bowers
June Minkenmeyer Lee Thomas Koon Jean Spear Sharp
Mary McCluskey Margaret Genevieve King Mary D. Smith
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If you would like more information about how to leave a gift to the church as part of your estate planning, please see Rev. Kenny, one of our Trustees, or contact the Christian Church Foundation.
Cox and Murrin Families
In this year’s stewardship season we lifted up the gift of humility. We considered those heroes of the faith whose humble lives bore a mighty witness to the good things of God. For many of us when we think of the humble lives who made a powerful impact, we think of Joan and Carson Cox.
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Many of us have fond memories of Carson and Joan. I’ve heard tell of a “Tripoli book”, progressive meals, games played, and other joyous time spent among couples in their Sunday school class. Many songs from our choir invoke Carson’s tenor voice, while many a church meeting invoke Carson’s favorite phrase “well, we’ve never done it that way before!” (which I always heard him say in jest; he was a progressive thinker in my book). For me personally, I will always remember their joy, grace, and wisdom.
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As the days of All Saints and All Souls are upon us, I’d like to invoke the names of these saints and point us to the stewardship of their children—Kevin and Jeffrey Cox. It was back in February of this year when my phone rang. “Rev. Kenny, it’s Jeffrey Cox calling from New York. Do you remember me?” Of course I did, and Jeffrey’s humility didn’t stop there. “My brother Kevin and I have finally settled our parents’ estate, and we’ve decided to make a gift to the church.” I was humbled by their decision. Carson and Joan embodied the humility of Jesus, and it was clear that they taught it to their children. Kevin and Jeffrey asked that the gift be made not just in memory of their parents, but also in memory of their parents’ families—the Cox and Murrin families. They understand that the shade from the tree under which they sit goes back generations; they seek to honor a long family tradition of humility and love.
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It was gratitude for the parents they were given by God that motivated their gift. With no obligation to make this gift, it was a bold and courageous act to decide to be generous. This selfless act of honor is a sign of mercy in a harsh world. Their gift truly is one born from the gift of humility.
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And humbly the church receives this gift. We are grateful for their memory. We will use it to boldly and courageously proclaim the gospel. These dollars will be transformed into a ministry of mercy that is balm for a hurting world.
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“Humble thyself in the sight of the Lord, and he will lift you up.” This is not just a line from James 4:10. It’s more than just a catchy chorus from the late 1970’s. It’s the truth of life—in this life and in life, eternal. The humble have, and always will, be lifted up.
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Humbled and Lifted,
Rev. Kenny
Easter Stewardship-Lois & Jim Drum
It’s Easter in November! Now, I know that you know that Easter is a movable date. But is it THAT moveable?!?
I also know that you know that Easter isn’t just a day, and it’s longer than a season. Easter is a way of life for Christians. It’s the truth of how much the world has changed because of what God has done in Jesus. Death is not to be feared. Love can never die; it just takes new shape and is given new life. “If we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord…” (Romans 14:8). This is our baptized reality. This is how we celebrate Easter every Sunday, and every day we live into its light.
All Saints Sunday is a special day in the life of the church. It is Easter in November. In one church I served, someone who was very active in the congregation complained about the morbidity of the service. She thought it was a “downer” to see the photos and name the names of those who have died. What was clear to me is that she struggled with grief, which is even more a reason why I encouraged her to attend on All Saints Sunday. It is an opportunity to hear the Easter Gospel in November, and to make it as real to her as her love for her closest friends and family. And in that good news, she (and all of us) may be able to hear the Saints who preach that day. For in remembering the good news of Jesus, for whom they died, we remember to whom they lived, and how they lived for the Lord. We remember their legacy of the gospel in their life, and how their life continues to preach gospel to us today.
I’m remembering Lois Drum today. She passed away in 2022. There are several of us who never got to meet her. There are many more who knew her well and continue to tell stories of how wonderfully faithful she was. Lois left this world thinking she never witnessed enough for the Lord. I guess, when you know how much the Lord has done for you, you never think you could do enough in return. Lois’ legacy still speaks volumes of gospel in the memories of the people. And yet, her legacy continues to speak gospel to all of us in this congregation, even those who didn’t know her.
When her beloved husband died, she established a fund with the Christian Church Foundation that would support the ministry of this church long after she was gone. When she passed away, she remembered the church in her will. And because of this (what I call) Eternal Stewardship, she was able to witness to the world what was most important in her life—Jesus and her church. Because of this type of giving, we are empowered to continue our ministry of the gospel. And she is still a part of that
gospel we hear and preach and share from our doorsteps to the ends of the earth. It’s Lois’ legacy.
A legacy, as Romans reminds us, to live to the Lord and to die to the Lord. Just as the Lord lives, Lois lives. Just as the church continues to preach the gospel in the Lord, Lois is still contributing to the witness of the church, in our remembering her life and stewarding all she gave us—an example of love and humility and compassion and generosity.
Lois left a financial Legacy Gift to the church through her final estate planning. We received that gift in the mail on a Friday and added it to the offering that Sunday. It was lifted up and prayed over. It was gathered with the gifts of those of us who continue to live to the Lord, and we beseeched God to multiply it and use it, through the living church, to be and share the good news of Jesus from our doorsteps to the ends of the Earth. Can you guess what Sunday that was? It was Easter!
Living in the Legacy of the Saints
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Rev. Kenny
Would You Like to Give?
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