Any of us who attend a church
regularly and considers 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 building
where the Church is housed, much is needed to support the staff, the worship,
the physical plant, with all the elements of church (small “c”) that we
Episcopals call time, talent, and treasure. Of course money is
an integral part of the running and maintenance of any organization, not least
of all the Church. Your seat in a pew has a
weekly price tag, whether or not you are sitting in it or supporting it
financially or otherwise, yet there is much more to being Church than its residence.
Outside the walls, the needs are exponentially greater. All and 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 stewards within the Body of Christ.
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. A faith community needs our help as it builds us up and sends us out to
do the work of Christ we called to do. The CHURCH is not a building, it is
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 space of a Church is where we gather to be spiritually refueled to
take on all that is outside. It does require ongoing sources of funding as well
as other resources for all of the seen and unseen support it provides.
The more we strive to be generous of spirit, to
be good Stewards of Creation in all of its forms and faces, the more God will
strengthen us. No truer words were ever more applicable than: So
do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own.
Today's trouble is enough for today. I don't know what tomorrow will
bring for my Church, my community, my country, or this world, but I will pray
without ceasing for the faith, the energy, the mindset, to be a continuously
generous person, to be the Church [capital "C"] as a Christian
in the world with many stewarding roles. Jesus reminds us, that through
faithful endurance, without worry, 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, re-awaken us to the bounty
of Your Creation, the miracle of this earth and the lives we have been given to
live. Let us, and all who reside among us celebrate and offer ourselves as Your
grateful stewards in times of plenty, and without worry in times of hardship.
O God of Power and
Wonder
RESPONSE:
We
bow in faith, respect, and trust
~
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 spiritual
consciousness and faithful commitment to their sacred trust, for undeniable
integrity, and for the restoration of harmony for all peoples everywhere. We
pray especially for: add your own petitions
O
God of Power and Wonder
We
bow in faith, respect, and trust
~
O Lord our God, nestle the aching, the
fearful, and the desperate in Your loving embrace, and revitalize all who
support their needs. We now join our hearts together to pray for
those in need… add your own petitions
O
God of Power and Wonder
We
bow in faith, respect, and trust
~
O Lord our God, console those stricken by grief with a foretaste of the joy in
all who are alive again, in the glory of Your eternal land of milk and honey. We pray
especially for… add your own petitions
O
God of Power and Wonder
We
bow in faith, respect, and trust
~
O Lord our God, we pause in this
moment to offer You our other heartfelt thanksgivings, intercessions,
petitions, and memorials… add your own petitions
O
God of Power and Wonder
We
bow in faith, respect, and trust
~
O Lord, our God, quicken the spirits of those
called and ordained to speak Your Words and celebrate Your Sacraments,
inspiring us all to live lives of selfless patience and tenderness for others
in this earthly life. We pray especially for: add your own petitions
O
God of Power and Wonder
We
bow in faith, respect, and trust
The Celebrant adds: O LORD
our God, dissolve our reluctance and embolden us to go from faithful hearing of
Your Word into generous action, striving first and always for the good of Your
Kingdom through the mantle of servanthood, forever blessing Your holy Name. We
ask through Christ Jesus, our Redeemer; and the Holy Spirit our Advocate; who
together with You are our One, Holy and Mighty God, now and forever. Amen.
