Your time, talent and treasure - Rector's Rambling for October 14, 2018

It is that uncomfortable time of the year, when we talk about money, and more importantly we talk about your money.

I have to admit that I do not like talking about money or asking for money.  If I talk to you about worship, prayer, study, moral choices, and parish involvement, and a variety of other things, but not your money, then I am not giving you the full picture of the life God is calling you to live.  It is a part of the big picture that we call Stewardship.

Stewardship, to put it simply, is how you use the blessings and talents you have to the Greater Glory of God.  It is a biblical way of thinking that begins with the gratitude that all that you are, and all that you have, is a gift from God.  King David, after listing the remarkable amount things he and the people of Israel donated for the building of the Temple, states, “But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly after this sort? for all things come of thee, and of thine own have we given thee.” 1 Chronicles 29:14

If we live from an attitude of gratitude, then we will be learning to be generous in our giving of the three legs of Stewardship: Time, Talent, and Treasure.

Time is the giving of yourself to the parish and other worthy causes.  Showing up EVERY Sunday, being involved as an acolyte, altar guild member, usher, coffee hour host, prayer wall team member, or whatever opportunity may present itself is the giving of time.  Also, time spent in prayer for the parish, for the clergy, and for all around us is time well spent to His Honor and Glory.

Talent involves much of the activity listed above, as well as things which you have a special ability, and could be of help to the parish and community.  Plumber?  Electrician?  Teacher?  Coordinator for outings or activities?  What is some ability that you may have, that we haven’t even thought of, that may be of help here to Glorify God?  No thing is too little to God.

 And of course, there is the giving of your treasure, which is a financial donation to the church for our operating expenses, ministries, and presence in the community.  Remembering that it is God who gives us the ability to work and earn an income, we donate to His Church in gratitude.  The biblical image is the Tithe, the first 10% of your income.  If you are not at that level you can resolve to work towards it.  This is for many a very hard thing to let go of (after all, who doesn’t want or need more money?)  But of course that is exactly why we need to learn to give – we need to trust that God will continue to provide for your needs.

Four years ago Bruce Burton, our Senior Warden, predicted when we signed our lease with Olympia, that people would ramp down their contributing to the parish because of the outside payment we receive.  The first three years that was not true, and although we were behind in budgeted contributions for the first half of the year, we are now catching up with anticipated levels of giving.  Thank you to all who have continued to be generous in their support of St. John’s.

I understand the temptation to say to yourself “St. John’s doesn’t need my money because they get it from the lease”.  But actually, YOU need to GIVE the money as an exercise in gratitude for what God has entrusted to you.  Giving to St. John’s is a way for you to show that gratitude to Him.

     As you know, we are in the midst of a renovation of the ministry center, and will be renovating the kitchen and undercroft in the coming months.  This is to help position us for ministry opportunities that are beginning to present themselves as our neighborhood is being renewed and reinvigorated.  That project is being paid for with a signing bonus from the lease, savings over the last three years lease payments, a large gift from one parish family, and many other gifts from parishioners.  Opportunities will be presented soon to sponsor portions of the new facility and furnishings.  This would be above and beyond our support of the regular ministry of the parish through the Stewardship Campaign.

Let’s be sure to pray how God can help you to be grateful and generous, and then fill out a pledge card for 2019.  Thank you in advance.