Some of the women in our church were setting up for our roast beef dinner this evening and realized we had way, way too much silverware. They started sorting and realized that a lot of it was stamped sterling silver flatware, dating back to pre-Union times (the flatware all has F.M.C. monogramed on it for First Methodist Church). It shouldn't be run through our commercial dishwasher, so they started separating the stainless flatware from the sterling silver. When they got the first box full, they stopped and will come back next week to finish the job.

DO you believe you have enough?  Too much?  Not enough?

That is the question with which I am starting my sermon thoughts this week.  Those early thoughts can be found <a href="http://ministerialmutterings.blogspot.ca/2012/04/looking-forward-to-april-29-2012-4th.html" target="_blank"><b><i>here.</i></b></a>

This is a wonderful video from David Suzuki and his wife.

In all the talk about stewardship and meeting the real needs of congregations and people, has anyone else ever wondered why the United Church doesn't cut some of the bureaucratic positions that seem like sacred cows?

Why does the Human Resources department keep growing, while positions in youth ministry, reugee support and rurual ministry get cut? Does that fit with the grand plan of the General Council Executive? I am sure the emerging church will be on fire for bureaucracy...not!

Churches Versus Synagogues: Voluntary Donations Versus Dues: Which model raises more? http://nyti.ms/dbno1k

Just sharing from Twitter, but I do enjoy the Freakonomics Blog.

I recently visited a church where after the sermon on how we all have the responsibility of ministry, the chair of stewards spoke about the deficit.  He said that if everyone gave their fair share, there would be no deficit, which was running about $50,000.  He then told everyone what their fair share would be - $2,000.  He referred to the message in the sermon, interpreting share the ministry as give your share to local expenses.  There is something about this that disturbed me.  I didn't think it was an inviting message to visitors.  I'm not even su