Consecration Sunday is arriving Sunday, November 22nd with worship led by noted author Patrice Gaines!

This year Allison Creek is seeking to approach financial stewardship from a biblical perspective and not as a way to pay church bills. We on the Stewardship & Finance Committee and Session see financial contributions as a way to help us grow spiritually in our relationship with God as we support ACPC’s mission and ministry with a percentage of our incomes.

Allison Creek’s Stewardship & Finance Committee has selected the New Consecration Sunday Stewardship program as a way to teach the biblical and spiritual principles of generous giving in our stewardship education emphasis this year. New Consecration Sunday is based on the biblical philosophy of the need of the giver to give for his or her own spiritual development, rather than on the need of the church to receive. Instead of treating people like members of a social club who should pay dues, we will treat you like followers of Jesus Christ who want to give unselfishly as an act of discipleship. New Consecration Sunday encourages people toward proportionate and systematic giving in response to the question, “What percentage of my income is God calling me to give?”

During morning worship on Consecration Sunday, November 22nd, we are asking you to make your financial commitments to Allison Creek’s benevolent and educational ministries in this community and around the world.

Every attendee and member who completes an Estimate of Giving Card does so voluntarily by attending morning worship on Consecration Sunday. We urge people to attend who feel strongly opposed to completing a card. The procedure will be done in such a way that no one should feel personal embarrassment if he or she chooses not to fill out a card. We will do no home solicitation to ask people to complete cards.

We are pleased to announce that on November 22nd Ms. Patrice Gaines will lead worship. Ms. Gaines is author of the critically acclaimed books Laughing in the Dark: From Colored Girl to Woman of Color and Moments of Grace: Meeting the Challenge to Change. Ms. Gaines has been a featured author on the “Oprah Winfrey Show” when she shared with the world her powerful witness of overcoming drug addiction and domestic abuse to become a reporter for the Washington Post and then author. Patrice brings a passion and commitment to helping Allison Creek understand it’s wealth of resources and history. Patrice has become involved in our redevelopment project and is a member of ACPC’s Task Force that is planning the next stages of trails and prayer stations.

We encourage your participation in Consecration Sunday on the 22nd and plan to remain after worship for a catered barbeque lunch at no charge. Lunch will be our opportunity to say “thanks.” As part of lunch that day we will be making individual crosses to remind us of our commitment to God and affirming God’s gifts in our lives.

Since we will make no follow-up visits to ask people to complete their cards, we will make every effort to inform, inspire, and commit everyone to attend Consecration Sunday worship on November 22nd.

Thanks in advance for your enthusiastic participation in Consecration Sunday events.

Pastor Sam & Gene Daniel, Stewardship & Finance Committee Chairperson