The stress of everyday living often blinds us to the blessings we enjoy. That is why Thanksgiving Day can play such a wonderful role in our lives. It is an occasion to remind ourselves of the gifts that surround us and to give thanks for them. Gratitude is a crucial component of Christian discipleship. Meister Eckhart, the German mystic of the Middle Ages, wrote, “The most important prayer in the world is just two words long: ‘Thank You.’”
Giving Tuesday is a way for Presbyterians to hit the reset button, says Rev. Aimee Moiso of the Presbyterian Foundation. Churches can use this day to highlight special ministries and invite members to generously share all that they have.
At 7:30 a.m. on November 29, 2017, the church phones at First United Presbyterian Church in Tarentum, Pa., were ringing. Callers wanted to know if the church had met the match for Giving Tuesday — and indeed, they had, and then some, says Rev. Philip Beck, pastor of First United PC.
Gifts received by the Presbyterian Mission Agency (PMA) and the Presbyterian Foundation on #GivingTuesday this year totaled $63,379, a significant jump over the $37,440 the two agencies raised on #GivingTuesday last year.
Presbyterian theologian Chip Hardwick says #GivingTuesday is a good opportunity for Presbyterians to model “helpfulness for our neighbor,” a value that was prominent in the thought church reformer John Calvin.
The Presbyterian Foundation has partnered with the Presbyterian Mission Agency (PMA) to support #GivingTuesday on Nov. 28 as a means of harnessing the collective power of partners across the world to transform how people think about, talk about and participate in the giving season.
Before the sun set on Thanksgiving Day, stores across our country opened their doors to shoppers seeking an early start on Black Friday specials. This “busiest shopping day of the year” is etched deeply into our culture and our economy. In the past decade, another retail phenomenon has developed in the days following Thanksgiving. The technological revolution and savvy marketers have given us Cyber Monday, which is filled with promotions aimed at online shoppers.
The Presbyterian Foundation has partnered with the Presbyterian Mission Agency to support #GivingTuesday. This global day of giving harnesses the collective power of individuals, communities and organizations to encourage philanthropy,… Read more »
