“What did you get?” we ask each other as the gift-giving comes to a close and we survey the merry damage.

“What did you get?” is a perfectly legitimate question but, frankly, one that can distract us from the beautiful origin of Christmas itself: giving.

“For God SO LOVED the world that He GAVE His only begotten Son…” – John 3:16

Love is the essence of Christmas.  Giving is the natural expression of love.  And, the ultimate act of giving – the first Christmas gift that changed the course of all human history – is God incarnate, lying in a manger.

So, surprise someone this Christmas Day with the question, “Hey, what did you give?”.  Then, share your responses with us on this blog.  We’ll be listening.

Since 1960, Episcopal Charities and Community Services has GIVEN much to thousands of people across the Diocese of Chicago who are homeless, abused, formerly incarcerated, mentally ill, and in many other ways looking for help in a time of need.

Over the past decade alone we gave more than $10 million to support the work of our ministry partners while starting our own programs that provide affordable housing to low-income families, leadership development for a new generation of church leaders, and support for students to become first-generation college students.

This work only is possible because of friends, like you, who GIVE so generously to support this ministry.  Today, 100% of every dollar given to Episcopal Charities is given by us to help others.

THANK YOU for what you mean to this ministry and to the women, men, children, and families in our Diocese who receive so much from us and from our ministry partners.

May God bless you and those you love this Christmas season and throughout the New Year ahead.

The coming of Jesus – the Christ child, God incarnate, Emmanuel – has meanings all humanity has shared for millennia, universal aspirations for peace, hope, and life abundantly.

But, the close of Advent and the imminent birth of a Savior make it more personal than that.  As Christians – as followers of Jesus Christ – the question each of us must answer today is, “What are YOU waiting for?”

Use the remaining days of Advent and the readings from the Psalms and the Gospel [BCP p.24] as you ponder your answer to the question, what does the presence of God incarnate in your life mean to you?

Today, we pray for many people across our Diocese who wait.  Those who wait for healing, for jobs, for encouragement, for the mending of broken relationship, for answers to many prayers…for an answer to the question, “Does God care?”

For more than fifty years Episcopal Charities and Community Services and our ministry partners have made the love of God – and the hope promised through the coming of our Savior, Jesus – a reality for thousands of people in our Diocese who come to us for help and for those who come to help others.

Too often, Christians are guilty of this same behavior in our relationship with God. Today – every day – we have an amazing feast of grace, mercy, and love set before us. In response, however, too often we say, “No, thank you”. Instead we only take the smallest of portions or, worse yet, partake of our own familiar ‘meal’ where we are both the host and guest.

But in Psalm 34 David implores us to dive head-first into the divine feast offered to us by a loving, holy God: “Taste”, he says, “and see that the Lord is good!” Trust God, David says, and – whatever your circumstances – give thanks for His gracious heaping portions of promises and blessings. Only then will you be able to ‘see’ that God is always good and can be trusted to provide all you need – and more – until your cup ‘runneth over’

Before then, this is your chance to weigh in.  What does it mean to you to not just live life, but to live it abundantly?  Who do you know living the truly abundant life?  How are we deceived into thinking we’re living abundantly when, in reality, we are not?  If you realize you’re not living abundantly, then what?

We look forward to your thoughts and promise to share them with our Trustees next month.

The correct answer is the same answer for each organization, regardless the size of their mailing list: One.

From the donor’s perspective only one letter (hopefully) will show up in their mailbox.  Not hundreds, or thousands…just one.

When you write your next fundraising letter, do it from the perspective of just one donor.   I encourage you to pick one out…or make one up.  But, when you write, write to one person.

I assure you that from this new perspective you will:

• pick a topic/theme that interests the reader (maybe even more than you),
• avoid a stilted, stiff writing style usually reserved for inter-office memos,
• employ a more conversational style of writing that uses contractions, short (even incomplete) sentences (gasp!), and personal (vs group) references,
• never make an  inappropriate appeal for a gift that dishonors the donor relationship, and
• carefully proofread the letter ESPECIALLY if it includes a personalized salutation.

Will you succeed with your next effort?  Only one person can answer that, your reader.  Just as important as the appeal’s financial returns is your reader’s response.  Even if they don’t contribute in response to THAT appeal, did the letter advance the relationship between them and your organization?  Did it increase their understanding of your mission?

