God Loves a Cheerful Giver

I’m discovering that I cry a lot these days. Maybe it’s because I’m getting older, I don’t know. But, when I listen to certain stirring music, or watch a movie where the reconciliation of families or individuals or communities happens, or even when I’m sad, the tears flow.

On Sunday morning during the closing worship of the Conference Annual Meeting, my task was to introduce the Offering, which, as it happens immediately followed the Covenant of Release for Geoffrey, David and Michael from their work as Conference staff. I heard sniffles all around me, but tried to remain strong. I had to go “on” after all.

And so, I tried to think of different things, other than saying good bye to good friends and colleagues. My mind wandered back to the Annual Meeting in 2000, when Allen Fluent and I watched Geoffrey’s election as Conference Minister from the side of the room. Allen and I, both pastors, had also served on the Conference Executive Council. Allen had just accepted a conference ministry staff position in the Penn Central Conference. Within a year I would join our Conference Ministry Team as a fellow staff member.

Both Allen and I marveled (I with tears) at how far we had come as a conference. The struggles, conflict, hand-wrenching decisions and hoped-for visions for our life together in the New York Conference seemed to culminate in that one vote, in the standing ovation for our new Conference Minister.

Sitting in the auditorium at Silver Bay, waiting to introduce the offering, I had similar feelings: How far we have come as a Conference since 2000! Geoffrey has built a staff that respects and likes each other. Together, as a Conference, we have worked to strengthen our witness for the transformation and mission of our churches and pastoral leaders with Casting Your Nets, with Ecumenical and Global Church partnerships, mission trips, clergy retreats, and more. We purchased and funded a new Conference office. We have worked to restore a sense of mutual mission, respect and integrity.

So, yes, I also fought back the tears. I had to “do” the offering after all. And, as I walked to the center of the worship space, I remembered that God loves a cheerful giver. God takes joy when we have fun doing ministry, responding to God’s call to serve, to work for justice, to do the right thing, to BE THE CHURCH!

Praise God for the gift of joy. Praise God for the gift of wonderful colleagues. Praise God for the gift of churches, associations, and a conference that rejoices in our life together.

Blessings,

Rick Cowles

By the way here are some slides of the Annual Meeting for your viewing pleasure.