Stewardship

Stewardship

It is that time on the church calendar we call Stewardship – a time to celebrate caring and community. Do we? In many parishes we emphasize the monetary and forget to celebrate our community, the reason for the monetary. We discuss projects but overlook the purpose for the projects.

Perhaps we sometimes forget the power of God when we start allocating funds. Some people will argue that with limited resources we have to perform triage in our communities. They say that there are not enough funds to support everything. They feel it is simply not their responsibility to think outside of their neighborhood. This negates the teachings of Christ that all are our neighbors. Working with programs of the National Church increases our abilities in serving our fellow humankind. 

Inreach is often defined as local or parish-wide. Never have we had a better example of close our world is than these current Covid times. Moreover, effect inreach programs offer a holistic, complete parishioner experience as spiritual, inspirational or transcendent. This keeps people attending and supporting the parish because it gives them a sense of community and purpose. 

When we add outreach programs we create a greater experience and connection.  Not “either/or,” but “both/and” that results in the parishioner and global church/community benefitting from such spiritual enrichment.

Looking at the nexus between outreach and inreach, we discover that successful outreach means bringing newcomers and those on the periphery of belief to the gates of the community. Successful inreach nurtures and roots involvement in the institutional community, providing individuals with meaningful, transforming, life-affirming experiences and helping institutions grow with them over time. Institutions which make inreach a part of their culture deliver on the promises of outreach because their constituents become the best ambassadors for their institutions.

Successful outreach also delivers the mandate we were given by Christ and fulfills the mission of the Church. And what is the mission of the Church?  It is “to restore all people to unity with God and each other in Christ…. The Church pursues it’s mission… by promoting justice, peace, and love…. through the ministry of all its members.” (Catechism, Book of Common Prayer)

Instead of having the outreach and inreach compete, we need allow them to benefit from one another. The Roman Catholic priest and author Lorenzo Donovan defines “thank you” as “my love to your love.”

Stewardship is a season of showing gratitude and an opportunity to officially embrace our diversity. We come to our parishes with all that we are – children of God, each unique in talents and time. Our tithe is not only monetary but in the love we share, celebrating the complete goodness of our lives.

Stewardship is our way of saying thank you, of living the act of giving our love to one another through the church. Thanks be to God!

Faith in 2021

Recently I read an editorial in which a parish priest made the statement: my church doesn’t know what to do any more. The rector felt as difficult a year 2020 was, it was even more difficult to be a parish priest in 2021.

Certainly in 2020 the rules were clear – shelter in place. We had lockdowns and lockouts. No large gatherings were permitted and everyone was expected to wear a mask.

Mid 2021 things changed. Some got vaccinations, some left off their masks. Venues like churches opened back up cautiously. Politicizing this public health issue increased. We expected things to get easier and learned there is no vaccination against dissension nor bullying.

I think the church knows exactly what to do. It is to continue the faith and be open to all. I think this rector is unsure of how to do that. Perhaps they could ask those who are unvaccinated and unmasked to worship from an outdoor venue or the parking lot.

Maybe churches need to use the PA system to broadcast to all gathered there. Let the unmasked gather in the parish hall while vaccinated and masked gather in the chancel. Never underestimate the power of watching from home.

When we gather together in spirit, we still are in communion. Not everyone gathered for the sermon on the mount had a front row seat. Yet all were fed spiritually.

It times such as these we need to remember that the liturgy and manner of worship we have held dear are simply tools to assist us in living our faith – emphasis on living. We do not do that inside the nave and chancel. We live our faith when we take it outside into the masses, into the rest of our lives.

This pandemic has given us opportunity to do just that – whether from our homes, virtually, or in person. In the past 18 months I have connected with more people than in the past two year prior to 2020. The conferences I attended that were virtual had twice as many people in attendance as they had when doing everything in person.

Faith in 2021 is the same as it was in 1942 for many. It is challenging and challenges us to live it. It is messy and sometimes inconvenient. I am convinced, though, that it is worth it. After all, faith was made for times like these. We should not have a fair-weather faith but a faith that gives us strength and courage during the storms and pandemics of life. The church has always known that. It is the people that are still learning.