So then, whenever we have an opportunity,
let us work for the good of all and especially for those of the family of faith.
Galatians 6:9-10 NRSVue
I can recall the early years of what was called Black Friday in the United States, the day following American Thanksgiving which became the retail version of The Hunger Games. Canadians watched news clips of crowds literally trampling over each other to get the best bargains as stores opened. Eventually retailers on this side of the border fought discounts with discounts and we too had Black Friday sales and pre-Black Friday sales even though this has nothing to do with a holiday in this country. Black Friday begat Cyber Monday for all the electronic deals.
Now we have Giving Tuesday, supposedly the day we expiate our bingeing sins by donating to whatever charities and causes manage to capture our attention. I can't be critical of organizations, including faith groups, for reaching out to prospective donors for support. We're told that charitable giving has declined over the past couple of years and we are aware that inflation is chomping away at money for the basics of life, let along our disposable income. According to a CBC piece about a recent study:
Canadian charities are facing "unprecedented strain" due to a projected decline in donations and an expected growth in demand due to the pandemic, according to a new report.
The Giving Report 2022, released on Tuesday by a group called CanadaHelps, says one in four Canadians, or 26 per cent, expect to use or are already using charitable services this year to meet basic needs. One in four Canadians, or 25 per cent, expect to give less this year than they did in last year, the report says.
My inbox has already been flooded by Giving Tuesday requests, including a couple by the United Church, and there are promises that my gift can be doubled, or tripled. I have no doubt that there will be many more "asks" by the end of the year.
I imagine we'll respond to certain situations -- the crisis in Somalia is front of mind. In many respects, though. we take a "slow but steady" approach, giving throughout the year to our congregational family and a number of organizations we support, some of them Christian ministry related, some justice oriented, others environmental. When Premier Ford attempted to buy our votes with license sticker rebates earlier this year we gave that money away to several causes as special gifts.
Could we be more generous? Always. Even in these anxious times we are aware of our manifold blessings and we consider it an act of practical faith to focus on abundance rather than scarcity. While Giving Tuesday is okay, choosing to be purposeful in our giving all through the year is an essential aspect of what it means to be people of a generous God and followers of Jesus, the Christ. Generosity is a spiritual practice, discipleship, a way of life.
Wouldn't it be great if we were falling over ourselves, at least figuratively, in response to the needs evident all around us? Here is a prayer from the United Church for this day:
O God, the season of waiting has begun.
We wait with gratitude for the gift of love at Christmas.
As we strive to find gifts to express our appreciation for those who make our world and lives better
may our gifts have more meaning;
may our gifts share your vision of love in the world.
Giving Tuesday is our opportunity to look beyond the sales flyers and promotional e-mails and see a new way forward, a way for healing and connection.
We live in a world of consuming,
a world where the person with the most toys wins,
and yet, you offer us a way filled with grace.
On this Giving Tuesday, help us to give freely from the heart!
We pray that our gifts will bring hope to the lost, peace to the hungry, love to the lonely, and joy everlasting.
A way where each of us has a piece of your heart to share with others;
a way where we do not win until we give, and in giving our hearts are filled.
O God, may we be able to joyfully share our gifts with many, with the vision of a better tomorrow;
knowing that when we do so, we become like the magi of old, offering our gifts to the refugee child, the child living on the margins, a child born in a stable in Bethlehem. Amen.
Ruth Noble, Mission & Service Engagement Coordinator
As I share images of artwork in our home during Advent I need the reminder of the lessons of the birds around us. Please take a look at today's Groundling blog groundlingearthyheavenly.blogspot.com/2022/11/the-le
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