Bishop Rickel's Blog

“Share Check”: A holiday suggestion from Nathan Dungan

 

At the recent Diocesan Convention, Nathan Dungan, president of Share Save Spend®, gave a presentation on healthy money habits for families. The general idea was that as parents and grandparents, we in the faith community have a great opportunity to teach our families how to share, save and spend, countering the message of “spend spend spend” that we hear 5,000 times a day in ads and impressions.

 

Dungan suggested starting a family holiday and other celebration tradition of “share checks.” This is a simple concept where a check is made out with the date, amount, signature, everything except the “pay to” line.  The recipient is invited to fill in the “pay to” line with the name of a charity.  The only requirement is that the child or adult later tell you where the gift went.

 

The check might be shared with a feeding program like Northwest Harvest, Episcopal Charities Appeal (which supports 25 ministries in Western Washington) or Episcopal Relief and Development (which serves those in need around the world). One could pick from scores of local agencies and charities.  The recipient of the “share check” can do some research to determine where they want it to go.

 

One of the great things about share checks is that it turns “gimme, gimme, gimme” into “give to others.” It also gives us a great opportunity to have meaningful discussions about who we share with and why.  

 

“Share checks” are an easy way to share our abundance, pass on some of our own stewardship values, teach others the joy of giving, and have meaningful things to talk about with our kids, grandkids and families. I know we are incorporating this into our family gift-giving this holiday season and it will also be part of birthdays and other gift-giving from now on.

 

Like the adman says, “Try it. You’ll like it!”

 

Bill Brice

St. Andrews, Tacoma

Past Diocesan Council Rep from Commission for Planned Giving/Stewardship

Stewardship Revolt in Chicago

The Standing Commission on Stewardship and Development recently met in Chicago for its first meeting since General Convention.  I was assigned to this commission by the Presiding Bishop and I am honored to be on it.  This video introduces most of our members.  This is a fun video compilation of each person's view of stewardship.  We had a great meeting and we hope for work that will take us beyond business as usual!

More on New Orleans

 
Here are a few more pictures taken from members of our great crew from St. Mark's Cathedral, Seattle.  The people there are so welcoming, and hospitable.  I am sorry for the haziness of the pictures, if you look at the Starbucks below, you might be able to see the Katrina line on the wall.  And the Sign is posted on St. Augustine's right across the street from McDonald's!

 

Lucky Penny

So, I have been in New Orleans this week, helping a fine crew from the Diocese of Olympia, most from St. Mark's Cathedral.  We have had an excellent week, making contact with our dear friends at St. Paul's, Lakeview, Connie and Mark Uddo and their new Rector Scott.  We were warmly and hospitably welcomed by St. Paul's staff, from school and church, Bishop Charles Jenkins of Louisiana and a great meal prepared by Mark Uddo and some wonderful volunteers there.  There is so much still yet to do here. 

This relationship is deep, between Olympia and St. Paul's, New Orleans, and we hope that it can continue for a long time to come.  There are some very dedicated young people working to rebuild this region, and four of them helped our crews this week.  In the video below you will see Jane ( who I call Lisa, because she looks so much like a  Lisa I knew growing up!) and Spencer.  They were incredible! 

The paint on the house we worked on is named, Lucky Penny!   Blessings to all of you!

+Greg