and the results are ...
Back in February, I issued a little challenge.
I said that if the people of Our Savior's and Emmanuel donated over $1,000 to Walk4Water, a cause being supported by the ELCA's National Youth Gathering, that I would buy and wear a Packers jersey to lead worship during the month of May, as well as to wear it when we make that donation at Ford Field in Detroit.
I'm sorry to say that we did not collect over $1,000.
We collected over $1,200. To be precise, one thousand, two hundred, thirty six dollars and twenty-nine cents. ($1,236.29)
But I didn't lose this challenge.
The people who will benefit from your generosity won. A gift of $1,000 will allow the ELCA and their global partners to go into a village or community facing water concerns and train the community about water sustainability, sanitation and good hygiene. It will allow wells to be drilled so that people don't have to spend hours lugging water jugs back and forth. It will allow those water-bearers, often the oldest girls, to be able to go to school, to learn a craft, to be given a life.
You won this challenge. In previous noisy offerings and Advent or Lenten special givings, the most that had been raised was just over $400. This year, you TRIPLED that. The ELCA's goal for Walk4Water is to raise $500,000. You did 1/500th of that on your own. Two small churches in the middle of Wisconsin.
You did this because it is for a good cause. I'm sure making me look silly played a small part.
But you have shown what you are capable of. Your potential has been exposed. With Emmanuel, Our Savior, always with us, there is NO LIMIT to what you can do in sharing the Good News of God's Love in, around and outside of our communities.
There are no losers in this challenge. Sure, I have to wear a Packers jersey for a couple of hours for a few Sundays, and for a little while in Detroit. And Ananias has to endure wearing a shirt long enough for photographic evidence to be taken. But the generosity of your hears has been shown ... and it will never be the same again.
BTW, I will be available for photographs after services while wearing my jersey. Photos will be $1 each, with proceeds to go to Walk4Water. My dignity may be for sale, but for a good cause.
A video for Walk4Water is below, and a link is in this article for more information.
I said that if the people of Our Savior's and Emmanuel donated over $1,000 to Walk4Water, a cause being supported by the ELCA's National Youth Gathering, that I would buy and wear a Packers jersey to lead worship during the month of May, as well as to wear it when we make that donation at Ford Field in Detroit.
I'm sorry to say that we did not collect over $1,000.
We collected over $1,200. To be precise, one thousand, two hundred, thirty six dollars and twenty-nine cents. ($1,236.29)
But I didn't lose this challenge.
The people who will benefit from your generosity won. A gift of $1,000 will allow the ELCA and their global partners to go into a village or community facing water concerns and train the community about water sustainability, sanitation and good hygiene. It will allow wells to be drilled so that people don't have to spend hours lugging water jugs back and forth. It will allow those water-bearers, often the oldest girls, to be able to go to school, to learn a craft, to be given a life.
You won this challenge. In previous noisy offerings and Advent or Lenten special givings, the most that had been raised was just over $400. This year, you TRIPLED that. The ELCA's goal for Walk4Water is to raise $500,000. You did 1/500th of that on your own. Two small churches in the middle of Wisconsin.
You did this because it is for a good cause. I'm sure making me look silly played a small part.
But you have shown what you are capable of. Your potential has been exposed. With Emmanuel, Our Savior, always with us, there is NO LIMIT to what you can do in sharing the Good News of God's Love in, around and outside of our communities.
There are no losers in this challenge. Sure, I have to wear a Packers jersey for a couple of hours for a few Sundays, and for a little while in Detroit. And Ananias has to endure wearing a shirt long enough for photographic evidence to be taken. But the generosity of your hears has been shown ... and it will never be the same again.
BTW, I will be available for photographs after services while wearing my jersey. Photos will be $1 each, with proceeds to go to Walk4Water. My dignity may be for sale, but for a good cause.
A video for Walk4Water is below, and a link is in this article for more information.
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