"God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble." (Psalm 46:1)
Christian stewardship is about our identity in Jesus Christ. It’s about our trust in God’s promises. It’s about our gratitude for all God has given us. It’s about responding to God in love.
My identity in the church has been shaped over the years by experiences, by events, but most importantly by the people – the communities of faith I’ve called home – most recently – the last 13 years – here at 45 Main Street. At St. Andrew’s there are many ongoing activities that offer opportunities for reflection and renewal – bible study, centering prayer, Easter Sunrise services – just to name a few. But for me some of the most powerful moments have happened spontaneously, unexpectedly – waiting quietly before a choir rehearsal begins (and hearing Ginny practicing with no competing sounds or distractions) or leaving in the dark after a parish event (filled with hope and inspiration to share God’s love with the world). What strikes me the most about those moments as I speak about them now is how easy it is to take them for granted.
Going through the motions is simple and thoughtless, and I’m always appreciative of an opportunity to pause, step back, and appreciate those too-easily taken-for-granted experiences. St. Andrew’s offers them, I participate in them (whether I’m aware of it in the moment or not), and this stewardship season is a chance to honor the privilege it is to be part of God’s Kingdom. As our Mission statement reminds us, we are here, “Building God's Kingdom through Worship, Outreach, and Fellowship.” And in further support of what we are all about in this faith community, nothing summarizes those concepts better than our vision – “Devoted to sharing the transforming power of God’s love in our lives, our communities, and our world.”
Like me, maybe you too easily “go through the motions” in the busy-ness of everyday life. Perhaps – and how fortuitous it is that we are experiencing this sabbatical time at this very moment – we can all pause, reflect, and renew our commitment to both our personal spiritual lives and to this place through our gifts of our talents, time, and treasure.
--- Lindsey Nicolai
No comments:
Post a Comment