On Anniversary Sunday, September 27, 2026, the kickoff of the 300th Anniversary
celebration, the church announced that we are soon to receive a significant bequest
set up for us years ago by John and Elizabeth Kendall, who passed away in 2008
and 2009, respectively.
The Kendalls set up a living trust to benefit a beloved niece. According to the terms
of the trust, upon the death of their niece, the trust is to be dissolved and its proceeds
to be dispersed among three charitable organizations, Old First being one of them.
The Kendall’s niece passed away earlier this year, joining them in heaven. The final
accounting of the trust is being done now as preparation for its dissolution, but the
bequest is expected before the end of the year and will increase our church’s
endowment by about ¾. That’s enough to materially increase the interest we can
use as revenue for ministry each year.
The Kendalls’ thoughtfulness, planning, generosity, and faithfulness have become
the inspiration of our Stewardship Campaign this year. As Julie said when she was
announcing the gift, “the Kendalls did not leave us this money so that any of our
responsibilities in the current generation are lessened. We need to remember
Jesus’ teaching recorded in Luke’s Gospel, ‘To whom much is given, much will be
expected.’ John and Elizabeth have been generous so that the church can do
EVEN more. Their gift is our challenge.”
Our Stewardship Witnesses, speaking every Sunday in October, will be an Old
First leader speaking on the question, “How I have been given much…” Each
person’s story will be published below after it is shared in worship.
Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026: Dianne Jennings
Good morning, Church. Beth Davis, our Stewardship Director, has a scheduling conflict
this morning, so I’ve been asked to announce the start of our stewardship campaign for
2027. The theme is…..Our Faith, Our Family, Our Future: To Whom Much is Given, Much
Will Be Required.’ Look for Beth’s letter this week.
Over the next few weeks, Old First members will share about “how I have been given
much.”
I’m up first! For the past six weeks I’ve been successfully avoiding saying yes to so
many things, right, Michael?, but I can’t dodge it any longer. And honestly, I’m glad
to be sharing today, because I’ve been given so much at Old First.
I don’t know about you, but there are times in church when I briefly drift off… mostly
thinking about what I was supposed to pick up at the store. It happened last week, and in
the blink of an eye I was back listening to Michael and heard him say that God brings
us to where we are meant to be. It was a moment for me that I’ve often thought about
this week, and that is why I am up here this morning.
Going back to church after a 52-year absence was not my plan…Turns out it was God’s
plan.
I didn’t come back through the front door on a Sunday morning. I started
volunteering at the Saturday breakfast, mostly handing out toiletries. I was there
just about every week. I got to know the other volunteers, church members, Michael,
and our guests. I thought I was there to give. But week after week, I was being given
something: volunteers and guests who knew my name, who greeted me…. By the
time I walked into a Sunday service, I wasn’t a stranger. It felt like the right place to
be for me.
What have I been given? Belonging. Love. Community. Faith and Hope. Generosity
of Spirit. Some of it came from the people sitting here, and some from those who
came before us and kept these doors open for us.
If much has been given, then much is required. Someone kept the doors open for
me. Our job now is to keep our doors open for those who come after us.
