This week is the official beginning of our Annual Pledge Drive. Your pledge fuels the "engine" that drives Grace Church and keeps it moving forward to accomplish the work of the Lord. Our pledge drive will culminate on Sunday, October 28, when we will have a special dedication service followed by a Celebration Luncheon. Please save that date because we want the entire Grace family to be in attendance on that day.

 

The theme of our pledge drive is for us to look upon our annual giving as a thanksgiving offering to God, reflecting our gratitude for all that he has done for us; which is everything! Instead of feeling obligated to give to our church, we hope that we can develop the attitude that we are praising God with our gifts.

 

Unfortunately, some may try to keep their pledge low enough so that it will not impair their chosen lifestyle, but not so low that they will feel guilty. This may not be considered a Biblical or Christian interpretation of how to determine our level of giving.

 

A series of questions have been suggested that can be used as a guideline for determining whether or not we are pledging in the spirit of thanksgiving. These questions are meant to be progressive. If you can answer a particular question affirmatively, then you are ready to move on and consider the next question.

 

Question #1 Do you believe that God has created you and cares how you live your life?

 

Question # 2 Do you believe that God cares for all people-the poor and the rich, the free and the oppressed, the sick and the well, the powerful and the powerless?

 

Question # 3 Do you believe that God sent Jesus to live and die among us to show us what love is through his words and example?

 

Question # 4 Do you believe that God expects us to respond to such great love in thankful and loving service?

 

Question # 5 Will you determine your level of giving as an appropriate response to the amount of love that God has shown towards you?

 

Thank you for considering these questions, and please plan to be with us on October 28th for Celebration Sunday. 

 
The following is by Charleston (CK) Wang, a graduate of Grace Church's EfM seminar, member of Christ Church Cathedral, and a Silverton attorney practicing Immigration and Nationality Law.

FIGURING THE FALLACY OF SWEEPING GENERALIZATIONS

 

I once heard an angry American say that he hates Muslims because all Muslims are terrorists out to attack America. Even now, Muslims are attacking Americans in anger because all Americans are blasphemers of Islam. Both are guilty of the fallacy of dicto simplicitor, that is of sweeping generalization.   Here lies the common ground for dialogue and better understanding in order to overcome this oft lethal but common fallacy.

 

Many people in the United States cannot understand the reverence accorded by Muslims for the Prophet of Islam. People not of the United States often are hard pressed to understand that individual speech is just that--an opinion of that one person and not that of his or her country. This is indeed a huge logical divide but not one that cannot be bridged. By small steps it can be and should be crossed.

 

To add to the misery, there are folks out there who understand these twin fallacies only too well, but are out to use them to foster an endless cycle of hate and violence. Because of the lack of dialogue, these provocateurs often are successful and have much reason to congratulate themselves on their duplicity.   And the buildings continue to collapse and the blood flows like a river. Dialogue to overcome the twin fallacies is ever more urgent.

When: Wednesday September 19, 2012 - Registration and light snack at 6:30pm

Where: Xavier's Cintas Center Banquet  Room 1

Description: Designed to help people identify Islamophobia and racism during this election year and become empowered to stand up to and counteract these forces going forward.

Sponsors: XU Brueggeman Center for Dialogue, XU Dorothy Day Center for Faith and Justice, Council for American Islamic Relations-Cincinnati Chapter, Franciscans Network, Cincinnati NAACP, Transfiguration Spirituality Center, BRIDGES for a Just Community, Intercommunity Justice and Peace Center