Hey! Ho! Start the New Year by Looking Back

Hey! Ho! Start the New Year by Looking Back
 
Did you miss me these past two weeks? What?! OK, I deserved that. But I did miss you, dear reader. Christmas is great and all but too much family time can be, well, too much. But that’s for another blog – the Family Therapy one. You, dear reader, are looking for ways to face the New Year with vim, vigor, and a renewed resolve to increase generosity within your faith communities. It can be done!

As you might have guessed, I do things backwards all the time.  My last blog really should have been my FIRST blog of the year.  But hey, you’ll forgive me, right?  Right? Thank you. So in case you were busy planning, oh I don’t know, 47 Christmas worship services and just happened to miss my last blog, you can find it right here:    Your #1 Resolution: Keep Your Vision Fresh.  And I mean it, if you don’t know who you are as a congregation, camp, hospital, or whatever your organization is – it will be difficult to get people to contribute to your cause. Two words to guide your vision process: inspirational and aspirational. If you need a little kick of inspiration or a challenge to get you thinking – here’s a recommended blog from Patheos, “Why IS Liberal Protestantism Dying Anyway?”

To keep my backwards theme going, my last blog should have been the one I’ll give you today – the top seven of my most read blogs from 2014. Why seven? I’m not really sure but feel free to check with your local numerologist.
 
The seven most read Inspiring Generosity blogs of 2014:
 
#7 – It's Time to Celebrate the Saints
#6 – One New Way to Expand the Offering Plate
#5 – 5 Ways to Build Relationships
#4 – Giving Statements: From Boring to Wow!
#3 – Giving During December – Even Christians Follow Trends
#2 – How to Be Brave, One Toe at a Time
and drum roll please…
 
the #1 Inspiring Generosity blog of 2014 (and a personal favorite of mine) –
 
How to Gain a Raving Fan Through a Thank You Letter.
 
So here’s to 2015 – may God bless you and your flock with a deep sense of gratitude and generosity throughout the year. I’ll be right there with you. Let me know how I can help.

Cesie Delve Scheuermann is a consultant in stewardship, development, and grant writing. Over the past decade, while working as a volunteer and part-time consultant, she helped raise over $2 million dollars for numerous non-profit organizations. She served as the Oregon-Idaho Annual Conference Lay Leader from 2008-2012. She seriously needs a vacation from vacation. Her position with the Conference is funded through a  generous grant from the Collins Foundation. You can reach her at inspiringgenerosity@gmail.com.

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