Stepping Deeper & More “Soul-Fully” Into Stewardship!

This article will provide all pastors and lay leaders with an update on Soul-Full and an invitation to participate in one or more of the Region’s dynamic stewardship education events scheduled for 2014.

Please find below a full list of stewardship events, ranging in topic from Creating a Culture of Generosity and Stewardship Planning 52 Weeks a Year, to Ministry, Mission & Money. Specialized topics focusing on Legacy Giving and Grant Writing will also be offered. In addition, the Region is excited to offer for all those interested in going green, our first ever, Creation Care Conference. 

We are thrilled to announce that leadership for these events will include: Bruce Barkhauer, the Director for the Disciples Center for Faith and Giving; Marilyn  Fiddmont, of the Christian Church Foundation; and, Nora Jacob, our very own, recent DSF, M-DIV graduate and grant-writing guru!

Clergy, you will be excited to know that CEU’s will be offered for each event.  

So, for all of you who have been asking for new and creative ways to bolster your stewardship understandings and programs, here are the perfect opportunities.  Pastors, this is also your chance to invite existing and potential lay leadership into a deeper understanding of what it means to be good Disciples stewards. 

Don’t wait, registration is only a call or click away, and seating is limited for some events.  You can register online at www.disciplespswr.org/ or by calling the Regional office at 626-296-0385. 

Now for the Soul-Full update, please read the following three paragraphs introducing how two congregations and one ministry group have begun getting involved.  

Story #1 comes from Pam Moore, Regional Board Moderator and pastor of the San Bernardino FCC. Pam connected her congregation to Soul-Full by sending me the following email:

Hi Dan, I visited our local UCC church on the day of their BIG yard sale.  I had them set aside all leftover shoes for me.  I now am the proud recipient of 8 boxes of shoes--not to mention the three bags that came out of Asa's room when he moved.  How do we get bags and materials for labeling these?  Pam

Story #2 is from Saundra Bryant of All Peoples Christian Center, who emailed me, “All Peoples would like to participate in the shoe campaign.  One of our board members would like to set up a receptacle at his office.  We can start with 20 bags.”

Story #3 comes from John Wolfersberger, former PSWR Regional Minister, who is now a member of the Redlands United Methodist Church. John called me last week to find out how to get his congregation involved with Soul-Full. This call led to Redlands UMC becoming our 1st ecumenical Soul-Full partner.  Their church will be sharing in Soul-Full as a way to fundraise for environmental upgrades on their congregation’s facility.

In closing, I want to share my favorite Soul-Full promotioal phrase to-date.  It comes from a member of the Redlands UMC who is challenging their people to participate by sharing the phrase, "Let someone else walk a mile in your shoes!"  

P.S. Ask your pastor about how your congregation is planning to participate in

Soul-Full Sunday, on, June 22, 2014!

   With Deep Gratitude for Gently Worn Shoes,

DanO (Oliver) - Your PSWR Minister of Stewardship and Giving

(Celebrating a Culture of Gratitude and Generosity in our Region and beyond!)

Your Shoes Tell A Story - by Holly Wilson

Last summer I made some life changing decisions. The biggest involved the most daring adventure of my life: moving 500 miles to start a new life in a new town on my own.  Being that housing in Orange County is significantly pricier than Placer County this meant downsizing….a whole heck of a lot! Specifically, downsizing from a 3 bedroom condo with garage, to an anticipated 1 bedroom apartment. Downsizing possessions, downsizing decades of life, decades of former relationships, former occupations. I was a pack rat. It’s an inherited gene; it’s in my DNA.

So downsizing was more than just selling a few things, several trips to Goodwill, giving away special collectibles and ultimately renting a big ole moving truck to donate the whole kit and caboodle to First Christian Church, Sacramento. Downsizing was physically demanding and an often agonizing spiritual exercise in facing the past, an unknown future---some good things, some not so comfortable. And most importantly, downsizing was about letting go, opening myself to discover new possibilities.

To support those days and weeks and months of sorting and choosing and boxing and caressing cherished items, some of which I had not seen nor touched in years, standing in my filled to the rafters 100+ degree garage in the Sacramento Valley heat, I daily slid my feet into my Easy Spirit size 8 double wide sneakers. Day in and day out my feet endured standing on cement while I sorted and let go.

By the last days, my feet ached badly. They ached so much that the excruciating effort to reduce my life down to one 10 foot by 10 foot storage room became symbolized in those well worn Easy Spirit sneakers. I could no longer bear to look at them let alone wear them. I never wanted to see them again! My very last act as I drove out of the condo complex that hot August day was to remove them from my hot, aching feet, stop and toss those dreaded sneakers into the dumpster!

Your shoes also have a story to tell. What journeys have they taken you on? What experiences have they supported you through? Are you ready to let go of your gently used shoes for our region’s Soul-full Shoe Drive?

And by the way, I gave 32 pairs of adult women’s shoes and 11 pairs of infant and little girl shoes in that lifetime collection of belongings that made their way to a thrift store donation pile during my downsizing. Seven more pairs and I could have filled 2 full bags for the Soul-full Shoe Drive! Click to learn more about the 2014 SOUL-FULL drive and how your shoes can help your congregation as well as someone in another country.

