Support From Sanctus

November 2008

(a free resource from Totally Catholic Fundraising)

 Keep Your Focus

The other day I was reminded of the story of Florence Chadwick, who on one foggy morning in July of 1952 waded into the waters off Catalina Island, intent on swimming across the channel to the Southern California mainland. This challenge was not too difficult for Chadwick as she had been the first woman ever to swim the English Channel in both directions.

However, on this day, having lost sight of the land because of the fog, Chadwick decided to give up. As it turned out, she had only been one-half mile from reaching her goal. She was not exhausted or cold. Rather the fog, having obscured her vision from the goal, was the reason she quit. Still, some two months later, on a clear day, Florence Chadwick attempted the same challenge – and this time succeeded, setting a new speed record, because she was able to keep her eye upon the goal.

As Christians, we have a goal: to follow Jesus, to become like Him, to love and serve Him with all of our heart and soul and mind and strength. But, we often encounter the world’s fog, which can obscure our vision and keep us from seeing the goal clearly. Many in ministry give up pursuing the goal because we become distracted by fog – the fog of busyness, of career, of material pursuits, of self-interest. We are just as human as everybody else!

We will all experience foggy days, spiritually speaking. Never, never quit. You must persevere. Do your best to keep your eyes focused on Jesus who waits with reward in hand, at the finish line. It couldn’t hurt to put your spiritual goal down in black and white. Whether you’re journaling type or you need a note taped to the bathroom mirror, it’s a way to keep your eyes on the goal in a concrete (and human) way.

-Author unknown

The deacon at St. Mary Church unveiled the church's new capital campaign slogan last Sunday: "I Upped My Pledge, Up Yours!"

Book Your Advent Fundraiser NOW!

November is evaporating at a rapid pace. So is your opportunity to run a jewelry/rosary fundraiser during Advent. We still have plenty of inventory, including all of the new items we didn't have at this time last year. Call us today!

Youth Ministers keep calling about fundraising at Craft Fairs, Fall Festivals and Bazaars. We remind everyone that the jewelry/rosary fundraiser does best when you have tables set up in the back of the church after Mass. People who have done these other one-day or one-weekend events will agree.

So if you are dead-set on selling at an event of some kind, add it to selling after the Masses. Your results will be multiplied by this tried and true method.

A kindergarten teacher gave her class a "show and tell" assignment. Each student was instructed to bring in an object to share with the class that represented their religion.

The first student got up in front of the class and said, "My name is Benjamin and I am Jewish and this is a Star of David."

The second student got up in front of the class and said, "My name is Mary. I'm a Catholic and this is a Rosary."

The third student got in up front of the class and said, "My name is Tommy. I am a Baptist and this is a casserole."

Youth Ministry Tips

Tip #16

If your church does not have a good youth resource library, then start one. It should grow every month. Include books for kids, their parents, and your leaders.  

Tip #52

Don't neglect the nerds of your group. Give them as much of your time and attention as the sharp kids.

The only time the world beats a path to your door is

when you're in the bathroom. 

Shuffle The Deck Mixer

Hand everyone a playing card as they come in. During the mixer call out different combinations that they have to form a group with. Example: four of a kind, a flush, two pairs, full house, etc.

Once they get in their group, have them answer a pre-planned ice-breaker question. It could be something fun and related or unrelated to the discussion that night.

Do this several times with a variety of ice-breaker questions, or going deeper into a single topic for the night. This could be how you determine small groups for the entire night.

 FAQ:

How Long Do You Keep The Fundraiser?  Two or three weekends is sufficient. Your parishioners need to know there’s a deadline. Generally, the second weekend is as good (or better than) the first. Plan your timing and three weekends is enough. Many parishes are completely successful with two weekends. With over 2000 families in the parish, three is probably better.

I Saw You In Seattle

Last weekend I was at the Archdiocese of Seattle Youth Convention. Most of the time I was tethered to my booth, where I sold our most youth-friendly items to the teens who flocked to the table, and where I collared youth ministers and tried to talk them into booking a fundraiser with us. It was a very successful trip for me.

As I watched the ebb and flow of the event and I was bemused by the never-ending noise and movement of the teens, I was also aware that youth ministry is a most powerful presence in the Church. Teens are engaged in conversation here that wouldn't likely happen anywhere else. Education is important but not all-important. Appropriate emotion is acknowledged and accepted. Wisdom is shared. Life is celebrated. Servanthood is raised up. Chastity is displayed as the holiness it is. And the Lord is elevated and worshiped.

Wow. Youth ministers all over the country bring teens to such events year in and year out: NCYC, diocesan conventions, World Youth Day, retreats, mission trips, and on and on. I am humbled to be a small part of your ministries by helping you to raise money for travel to these often life-changing events.

You may not have been in Seattle on November 1st and 2nd, but I saw you there. I saw you in the woman comforting a teen who was overwhelmed during a powerful media session. I saw you in the man leading his teens in a silly song that was echoed throughout the place by others for hours. I saw you in the youth minister who said that fundraising takes too much time away from real ministry. Yeah. I saw you there.

You are why we do what we do here at Totally Catholic Fundraising. We continue to look for ways to make fundraising easier for you...and more profitable. We continue to work at producing resources to help with your ministry. We continue to pray for you, too.

If you think we might be able to help, call us. Let's talk. Maybe we can save you some time and make you some money.

In Christ,

Jim Robinson 

 Our Favorite Links:

deadtheologianssociety.com

heartworkcamp.com

ministrytrainingsource.org

nacyml.org

youngneighbors.org

lifeteen.com

omegarock.com

musichristian.com

nfcym.org

apexministries.com

dougbrummel.com

cornerstonemedia.org

cultivationministries.com

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