Keep Track of the Good Stuff
Hi Friends! How are you doing? I don't know about you, but this chaos is a little overwhelming. I’ve done a run on Ben & Jerry’s (thank you, Cherry Garcia). And I’ve been binging all things Saturday Night Live as it celebrates its 50th anniversary.
Laughing (and eating ice cream) is very good for the soul when one feels like crying.
Getting lost in nostalgia is not necessarily a bad response to anxiety. However, if you get stuck there…what does that say about how you view the future?
That’s why I love the six-minute video I watched from Water’s Edge Church in Omaha, NE.
Pastored by my friend and fellow Horizons Stewardship colleague, Craig Finnestad, Water’s Edge recently released their “Top Ten of 2024.”
Throughout the year, Craig and his ministry staff documented all the good things their church was accomplishing within and beyond the church’s walls. As soon as January 1, 2025 hit, they were ready to share a quick look back on the highlights from 2024.
Why is this a good thing to do?
1. It reminds the congregation of all that they have accomplished.
2. It inspires your congregation to do more in the year ahead.
3. It lifts everyone’s spirits.
4. It tells a broader story of the congregation’s generosity.
Water’s Edge might have access to some better tech resources than your church has. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t do something like it. Here’s how:
- Keep a running list of positive things your congregation is doing. Document it month-by-month. Use the beginning of your staff or monthly Board meeting to take notes.
- In December, determine your “Top Ten” accomplishments for the previous year. If ten feels a little too much of a reach, go for five.
- No money for a professional video? Use your iPhone. Find someone who loves doing tech work and ask them to help pull the video together in a visually appealing way.
This still sound too overwhelming? Here’s another idea – make a simple poster of your congregation’s achievements. I used to do something like this for my congregation. This example is as old as the hills (which are pretty old) but the illustration still stands.
In this season there are so many things that can make us feel sad and powerless. Pace yourself. And don’t forget about the transforming power of your congregation through the love of Jesus Christ.
Now, more than ever, it’s time to document all the good you are doing in the world to uplift your people and to remind them why they exist.
If you’ll excuse me, I must go because, “I’ve got a fever and the only prescription is…more cowbell.”
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Don’t forget!
A FREE webinar featuring Grace Duddy Pomroy speaking about her book:
Funding Forward: A Pathway to More Sustainable Models for Ministry.
Tuesday, February 11
10am – 11am (PST)
Register Here (did I mention that it’s free?).
The webinar is hosted by the Cascadia District Grants and Loans through the OR-ID Annual Conference of the UMC. It is open to anyone interested. Read my review of Funding Forward.
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Cesie Delve Scheuermann (pronounced “CC Delv Sherman,” yes, really) is a Stewardship Consultant for the OR-ID Annual Conference. She is also a Senior Ministry Strategist with Horizons Stewardship. For 25 years, while working as a volunteer and part-time consultant, she has helped raise millions of dollars for numerous churches and non-profit organizations.
You can reach Cesie at inspiringgenerosity@gmail.com, at CesieScheuermann.com, or at cesieds@horizons.net. Want to schedule a meeting? She’s got you covered! One more of her favorite SNL sketches is with Chris Farley. Please, do not go and “live in a van down by the river.”
Schedule a meeting now.
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