What is your relationship to money? What are the messages that influence your financial choices? How do you spend the money you have? Where is your money flow in harmony with your values? And, what changes might you be called to live into that would align your financial and spiritual life?
No matter what stage of life you are in, or, what your financial reality is, these are important questions to periodically ask yourself. They are important questions to explore when examining your own relationship to money. They are foundational questions to practicing mindfulness with how you treat money, and, to cultivating generosity. Without careful attention, each of us can easily fall into stale routines or get swept up by the “way of the world” instead of being transformed by the radical economy of the kingdom of God.
In this season, we are focusing our attention on the intersection of our spiritual values and our financial practices. We begin this work by cultivating an awareness of the way we think about money, and, the way we spend our money. We ask ourselves questions such as these, we listen, and we open ourselves to God’s instruction for us.
“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” (Romans 12:2)
But let’s face it, taking an honest look at our finances can be really difficult. And, thinking about money in this way is countercultural. For those who are ready to undertake this kind of self-examination, you do not have to walk that road alone. The beauty of this community of faith is that we are companions as we practice our faith and grow in discipleship.
One way we will concretely walk alongside each other in the spiritual exercise of examining our finances, is to offer a study and three-week discussion using a helpful book as our tool. We invite you to be part of a book study of The Woman’s Book of Money and Spiritual Vision: Putting Your Spiritual Values into Financial Practice by Rosemary Williams. While it is written specifically for women, the principals of the book are universally helpful and all people are welcome and encouraged to participate. The book helps you to understand your financial reality, but, it is not just about organizing your finances better. It goes much deeper, inviting you to shift your perspective from material to spiritual, from consumption to generosity, from bettering our own world to bettering everyone’s world.
The way our study and discussion will work is that each person will have a copy of the book and will explore the material individually. Then, discussion about the book will take place three consecutive Thursdays from 12-1PM. You can join the discussion in person on the church campus, or, may join by video conference (information for video conference will be sent to those who indicate interest). Dates for the discussions are Thursdays, November 2, 9, and 16th. RSVP for the book study either with Pastor Mandy or on the event page.
Copies of the book are available through the church office or can be purchased from retailers like Amazon (if you shop Amazon, please use Amazon Smile so that your purchase benefits the church!). Suggested contribution to the church for a copy is $17. Let Mandy know if you have any questions!