A message to take with you as the stewardship season ends for this year…

Whether you know it or not, you are gifted. You are a gift. You are blessed. We are all blessed by you when you come to be with us in fellowship, in worship, and in stewardship. You are a gift to us.

In thinking about this talk, I knew exactly what I wanted to say today but I didn’t exactly know how to say it. So, I started in the dictionary. The verb “to Steward” means “to manage, or look after” and it is often used when referring to someone else’s property or household. Perfect! - we are using it correctly: in this season of “stewardship” we are all being asked to share in caring for these properties that we hold in common: our church with it’s roof, four walls, and space… and our parish with it’s myriad souls and grace and love and worship…

and a lot of us in our turn have come before you to encourage you to “stretch” and have what Jennifer Pavia called “the uncomfortable conversation,” and try to “remember-how-much-we-receive-here-so- pledge-a-few-dollars-more-than-you-might-feel-safe-pledging” this time….. and I’m not sure I’ve ever felt like I’ve gotten that conversation right: did we give enough? did we save enough?

So I go back to that definition to find a clue to a new approach and opportunity to “manage or look after”. And I find it because it’s right there winking at me: this place needs our attention and care in all sorts of ways…and those ways don't all have to involve an uncomfortable conversation or challenge. We can, and most of us already do, give gifts of ourselves and enjoy it!

We share our worship and a really noisy, joyous exchange of the Peace, we share food and fellowship, we share music and song. We also serve on the vestry, we are ushers and readers and acolytes, we come for parish work days and sit on committees and join the Altar Guild and the Healing Prayer team. We teach the children and youth group, attend retreats and marches and we bunk in at Camp Stevens - on and on: these are ALL acts of stewardship. When we sing or paint or polish or read, we are caring for this building and each other in so many ways….

And here is where I’ll confess to a bit of a bias and a need: I consider my work on the Altar Guild to be a part of my stewardship pledge to St A’s and (here’s the confession) I really, really enjoy that work and the people I get to share that time with each month. Yes! - there - I’ve said it: I am engaged in pain-free, joyful stewardship on the Altar Guild! And the parts that I don't so much enjoy, I am glad to do because they are part of my giving to God and to my friends…

(I hope some of you might think of joining the Altar Guild as a part of your stewardship opportunity…)

and in any case, really have “the conversation” and give what you can financially…. and then look around and find another opening: an opportunity to share of your talents or time and effort as an enhancement to the dollars you give.

Make your joy part of this place - you have more than one way to give….

… because you are gifted. You are blessed. We are all blessed by you when you come to be with us in fellowship, in worship, and yes, in stewardship. You are a gift.

Thank you.