Late autumn is a season of anticipation. We anticipate the coming Advent, (which is also a time of waiting) and we anticipate the beauty of that liturgical season. I love the lighting of the Advent wreath and the singing of the hymns that are filled with longing for the arrival of the Messiah.
Late Autumn is also a time when we begin to solidify and anticipate how we will spend Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. Maybe we even start to think about where we’ll ring in the new year.
In the life of the Church, this month invites us to a remembrance of the saints who have gone before us and the saints now among us. The communion of saints surrounds us in shimmering holiness as we recall and give thanks for them.
On the final Sunday of November, we will observe the Reign of Christ Sunday, the final Sunday in the Church year, before we begin it all again.
In this congregation, it is also Stewardship season, when we anticipate the financial commitment we will need from our members and friends to fund the various ministries of this place. This year, our theme is “A Generous Table” and you will find this theme woven among our worship life, the sermons we hear, and the outreach to the community.
A slightly different change from previous years is that we will present to the congregation a budget first and then ask for the financial support to fund it. In the past, we have tried to craft a budget together based on Giving Intent (pledge) cards turned in and giving histories. This year, by addressing it this way, we are saying that the actual ministries come first.
The hard financial costs are there for us to see and respond to.
Stewardship, you have heard me say often, is simply what we do with what we have. How we offer our financial resources is a part of it, to be sure. How we are present in the life of the community is another important component. Do we regularly attend worship? Do we serve in some way, using our talents and gifts for the good of this faith community and the work it does in the world?
Dear Ones, I hope you will join me in a time of prayer for the future ministry of this place. We do so much good in this community! That is to be celebrated! And we believe that the work we do is a part of our discipleship (see survey results elsewhere in this newsletter). Please prayerfully anticipate how you will support the ministry that is done in this place.
I give thanks for your faithfulness and your generosity,
Pastor Julie Hutson +
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The Messenger- October 2019