Dear People of Grace,
In my sermon last Sunday I indicated that good stewardship is a way of life, a way that places God at the center of our whole lives, not just our Sunday mornings. Good stewardship recognizes that we are custodians of the world, that, while we have been given dominion over every living thing, all creation belongs to God. We demonstrate our stewardship, this custodianship we enjoy, by earnestly considering how we spend our time, how we use our talents and God-given abilities, and how we allocate our financial resources. Good stewardship, then, is a way of life.
As we prepare to enter another year together, I invite us all to “Grow with Grace.” Good stewardship will look different for each of us, but I invite you to consider the following pieces:
- I invite you tobe faithful in worship. We are the continuing presence of Jesus in the world. We gather weekly to celebrate Easter and Christ’s victory over death and the grave; we gather weekly to bring the world to the church, and to take the church back out into the world. The Church cannot be whole when its members are missing.
- I invite you toexpress your faith through financial commitment to the ministries of Grace, through regular and diligent study of holy scriptures, and to a daily practice of prayer. Living as Christians requires us to adopt certain spiritual practices. Giving a portion of our income to the Church recognizes God’s sovereignty overall things; engaging with scripture opens us to the living Word of God; daily prayer maintains our relationship with Jesus.
- I invite you to reflect on how you can best serve this community and the world. In a healthy Christian community every member contributes something. There are many opportunities to participate in the ministries here at Grace, but I urge youalso to consider how you can participate in the life of the broader community, beyond the walls of Grace.
When we practice good stewardship, when we are “Growing with Grace,” we enhance our own spiritual lives as well as the vibrancy of our church community. When our church community is flourishing, our neighborhood thrives, and another piece of the Kingdom of God is revealed.
I need to be especially clear about one thing: this message is not just for other members of our community – it is for you. Community only works if we all participate. Grace will only thrive if we all contribute in the three areas I outlined above.
Please prayerfully consider how you can practice good stewardship in the coming year, so that, together, we can continue “Growing with Grace.”
Blessings and peace,
Deacon Nick