To answer that you need to talk with your readers.  And, that, is something we all should be doing as often as possible.

“…to preserve your organization for a time you will not see, and for people you never will meet.”

These words may be especially profound for board members from the Me Generation (Baby Boomers), but they are words that speak to all of us who serve on nonprofit boards…or who service boards.

While many nonprofit board members may see the time and money required as a “sacrifice”, they also tend to see their work in the ‘here and now’.  Balance this year’s budget.  Meet this year’s fundraising goal.  Get through this meeting.

How often do we challenge our board members to think of their service as a benefit to “a time they will not see, and for people they never will meet”?  Probably not enough.

This long-term view of nonprofit board service opens up a whole new vista to nonprofit board members.  Now, in addition to dealing with the ‘here and now’, they have the opportunity to consider what their actions will have on future generations.  This leads to a creative, generative style of nonprofit governance addressed in Board Source’s, Governance as Leadership.

Is this work hard?  No, in comparison to plodding through fiscal reports, committee reports, and other official business, this is exciting work for any nonprofit board that will ensure a vibrant future for the organization…not to mention exciting, meaningful board meetings.

Group #2 is just as inadequate but, oblivious to less-obvious shortcomings, Jesus pursues them.  Saul was blinded, the woman at the well was confronted with her sordid past, the apostles were uprooted from their livelihood.

People from both groups end up being Kingdom leaders, bringing many others to Jesus.  What they ultimately share in common is a deep sense of their great need and complete dependence on a faithful God to provide.

Have you ever been asked to serve as a board member, volunteer, or key staff member for a Christian  ministry?  We hope you didn’t put it off because you felt inadequate, not having enough time, money, expertise, connections, etc. to make a difference.

The call to leadership that comes from a personal encounter with Jesus Christ is the single most important factor to consider when deciding how, when, and where to serve as a nonprofit leader for a Christian ministry.  Far more important than any abilities you bring is your calling because if God calls you, he will provide.

“He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.” – 1 Thessalonians 5:24

Closing note: The best advice I received before going into Christian service 25 years ago is truer than ever, “Be sure you are called because some days your call – and God’s promises – will be all you have left.”

Likewise, Christians do not fulfill their purpose in church.  While the support, teaching, and rituals a Christian experiences in church are essential, that is not our purpose.  In the Great Commission Jesus did not send his followers to church, he sent them into the world.  All the world.

It’s been said that “Church is not meant for Christians.  Christians ARE the church and we are meant for the world.”

“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.  For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.“  – Ephesians 2:8-10

Christian, you were saved for a purpose.  Go, “hit the road”, serve in love, and fulfill your purpose.  And, as you make a difference in someone’s life we pray that your life changes as well.

In this example it’s silly to know the answer before the question. Yet, this is the way many people address social issues.  We come up with the answer before we know what the problem is.

Not with Jesus.  In today’s devotional from Mark 10 Jesus interacts with his disciples and with blind Bartimaeus.  Especially with Bartimaeus he begins with a question, “What do you want me to do for you?”, when the answer appeared to be obvious.

How refreshing when we approach social outreach that way, with questions first, then – and only then – answers.  It’s an approach Jesus used and one used by the Industrial Areas Foundation since their founding by Saul Alinsky in 1940.  It’s a model we follow, too, when exploring new program opportunities.

Questions-first also is a good approach to the Christian way of life.  Instead of beginning each new day with an agenda, why not start tomorrow with a question for God.  “Lord, what will today bring?  Sadness, joy, troubles, victory?  Who will cross my path that I can serve?  Show me the way.”

What?  Could Jesus not tell the man was blind?  His desire was obvious.  Or was it?

Just moments before, when Jesus asked James and John the very same question, they asked for places of honor at Jesus’ right and left hand in glory.  The other disciples were furious.

How would you answer today if Jesus stood before you and asked, “What do you want me to do for you?”  I like to think I would answer just like blind Bartimaeus, “Jesus, I want to see.”  I want to see You.  I want spiritual eyes that are open to your Word, to see the path you have set before me, and to every opportunity to make a difference in someone’s life.