Posts by Betsy Schwarzentraub
Content Curation
Recently I ran into a new word: “curated.” Oh sure, I’ve known museum “curators,” who are in charge of handling all the museum’s treasures. But these days the word “curate” is being used in some new ways. One use of the word is in “content curation,” in contrast to “content creation.” Whereas content creation is…
Read MoreReading Vital Signs
We measure what’s important to us. I heard that statement a long time ago, but it becomes truer with one’s age and with experiences in the local church. It’s like taking our pulse as we exercise, to make sure we are growing a stronger, healthier body. And now that the Bishops of the United Methodist…
Read MoreStewards of God’s Mysteries
Easter is the season, more than any other, when God takes our breath away with the sheer mystery of God’s overwhelming grace. In the face of Jesus’ resurrection, none of us can stand on our own two feet before God. It’s overwhelming enough to reflect on God’s self-giving love in Jesus’ life and death for…
Read MoreOffering Tips
One of the sites I check regularly is Alan Wildes, who goes by the name of Generosity Coach. In four brief video clips this past month, he has given tips for the offering which resonate with what I have been teaching, as well. Two clips deal with the importance of language, which shapes both our…
Read MoreSaying God’s Name
Words can shape our reality by forming the way we think about ourselves, the world, and even God. I have known and said that all my life, insisting on gender-inclusive words for people and for God. But this week that truth took a step deeper into my soul. Ever since my first Old Testament course…
Read MoreCompass Young Adult Network
I was delighted to discover a brand new network of resources especially for young adults, called Compass: Navigating Faith and Finances, at https://www.stewardshipresources.org/COMPASS. It’s designed to engage young adults in conversations about the ways faith can inform their management of money. – Not that they’re the only ones who want help in money management; I’m…
Read MoreThrowing Open the Door
I’ve been thinking recently about what constitutes abundant life in our daily living. Eugene Peterson’s paraphrase of Romans 5:1-7 (The Message) says that when we throw open our door to God, we discover that God has already thrown open God’s door to us. “We find ourselves standing where we always hoped we might stand –…
Read MoreFive-Year Planned Giving Plan
Steven Covey says there are certain things that are fundamental to human fulfillment: to live, to love, to learn, and to leave a legacy. “The need to leave a legacy,” he says, “is our spiritual need to have a sense of meaning, purpose, personal congruence, and contribution.” A five-year Planned Giving plan for your congregation…
Read MoreThe Power of Enough
As we enter Thanksgiving and the gift-buying days leading up to Christmas, now is a great time to talk about what is enough. According to the consumer version of this season (in the U.S., at least), excess becomes our expectation, even our norm: excess food, excess buying, excess entertainment and activity. “Enough” is a word…
Read MoreControl and Obsession
Okay, so I admit I’m obsessive-compulsive about some things. Like where the pots and pans go in the kitchen, and some of my daily routines. But I’ve never forgotten what a speaker said years ago: when we’re obsessive, the key is to choose what to be obsessive about. Instead of trying to control our boss’s…
Read MoreEstate Planning
Why would we want to do estate planning? For a start, we may have questions like these: + How can I be sure who will care for my children if a tragedy strikes me? + How could I best care financially for my aging parents? + Is there a way to give a gift to…
Read MoreStewardship Resources
I was excited this week to meet with the Resource Editorial Team for the Ecumenical Stewardship Center (ESC), which provides outstanding materials for cultivating stewardship and generosity in the local church. As a pastor and then as a consultant over the years, I’ve used almost all of their material resources for annual financial commitment programs…
Read MoreChoices
Most things in life are not rocket science. They’re more a matter of persistence and consistent behavior. That doesn’t make living a good life easy, but it does make it possible. Health habits are a good example, including food and exercise. I’m a Lifetime Weight Watcher. That means I weigh in at least once a…
Read MoreRedwoods and Growth
Many people are enjoying a Christmas tree in their homes this time of year, often a pine or fir in the European tradition. That’s true of our family, as well. But Christmas aside, I have been partial to the redwood tree for years now, not only because of its beauty but also because you can…
Read MoreMeans of Grace
“Discipline” can be a scary word. Even when we hear it in churches, as in “spiritual disciplines,” our first instinct might be that it’s punishment or obligation. When that unconscious reaction happens, it’s hard to respond out of a place of gratitude and joy. So maybe it’s better to say “framework” or means of grace.…
Read More