October 17, 2025

Benevolence

The word “benevolence” originates from a Latin word meaning “to wish (someone) well.” In the Fifteenth century, about 100 years before the Reformation, the French and English forms of this word took on a different meaning, “to be disposed to do good,” or “to be of good will.”Essentially it went from wishing someone well to doing something beneficial for others. In the not too distant past (though before I was on the scene) First Covenant had a Benevolence Offering. It was taken as a recessional offering on Sundays we celebrated the Lord’s Table. This is a common practice in churches, arising out of the fact that deacons—who in the book of Acts served people food, and later would serve people the Lord’s Supper—cared for the poor and the marginalized. (See Acts 6:1-6)

Our benevolence offering was taken to assist those who, inside or outside our church, were not able to make ends meet and were in need of resources for themselves or their family. Replacing this fund today is a line item in our budget which provides discretionary funds of up to $500 a month for those in our wider community who are in need. We tend not to give people money, but help pay bills, rent, or give them gift cards at grocery stores. This practice of caring for the “least of these” is at the very foundation of the Christian faith. From the teachings of Jesus to the apostolic charge given to Paul to “remember the poor” (Galatians 2:10), alms or offerings for those in need are core to Christian beliefs. The practice of giving alms can be traced through Jesus to the Jewish laws of compassion and the Year of Jubilee both of which Jesus said he fulfilled. (Matthew 15:17 and Luke 4:16-21)

Now is an important time to bring this to mind. The social safety net that many of our friends and neighbors depend on for the essentials of life is becoming less robust. The effects of this diminished social safety net are becoming evident. More people are lacking medication for their body and mind, more people are lacking shelter, more people are lacking food; and those who experience two or more of these effects come to our breakfast and sleep on the sidewalks around our church, for example. The current government shutdown exacerbates this further, slowing or cutting essential funds for those in need and the institutions that serve those in need.

The end result is we are getting more requests for assistance and more often, including more repeat requests. We envision our assistance as a bridge of sorts, to help people get over a financial pothole, not as ongoing support. Now those potholes are becoming lakes and rivers requiring extended bridges, so people are asking for more assistance and more often. Let me be clear, Christ’s church is not called to be an ATM. However, we are called to be generous to those in need. At our recent council meeting we had multiple discussions about supporting people inside and outside of our church. We are still discerning what our response should be in this unusual season: how much we give, how often, and do we increase our capacity to give? I invite you all to pray for insight and wisdom for our church, that we might steward our resources in such a way that we become the best reflection of Christ we can be to all people. 

Let us covenant to pray those familiar words, “grant us wisdom, grant us courage, for the facing of this hour” regularly in the days ahead. In this benevolent endeavor, I wish you all well.

With confidence in Christ,

~ Pastor Todd