Look For The Helpers

We’ve all heard this advice from Mr. Rogers. When things are bad or bad things happen or even if we just wonder how to cope with some accident or disaster these words echo in our memories.

This week we finally got to our budget meeting. It’s been postponed because of various “winter conditions” for several weeks. So I’ve had a bit more time to think about our process. Here’s what’s different about our congregation’s budgeting philosophy. We used to start with our fixed expenses. How much for heat and hydro and telephone and security and insurance and yard maintenance… Then how much is left over for helping our kids go to camp, or buying new candles for Advent or Lent, or ordering resources for classes or preaching? Oh, and let’s put out a jar for spare change so we can support the food bank.

This year, our first full year without a building our process was quite different. We started with our mission plan. What did we mean to do as a congregation? One big thing was to be a force for good to our neighbours. We want to get serious about the mission to “abolish poverty and end suffering.” But really, what can a small group of mostly seniors do to work on the clear problems of the homeless and food insecurity of families and children growing up in those families?

Answer: Look for the helpers!

So our budget shows clearly what we found. Our budget swelled in the areas of support for the Children’s Foundation who run serious breakfast programs, summer vacation food for families, referrals for counseling services for mental health needs, parenting classes and new parent support. We continue our support for music for young children because we know how music education enriches the lives of children and their families.

Our Jan-uwear-y, Feb-uwear-y project to collect much requested new underwear for the homeless is a case in point. We didn’t then go in search of recipients. We delivered them to Hope House because they have the means and the relationships already to get them to the people who need them. They’re the helpers we found when we looked.

Some of the underwear contributed during Feb-uwear-y

I know many congregations put energy into attracting children to their churches. I know this because we did it too. “How can we attract families with children?” we used to ask. We still love it when children come to our activities, but we also realize that our job is to consider the long game. How can we contribute to making life better for all the children in our community? What do all the children need and who is working on that?

Even what causes are our children involved in that we can support? It's why we’re interested in climate protests, soccer tournaments, hockey, horses, youth orchestra performances and gardening. Who knows what we’ll be interested in next? We’ll let you know.