People's Prayers: Prayers of the People: Stewardship Guides Us Home ~ 6th Sunday in the Season of Creation* '26

For Sunday, November 15, 2026 , Readings: Genesis 37:1-11, Psalm 27,

Tracie Currie**, John 14;1-4

Once Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers, they hated him even more..His brothers said to him, “Are you indeed to reign over us? Are you indeed to have dominion over us?” So they hated him even more… [Genesis 37:5,8]

The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strongholdof my life; of whom shall I be afraid? Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord! [Psalm 27:1,14]

What does it mean to have a house A house turned into a home Home Ho Me [Tracie Currie*]

Jesus said, “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places…I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also. [John 14: 1-2, 3]

*The Season of Creation originated in the Anglican Church of South Africa and was formalized in 2008. It is designed for us to explore our faith from a Creation perspective. For more information see: https://prayersofthepeople.blogspot.com/2026/10/prayers-of-people-in-beginning-1st.html
We use Biblical and other readings that pertain to the specific theme of each of the 7 weeks
of the Season. Alternate readings used are posted with an asterisk* and follow the prayers below.

Week VI's Theme is:

Stewardship

Any of us Episcopalians who attend church regularly, in person or online, and considers themselves as a “member” or a “parishioner” or a “congregant” has heard, and mostly understands, what is meant by Stewardship. As with any non-profit organization much financial and other assistance is needed to support staff, the interior and exterior of the building and property, the physical plant, and all the elements of church (small “c”) that we Episcopals call time, talent, and treasure. Outside the walls we know the needs of God’s people are greater in all manner of ways. All of us, each of us in our many ways, are called by Our Lord to give of our selves, significantly, from what we have been given. Money, or treasure, of course, is what we hear as foremost on the list of needs and wants for inside and outside.

We also hear of Stewardship as an element to church growth, most often, I believe, because the image and impression of the specific Church/Parish emanates far less from the beauty of its building and grounds and far more from its open doors, its known helping, friendly, and non-judgmental presence, and more, beyond its walls and into the surrounding community at large. When all forms of Stewardship, that happens inside and outside draws people in, it is to experience a soul-warming through worship experiences as well as through learning new opportunities to be Christ’s helpers and messengers in a variety of ways, including prayer, that culminates in knowing Church as another part of one’s home.

We know how the story of Joseph and his family turned out even if his brothers and father thought differently early on. Perhaps a younger Joseph gained much wisdom and more credence to his dreams than earlier when he was, as his father’s favorite ~ perhaps ~ an almost arrogant teen. He held no grudge, he welcomed his family to their new home with open arms and helped them as much as he had so many others.

The Psalmist reminds us that as and if the Lord is my light and my salvation…the stronghold of my life we are to be strong, take courage, and wait for the Lord. Easy right? Definitely not during the difficult times for most of us. But it bears repeating, writing down on a sticky note to paste on the bathroom mirror, and breathing deeply many times a day while thinking/praying/even saying aloud: Help me be strong, take courage, and wait for you, Lord.

The amazing poet, Tracie Currie, gives us a stunning treatise on how to reimagine Home. No quick excerpts can do it justice so I encourage you to scroll down the page to read it several times to discover what Home is/can be/should be, for all of us to just Be Home.

And Jesus, in Luke’s Gospel, enhances the Psalmist’s message. There are many dwellings in God’s house and there is room for us all. Let us help each other as another piece of stewardship is carried through discipleship in all of its forms. We all need help at times to ease our troubled hearts, deepen our faith in God and in Jesus, and breathe in the hope of the promise of Jesus to take us each to himself. He is the ultimate Steward of our souls, and our ultimate Home.

LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY

Leader: ~ O Lord our Light and our Stronghold, awaken us to the bounty of Your Creation in all of its forms. Guide us to be grateful stewards in every facet of our human life, especially as representatives of your Church. Grant us the humility and humanity to value, celebrate, and support one another and all of our sisters and brothers, in difference and in disagreement, with esteem and dignity, with love and generosity for all.