For
Sunday, November 18, 2018, 6th Sunday in the Season of Creation, Readings: Deuteronomy 26:1a, 2, 4, 8-11;
Psalm 116:10-17,
Bishop John E. Hines*, Matthew 7:7-11
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]
For the
essential question is not, “How shall the Episcopal Church grow?” - but rather,
“How can the Episcopal Church be faithful?” For that is the heritage worth
sacrificing for - worth passing on to our children and grandchildren. God
forbid that they should come to a time and place unashamed of the Gospel, but
ashamed of us. [Former Presiding Bishop John Hines]
Ask, and it
will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be
opened for you. [Matthew
7:7]
Any of us who attend church regularly and considers her- or himself
as a “member” or a “parishioner” or a “congregant” has heard and understands
what is meant by Stewardship. Inside the church much is needed in support of the staff, the
worship, the physical plant, and all the elements of church (small “c”) that we
Episcopals call time, talent, and
treasure. Outside the walls the needs 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 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.
We also hear of Stewardship as an element to church growth. Bishop
Hines wrote that while he would rejoice
at a multitude of conversions, his hope was for a witnessing community of unquestioned integrity. Further, he
says (to imagined groans from the Finance Chair and others), that the essential question is not, ‘How can the
Episcopal [insert other denomination or faith community here] Church grow?’ but rather, ‘How can the
Episcopal [other] Church be faithful?’
He tells us that if we want our heritage passed on to younger generations they should come to a time and place unashamed
of the Gospel [emphasis added]. We do not want them ashamed of us for creating
an exclusive place only for wielding power and influence and losing our way to
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 (or harangue, in some cases). Stewardship - Missional
Ministry - is not merely a specific program for a specific time of year, but
rather it is a way of life.
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, and
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 I and we do together, to be true, faithful witnesses as part of the Body of Christ by every thought, word, and action. It's no easy task but Jesus tells us to Ask, Search, Knock ~ Christ will answer and Christ IS the answer, our Steward in Chief. Just A.S.K.
LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY
Leader: ~
O Lord our God, awaken us to the bounty of Your
Creation that we may be grateful stewards of the sacred trust You have given us
in the miracle of this earth and its treasures. Grant us the humility and humanity
to value and celebrate all of our sisters and brothers in difference and in disagreement,
with esteem and dignity, with love and generosity for all.
O
God of Power and Wonder
RESPONSE: Let us grow in faith and witness
~
O Lord our God, we offer our prayers for all
who lead this World, this Country, and this Community by election, fiat, or
inheritance. Inscribe their souls with a yearning for unquestionable integrity,
global and local peace, and justice tempered with mercy for all the people in
their charge. We pray
especially for: add your own petitions
O
God of Power and Wonder
Let us grow in faith and witness
~
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 voices to pray aloud for those in need… add your own petitions
O
God of Power and Wonder
Let us grow in faith and witness
~ O Lord our God, grant us a foretaste of
the joy and glory of Your Heavenly Kingdom as the gates open wide to receive our beloved
who now live in the newness of Christ forevermore. We
pray especially for: add your own petitions
O
God of Power and Wonder
Let us grow in faith and witness
~ O Lord our God, we pause in this moment to offer You our other heartfelt
thanksgivings, intercessions, petitions, and memorials, aloud or silently… add your own petitions
O
God of Power and Wonder
Let us grow in faith and witness
~ 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 holy and selfless intention in this earthly
life. We pray especially
for: add your own petitions
O
God of Power and Wonder
Let us grow in faith and witness
The
Celebrant adds:
Loving, Patient God, grant us unashamed confidence in the Gospel to take on the
mantle of servanthood in Your Name by the giving of our time, our abilities,
and our support of others. We ask for guidance to repay all we have been given,
to search for our designated purpose to fulfill our vows, and the willingness
to knock on the door of Eternal life through our sacrifice of Thanksgiving. We beseech
You our Redeemer Christ, our Counselor Spirit, and our Creator Lord, who together are One God, now and
through all Eternity. Amen.
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