Gratitude and Generosity as Spiritual Practices with Martha Norton | Tiny Pulpit Talks: 021

In this episode of Tiny Pulpit Talks, we dive into the important work behind the scenes at the church with special guest Martha Norton, a long-time congregant and staff member who currently works in stewardship and finance. Martha shares her journey of gratitude and how she has spent the last decade helping sustain the church’s mission by thanking members for their generosity.

Martha and Rev. T. J. FitzGerald discuss what stewardship means, the upcoming Canvass 2025 campaign, and how contributions directly impact the community. They explore how the church reaches beyond its walls to spread love and inclusion to families across the world, and how giving reflects the values of its members.

Tune in for an inspiring conversation about generosity, purpose, and the future of the church’s outreach. Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and leave your comments to keep the dialogue going!

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Register for Martha’s upcoming “Behind the Chalice” workshop to learn more about how the church operates.

0:00 – Welcome Martha Norton!
01:26 – Martha introduces herself and her role in stewardship and finance.
03:16 – Martha reflects on the church’s role in personal and family life.
04:40 – Martha’s background growing up in Louisiana and her Episcopal roots.
05:53 – Spirituality in discussing money and financial transparency.
07:30 – Explanation of Canvass, the church’s pledge campaign.
09:03 – The church’s financial priorities and reflecting values through the budget.
11:25 – The growing impact of the church’s work in the U.S. and globally.
12:52 – Reflection on COVID, the church’s resilience, and the role of generosity.

Tiny Pulpit Talks is a podcast series from First Unitarian Church of Dallas that takes a behind-the-scenes look at ministry from a Unitarian Universalist perspective. This is a rare opportunity to see what goes into crafting meaningful and inspirational sermons, learn how worship comes together each Sunday, and explore the many facets of spiritual leadership. Subscribe to get updates about new episodes here on YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts.