"What Have You Found Here?"
Stewardship Sermon
by Rev. Kimi Riegel
April 6, 2003

I have loved writing sermons this year. This one is no exception. I sat down at the computer after a lovely wee cup of tea with Chrissy King. She and I had talked about the problems of how to talk about money and there on my computer was a note from LeeAnn Able with this story of a pastor who got up one Sunday and announced to his congregation: "I have good news and bad news. The good news is, we have enough money to pay for our expenses. The bad news is, it's still out there in your pockets." Pretty tacky, huh, and certainly not in the polite and understated vein Chrissy and I had discussed. I love writing sermons, especially when everyone is helping! So with a good chuckle and an awareness of how touchy the subject is, we continue the discussion of money and this church.

I am certain that some of you would rather that I got up here and politely referred in a general metaphorical way to the issue of money. And some of you would rather I would just say what we need and get done with it. Like a good Unitarian Universalist minister I will not exactly do either, while trying to do both.

Money, like sex, religion, and politics isn’t generally spoken of in polite societies. Those of us who have money feel guilty that we have it because being wealthy has a bad name. After all, Jesus said a rich man had as much chance of getting into heaven as a camel had to get through the eye of a needle. And those of us who don’t have money feel guilty because we have a sense, in this culture, that if you are not making money it must be because you are somehow not trying hard enough. Nether attitude is helpful when it comes to raising money for the church. To be ashamed of what we have or don’t have, to only speak in hushed voices, or to constantly complain about what we can’t do because we lack the funds doesn’t help the church become all it can be. 

My take is we need to honestly say why giving to the church is important, give everyone ample opportunity to give, and then get to the business of making that money do the best it can.

We give to those things that are important in our lives. For Alex and me it’s our churches. We give for people-reasons and theological-reasons.

Perhaps it seems odd to you that we would be donating what will, in part, eventually come back to us as our salaries, but it’s not just the minister’s salaries that giving to the church provides. We have kids in the Sunday school. We believe in the education they get here, knowing full well this is the only place they will get an education that, among other things, provides a balanced honest view of religion, understanding of diversity in faith and life as well as respect for their questions and their right to ask them.

We also think communities are important. They are important for educating and challenging and supporting each other on our journey. They are important for action and they are important for care.

In the January/February issue of the Unitarian Universalist magazine, UU World, a member of the Horizon UU Church in Carrollton , Texas , wrote of the Tuna Casserole Syndrome. She grew up in a Church of Christ community where the church ladies brought casseroles whenever there was a birth, death, illness or hospitalization. When she got out on her own and began to have children she longed for the “tuna casserole” and dubbed it the Tuna Casserole Syndrome. While searching she came up on a UU church in Dallas . When the president said “damn” right in church she dragged her husband to the next service where there was folk music. They were hooked.

She writes: “I could see that if tuna casseroles were called for these people would probably slide on their Birkenstocks and bring a batch of tabbouli, but I knew it would contain the essential ingredient, the spirit of the tuna casserole”. Ten years later, when she was prematurely slapped into middle age with her first medical procedure, the most wonderful thing happened. “The phone began to ring. … People came, sometimes driving 45 minutes each way to bring wonderful meals to my family. Not just church ladies, but men too. Later, when she was feeling better, they brought books, tapes, and conversation. She concludes her essay with the words, “I know where my tuna casserole comes from.”[1]

Like Ms Snider, even in the short time I have been here, I have appreciated the tuna casseroles that come when one is a member of a community. In February my dad had an “occurrence” as they are called, with his heart. He and mom were up in Grayling and they drove over to the emergency room. Alex called me on my cell phone to let me know and as a result I was late to a meeting. When I explained to the folks what had happened they were all very understanding and concerned. It turns out that dad is fine. They found nothing wrong. But for the rest of the week, I got tuna casseroles at each meeting; people would ask how my dad was doing and join me in my relief that he is well. I know that if he had been ill there would have been care, advice and help. Alex and I donate to the church because of the tuna casseroles. That’s the people reasons: our kids and the casseroles.

The other reasons we give are theological. Ours is a free church tradition. We believe in the work of the church. We believe in liberal religion and all it stands for in this free democracy.

It was the Unitarians and Universalists that separated the church and the state in this country, by demanding that they be allowed to support the churches of their choice rather than the town church. Religious freedom comes with responsibility. We can only have a free church as long as we support it. James Luther Adams, a wonderful Unitarian Universalist theologian, writes;

In a free church “One must view the collection plate in the church service on Sunday as a symbol of the meaning of disestablishment and volunteerism. The collection symbolizes the view that the church is a self determinative group and that in giving financial support to the church the members affirm their responsibility to participate in the shaping of its future”[2] When we give to the church we are saying we believe in freedom of religion and we will support it. We are saying that, we will, each of us will; hold ourselves responsible for the freedom that we value.  

This year I also give to the church because of the war and all the differences of opinion about it. I give to this church because here differences of opinion are respected, even encouraged. I donate because there are good people who believe in peace and good people who believe in this war as a last resort. I give because here we can comfort each other as we desperately hope those in harms way will come home safely. I know that there are strong feelings -- reasonable and those that are beyond reason -- and here I can express mine and hear others.  

I give to this church and have given to UU churches all my working life because of the religious freedom I find here. It is truly a place of questioning. I treasure this community culture that encourages me to probe and question and not settle for the easy answers. I treasure this culture that does the same for my children. Welcoming them with open arms, giving them unconditional positive regard with appropriate limits on their behavior, all the while encouraging them to follow their bliss.  

Alex and I support our churches because we believe in communities of freedom, reason, tolerance and care. Where else would I find this?

Where would I find the parenting support we offer one another? Where would I find the resources and knowledge you all offer? Where else in this culture do we find what we find here? I have found it nowhere but here. Thus I treasure this resource and thus I support it with my money.

So how important is it to us? Well, our salaries -- Alex and mine -- are a part of public record. You can go to the finance committee and see how much I make. We give 3% to our churches. On the Stewardship campaign worksheet the bottom line for me is about $33,000 after I adjust for our extra self-employment taxes and childcare costs. My 3% is $1000 a year, which we will donate to this church from my salary. My hope is that it is as important to you.

Not all of us are capable of supporting the church at a 3% level. Some of us can do more. What is important is that we examine what this place means to us and give accordingly. Don’t give till it hurts but give what you can, based on how much you care about this church. Don’t give till it hurts; give till it feels good.  

What have you found here? Maybe it’s your place to cry. Maybe it’s your place to laugh. Maybe it’s your place of friendship. Maybe it’s a place to have your kids get an unbiased religious education. Maybe it’s a place of support for your family that is different than the norm. Maybe it’s your place to be with people who ask questions. Maybe you like to be with the kids because your grandkids are far away. Maybe you like the sermons, said of course with all humility. But seriously what have you found here and what is it worth to you?

As the canvasser gives you a call, open your house to them. Share with them how much this place means to you and how you want to support it into the future. Together we will accomplish what we will. Why do we give to the church? Because each of us playing our part will form an arch of community support and religious freedom.

Step by step, the longest march
Can be won, can be won;
Single stones will form an arch
One by one, one by one
And, by Union what we will
Can be accomplished still
Drops of water turn a mill."

United Mine Workers 1864