Always on the journey,

Holly

ABOUT HOLLY WILSON: Holly is a fourth generation Californian, born and raised in the San Francisco East Bay area. In the 1920s and 1930s her grandfather Wilder Immel attended and graduated from Chapman College, eventually attending seminary and serving numerous Christian Churches in northern California. Her grandparents, Ruth and Josh Wilson built a house in Whittier in 1940. They joined the Whittier Christian Church where her grandfather Josh served in numerous positions of leadership and her grandmother Ruth taught Sunday school for three decades. In the 1980s Holly spent eight years sharing in the life of the San Luis Obispo Christian Church, participating in a variety of regional events. Holly's mother, Clarice Friedline, and her step father, Richard Friedline, have been vitally active in many ministries in the PSWR. The Pacific Southwest Region is excited to have Holly as a regular contributor to the PSWR blog!

SOUL-FULL - 2014 Shoe Drive for Regional Ministry

The Pacific Southwest Region is hosting a new and fresh way for EVERYONE to:

-Get Involved
-Do Service
-Provide Outreach
-Raise Money
-Practice Stewardship
-And Put FAITH INTO ACTION!

We're sponsoring a shoe drive as a fundraiser for PSWR Congregations!

Here’s how it works:

From today through the Regional Assembly, Oct 17-18, 2014, your Region invites you to join us in collecting shoes. Any kind of shoes, sandals, tennis to boots…Rainbows to Adidas to Gucci, we’ll take them all. 

The idea is to collect as many pairs of shoes as you can and bring them to the Regional Assembly. At the Assembly, a company we are partnering with, Funds2orgs, will pick up all of our shoes and within a week, send us a check.

This is where the fun really starts. As soon as the Region receive this check, we will start sending money back to you.  The amount you receive will depend on how many pairs of shoes you collected ($10 for 25 pairs, $100 for 250 pairs, $1000 for 2500 pairs, $5000….!)  And, the best part is, all the money you raise is for you to do with as you please! It’s really that simple! Are you ready…?

So why should you go around collecting shoes?  What better way to engage in a faithful service open to all, which benefits the environment and people across the globe who need shoes. This is the ideal way to active practice being Disciples, “a movement for wholeness in a fragmented world”

FAQs

Host? Your Region

Coordinators? Dan Oliver, Kathleen Bybee and a Regional Support Team

Sponsoring Organization?  funds2org.com

Participants? All congregations and ministry groups

Dates? Today through October 17-18, 2014 (Regional Assembly)

The Purpose? To collect SHOES – any kind and as many pairs as you can collect.

Cost? There is no cost to participants.  We provide you with bags, ties, promotional materials, and if needed, even storage pick up and drop off.

Benefits? Easy way to raise money without asking for a dime! You can raise as much as you like and apply it to whatever you like: Operating budget, youth, outreach, Loch Leven, the Region…

-Spiritual Benefits?  This is a faithful service open to all, which benefits the environment and people across the globe who need shoes. It is an active way to be Disciples, “a movement for wholeness in a fragmented world.”

-How Much Can We Make?  The money you raise depends on the number of shoes you collect. Payments are based on the number bags collected. Each bag must contain 25 pairs of shoes.  Here is a quick breakdown:

300 bags = 7500 pairs of shoes = $3000
100 bags = 2500 pairs of shoes = $1000
50 bags = 1250 pairs of shoes = $500
25 bags = 625 pairs of shoes = $250
10 bags = 250 pairs of shoes = $100
5 bags = 125 pairs of shoes = $50
1 bag = 25 pairs of shoes = $10

Where Do We Get The Shoes?  Everywhere you can imagine, from your closet or garage, from your neighbors, community groups, or even a local thrift or shoe store.

How Do We Get Others' Support? The best way is to simply ask.  Many people go door to door. We will help you by sending you fliers, door hangers, or even drop boxes you can ask about placing at church or a local store.

What Happens To The Shoes? All shoes will be sold to micro-enterprise companies in developing countries to be resold for minimum prices in public markets to those in need of shoes.

Why Is This Important? – Two main reasons – 1) All shoes contain toxic contaminants.  When they end up in landfills they pollute the environment, and:  2) Affordable shoes are one of the greatest needs for people in poverty around the globe.

Where Do We Put The Shoes? – Great question. All shoes are to be placed in bags, which the Region will provide. Each bag should hold about 25 pairs of shoes. 

Where Do We Put The Bags? Even better question! Here are two options: 1) Find a location at your congregation or ministry facility to store bags until Regional Assembly.  2) We have designated holding locations throughout the Region that bags can be stored.  We also have awesome volunteers in each area of our Region who can help pick up and drop off bags.

What Do We Do With The Money We Make? Let your imagination help with this question.  You help your church budget, give to youth or outreach, support Loch Leven or the Region.  Pray and see what you are led to support!

What Other Ways Can I Help? Great question. Here are a few:

-Tell everyone you know what you are doing and ask them to get involved, or at least ask for their spare shoes!
-Post your involvement on Social Media, FB, Twitter, Instagram, etc.
-Take photos/video of the shoes you collect. (The Region will hold a contest & chose the most creative submission!)
-Write a short article on your SOUL-FULL experience and submit it for the Regional blog!
-Download a flier in English, Korean or Spanish and advertise SOUL-FULL in your church and community!

Can I Find Out About The Soul-full Shoe Drive On-Line? – YES! Check back here on the PSWR Blog for updates or on the PSWR Facebook page.

Who Do I Contact With Questions? – Email Dan Oliver