Ember Day Thoughts on Stewardship

Rectors Rambling October 2010 II

After the refreshment of an early morning rain, the heaviness of the September heat is already beginning to assert itself. The terriers, after their early morning constitutional, are draped rather unceremoniously across the master bed, and the rooster is announcing his dominance of the day. There is a hint of fog in the front pasture, and Tristan’s deployment flag hangs listlessly. I pray that his day is as uneventful as this morning seems to be.
Yesterday at the mid-week communion, we heard the lessons for the autumnal ember days, those days set aside by our holy mother the church for all of God’s people to pray for “the increase of the ministry.” The old phrase has nothing to do with my girth or the size of my bank account. Rather it has to do with the setting apart of persons to serve God in Christian ministry. While all ministry is included in the concept, there has historically been an emphasis on the vocations of priest, deacon, monk, nun, and friar. I hope with all my heart that at this turn of the seasons, we might all pray that God would do his work in the hearts of many that they might hear and follow God’s call in their lives. I would also encourage all of us who have influence in the lives of the young to help them consider God’s call in their lives. Our society does so much to prepare our children and grandchildren for the future. We make sure that they study math and English and history. We teach them about healthy choices and encourage them to play sports that they might learn about the challenges and hardships of life. But we do a very poor job of calling them to consider God’s claim on their lives. We ask them what they would like to do after graduation, and all of our pre-admissions college testing is designed to help them determine where they might be successful, but we so seldom lead them to ask what God would have them to do. Let us fulfill our responsibilities on these ember days to be God’s agents for the increase of the ministry… And His Holy Name will be glorified in this place.
Fall also marks the beginning of our stewardship process at St. John’s. The vestry has already discussed how we might proceed, and the budget committee will be meeting in the days to come. I hope everyone who loves St. John’s will consider how God would have you to give of your time, talents, and money as we begin this period of discernment. I would offer a short list of suggestions as you consider your pledge this year.
1. We need volunteers in the area of worship such as lectors, ushers, choristers, altar guild members, and acolytes.
2. We need volunteers in outreach, especially in nursing home ministry, prayer ministry on Monday night and on Thursdays at Pickering House, parish health, and pastoral care.
3. Pray and ask God what he would have you to do. Remember that it is very easy to get too many irons in the fire. When he calls you to engage in one ministry, he may be calling you to disengage in another.
4. Pray and ask God what he would have you to give financially. The answer he gives you will probably surprise you by its size. Step out in faith and make adjustments to your discretionary spending patterns in order to fully fund the figure that seems right to you as you pray. God will be glorified by your obedience, and the work of the Kingdom will be accomplished.
5. Never forget that we are called to follow Jesus in the way of the cross. If stewardship seems easy, we are probably not giving enough in some category.
6. Finally, consider giving of yourself by attending Christian worship every week in the year to come. Jesus gave us very few direct admonitions, but he says that we should receive the sacrament when we meet together, and the Scriptures tell us to “forsake not the assembling of ourselves.” In the long run, the Kingdom of God will go forth with or without our time, talents, and money. We would be the poorer in such a world, but God’s kingdom would continue to exist and function. The real basis of our life together is to follow him in obedience, and a significant part of that obedience is to meet together each week to hear the Word and receive the Sacrament.
As a sultry September rolls into October, let us give thanks for small things in our lives, for dogs and gentle rains, and blued metal on fine walnut, for bamboo fly rods, and the abundance of the world. May God bless us all, and guide us as we pledge ourselves, and all that we love, to his service.
Sincerely,
Bill+