People's Prayers: Prayers of the People: Our Role as Stewards ~ 6th Sunday in the Season of Creation '25 Yr C*

For Sunday, November 16, 2025, Readings: Deuteronomy 26:1a, 2, 4, 8-11; Psalm 116:10-17,

Verna Dozier**, Matthew 6:25-34

So now I bring the first of the fruit of the ground, that you, O Lord, have given me…set it down before the Lord your God and bow before the Lord… [Deuteronomy 26:10]

How shall I repay the Lord for all the good things he has done for me? [Psalm 116:10]

We...feast at the tables of the empire six days a week and then bow down to rituals the seventh day as a kind of death insurance, in case there really is a sweet by-and-by. The people of God are called to a possibility other than the kingdoms of the world. [Verna Dozier**]

Jesus said, "I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? ...strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." [Matthew 6:25, 33]

*The Season of Creation originated in the Anglican Church of South Africa and was formalized in 2008. Designed for us to explore our faith from a Creation perspective, we use Biblical and other readings pertaining to the specific theme for each of the 7 weeks. Alternate readings used are posted with asterisk. Click here for more information about: Season of Creation ~ In The Beginning

Week VI Theme is: Our Role as Stewards

Any of us who attend church regularly and considers her-, him-, or themself as a “member” or a “parishioner” or a “congregant” has heard and understands what is meant by Stewardship. The dictionary defines it as: the responsible overseeing and protection of something considered worth caring for and preserving. Inside the church much is needed to support the staff, the worship, the physical plant, with all the elements of church (small “c”) that we Episcopals/Anglicans call time, talent, and treasure. Outside the walls, the needs are exponentially greater. All of us, each of us are called by Our Lord to give of our selves significantly from what God has given us. Money, or treasure, of course, is what we hear as foremost on the list of needs and wants for inside and outside. Yet there is much more to our role as steward within the Body of Christ.

We also hear of Stewardship as an element to church growth and Christian Formation for children, teens, and adults. Formation as learning, growing, and expanding our knowledge of the Scriptures, the Sacraments, the Liturgy, etc., with particular emphasis on enriching our understanding of what Faith and Christian Values mean in every aspect of Christian Life and Living.

The Rev. Eric Law, in his book Holy Currencies: 6 Blessings for Sustainable Missional Ministries, shows us a different way to think about the flow of currencies in our lives. Within the usual offerings of time, talent, and treasure is contained a breadth and depth of re-imagining and discovering our personal gifts for ministry that take us well beyond the scope of a seasonal directive. Stewardship ~ Missional Ministry ~ is not merely a specific program for a specific time of year, but rather it is a way of life through which we continue to fulfill our Baptismal, Confirmation, and/or less formal vows to be faithful to God.

As John Wesley said, "Not, how much money will I give to God, but how much of God's money will I keep for myself?" And that equation works equally well with the other two elements of the stewardship trio: time and talent. I don't know what tomorrow will bring for my community, my country, or this world, but I will pray without ceasing for the faith, the energy, mindset, to be a continuously generous person, to be the Church [capital "C"] as a Christian in the world with many stewarding roles. A faith community builds us up and sends us out and needs our support in every way. The CHURCH is not inside a building, it is in whatever we do together and on our own, to be true, faithful witnesses as part of the Body of Christ by every thought, word, and action. That said, the physical church is a place to gather and be spiritually refueled to take on all that is outside and it does require ongoing sources of funding as well as other resources for all of the seen and unseen support it provides.

Jesus reminds us, that through faithful endurance, in giving and receiving, we will gain the strength of our souls to ensure our eternal bounty.

LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY

Leader: ~ O Lord our God, continually re-awaken us to the bounty of Your Creation, the miracle and gift of this Earth and its treasures. Let us celebrate and offer ourselves and our resources, as grateful stewards of this sacred trust in times of plenty, and most importantly, in times of hardship for others with us on this planet, near and far.

O God of Power and Wonder

RESPONSE: We bow in faith and witness

~ O Lord our God, we lift up our prayers for all who lead this World, this Country, and this Community by election, fiat, or inheritance. Implant in their souls a deepening hunger for unquestionable integrity, global and local peace, and true justice tempered with mercy for all Your people everywhere. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

O God of Power and Wonder