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November
1, 2004
Rector’s Page
Collect for Stewardship of Creation
O
merciful Creator, your hand is open wide to satisfy the needs of every living
creature: make us always thankful for your loving providence; and grant that
we, remembering the account that we must one day give, may be faithful stewards
of your good gifts; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with you and the Holy
Spirit lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (Book of Common
Prayer page 259)
As we approach
Commitment Sunday
(November 14), I would like to offer the following list of questions for us to
consider as we discuss what it means to be a child of God, a follower of Jesus
Christ, and a part of the St. John's parish family.
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1) Has it been a while since I have
been actively involved in the life of St. John’s? If so, and this is not caused
by illness or a major change in work hours, why?
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2) Am I actively involved in at least
one on-going ministry at the parish in addition to Sunday worship? (Some of
these ministries are
E.C.W.,
Choir,
Lector/Ushers,
Coffee hour hosting,
Sunday
school,
Families Inc., Gardening,
Property,
Outreach,
Altar Guild, etc.)
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3) Do I know what percentage of my
income I give away to charity? Am I working on ways to increase that
percentage?
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4) Does my church receive a significant
percentage of the amount I give away?
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5) If my income has risen in the last
two to three years, does my charitable giving reflect this positive change?
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6) Does my financial commitment to St.
John’s represent a
proportion of my total income? What proportion does it
represent of my total income? How do I feel about that percentage? Is it
enough?
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7) Does my commitment of time represent
a percentage of the total number of hours I have available for volunteer
activity?
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8) Is there an element of sacrifice in
what I give of my time, energy and money to the church? Or do I tend to fall
back on what is easy for me?
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9) Is the check I write to the parish
as my offering the first weekly or monthly check I write? Do I write my check
for my offering based on faith or do I play it safe and give what is left over?
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10) Have I been willing to make a
pledge to this parish as a tangible sign of my devotion and dedication to its
ministry? Or do I wait and assume others will do it in my place?
Dear sisters and brothers in Christ, I
realize some of these questions are challenging. They are meant to be. For only
when we are willing to challenge each other in constructive and healthy ways
can we really say we are doing the work of God in the world. I cannot answer
any of these questions for you. Indeed no one else can answer these questions
for you. Each of us must struggle with discerning the answers and make a
decision we can live with. Rest assured these questions are no easier for me
than for you. Beth and I will be struggling with each question as this month
unfolds.
Remembering that, let us make these
promises to each other:
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that we will each look seriously at the questions listed above;
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that we will reflect on all of the exciting and powerful things
going on at St. John's and remember that these things will only happen if we
support them through volunteering our time and giving our money;
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that we will rely ultimately on our understanding of God's will
for us and for St. John's, and be guided by our faith as we offer with
thanksgiving our time, talent and treasure to St. John's.
With that, we will pray for God’s grace as we approach Commitment
Sunday. See you in church!
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