Dear Friends,
Do you remember as a child getting the Sears toy catalog, browsing it for hours, dog-earing the corners of pages with items you would put on your list for Santa Claus? The commercials on television were nothing compared to the colorful pages of that toy catalog! I do feel bad for kids these days scrolling on a tablet looking at toy recommendations for their Christmas wish list.
I think as adults we forget the joy of creating a wish list. The hopeful feeling of the possibility! Ahhhhh! (Although I am sure more than a few of you also have a wish list just in case you win the lottery, right?!) I want to challenge you and your church family to create a wish list of a different kind.
Put your thinking caps on, nothing too strenuous, but it is a necessity! What would you put on your church’s wish list? If someone came to you with an offer of help, what would you say is a way that person could help your church? This could be something as inexpensive as a new wall banner ($200) or as expensive as an elevator ($30,000 or so). Be realistic with the value but dream big. Make as long a list as you wish. Then…encourage the session to make a list that they compile from the wish lists of the congregation. (I am sure there will be duplicate requests as many people know the church could use ___ (fill in the blank).)
Now, why would we spend effort on this? Simple. Churches do get requests for “what would you do if we gave you $$$” ……granted, it doesn’t happen as often as we might like, but it does happen. Other non-profits (and even for profits) always have a wish list ready for potential donors. These wish lists have estimates from contractors and in some cases, blueprints. Do not get caught unprepared!
The Rev. Kathy Nice
Executive Presbyter, Presbytery of Scioto Valley
knice@psvonline.org (Please note the new email address)
614-847-0565 (office) or 614-507-2626 (mobile)
