We are entering a season of stewardship as a congregation. Leading up to Pledge Sunday on October 5, we will hear from church members in worship about the meaning of stewardship in their lives. We will reflect on our gratitude for God’s grace and our giving to the life of the congregation.
When we enter a new season, we usually look for signs like hot afternoons or cool evenings. We anticipate the leaves changing colors or falling off the trees. We hope for new blooms or rain showers. The season of stewardship is marked by the signs of grace and gratitude!
We are thankful for every gift of stewardship. It is meaningful because it is the practice of gratitude for God’s grace. During this season of stewardship, we can begin by noticing and pay attention to God’s grace in our lives as well as in the life of our congregation. We can look for the noticed and unnoticed gifts of grace!
We find them in worship, service, and fellowship. Each time we are surprised by God’s presence, humbled by God’s love, or overjoyed by God’s goodness, we can give thanks! Many times, these experiences take place in the church and through the congregation. We are also thankful for how these experiences lead us to serve others outside the church.
When we discover the presence of Christ outside the walls of the church, our faith is renewed and our hope is restored. We give thanks that our faith is not limited or bound by the confines of the church. The life of the congregation helps us to see God’s presence everywhere!
As we give thanks for these experiences, we can respond to God’s grace through the stewardship of our lives. We come together specifically as a congregation to serve, celebrate, and grow. Our collective stewardship is an expression of our gratitude.
We give thanks for every gift of stewardship because it sustains the church! It is our response to God’s grace, and it is how we participate in God’s ongoing goodness. We can also consider the meaning of stewardship in our lives. We can reflect on our giving to the church over the next year. We are thankful for this season and what it means for our congregation.
-Tripp