“We don’t have the big givers we used to have.” Lately, in conversations with church leaders and members, I’ve been hearing a version of the same concern over and over again. Sometimes it’s a lament over those ancestors who have passed on. Or it’s: “The younger generation just isn’t as generous.” Sometimes it’s said with … Continue Reading
And other ways the church forgets to see what God has already given Rev. Hannah Lovaglio Many churches today are waiting for something. Waiting for younger families. Waiting for financial stability. Waiting for the right leader. Waiting for clarity. Waiting for the culture to shift back. Waiting for some sign that the future will … Continue Reading
How CCS partners with your pastor for the success of a campaign. Rev. Hannah Lovaglio A frequently asked question that deserves more than a one paragraph answer: What is the pastor’s role during a capital campaign? It’s neither an easy nor uniform answer. Each pastor deserves an individual conversation about how they can best support their … Continue Reading
There’s been some conversation lately in fundraising circles about the future of giving. In my interviews with church members, I’m also discovering concerns about economic uncertainty, policy changes, and what lies ahead. Some of that conversation is worth paying attention to. But some of it risks missing the deeper story. Because while a few things … Continue Reading
What Will Visitors Encounter When They Walk Into Your Church This Easter? Rev. Hannah Lovaglio In the Gospel of John, Jesus begins his ministry with an invitation:Come & see. As in: come, look around. Pay attention. Notice what’s here. Feel the difference. Abide. Or, as my Granny might have said as she poured your sweet … Continue Reading
We rely on just a few big givers. People are tired; it’s always the same few carrying the load. The economy feels uncertain. We need more bids, more estimates, more clarity before we even think about moving forward. We’re a small church — surely we couldn’t do something like this. I don’t often hear a … Continue Reading
The hidden costs churches absorb—and why leadership matters Rev. Hannah Lovaglio Deferred maintenance is not a phrase we tend to associate with the Bible. But Nehemiah would recognize it immediately. When he arrives in Jerusalem, he doesn’t discover a new problem; he finally tells the truth about an old one. The walls have been broken … Continue Reading
Educational, Stewardship & Generosity
A Sunday School class reminded me that generosity is about more than money—it’s about how we show up for one another. Last weekend, I led an adult education class at a church in Boise on the spirituality of generosity. We began with a simple question: What words come to mind when you hear the word … Continue Reading
Capital Campaign Planning, Stewardship & Generosity
A reflection on generosity, gratitude, and noticing the gifts that sustain us. Rev. Hannah Lovaglio Epiphany is the season of revelation. Light breaks in, begging our recognition and response. It begins with the Magi, who see what others miss. They notice the star, honor the Christ child whose birth it signals, and give – extravagantly. … Continue Reading
Capital Campaign Planning, Educational, Stewardship & Generosity
January invites us to pause, notice what has been given, and begin with gratitude. The Sundays of January always leave me a little deflated. The sanctuary feels bare once the decorations come down. No tree. No candles. No Advent wreath. No twinkling lights. No manger. The garland is packed away, the poinsettias are gone, and … Continue Reading