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STEWARDSHIP AT ST. AUGUSTINE'S
We are fast approaching stewardship season at St. Augustine's, which begins in September and culminates on All Saints Sunday, November 3 with the in-gathering of gifts: our financial pledges and our promises to offer our time and talents to St. Augustine's.
As a member of St. Augustine's, you are a steward of the church. This means you are entrusted with the care and keeping of the church. St. Augustine's spiritual vitality, community life, buildings, and grounds are ours to hold, nurture, and maintain. Stewardship is a privilege granted by God, who invites us to a wider sense of 'ohana. It is a joyful and sacred responsibility!
All of us practice stewardship year round as we attend to our church members, buildings, furnishings, grounds, and wider community. But from September through October, we focus our attention on WHY we practice stewardship.
Understanding the reasons for our actions and commitments is an important part of our faith practice. Here are a few examples of reasons we practice stewardship:
- Sharing what we have is a way to show God our gratitude.
- Investing in the future ensures there will be resources to continue supporting our church and North Kohala community.
- Giving to our church shows our faith in God's abundance.
- Sharing our wealth is sharing God's love.
What is your "why" for practicing stewardship? We'll be exploring this question in the coming months. For now, let's turn to this week's gospel story in which Jesus says he is the bread of heaven. "Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me, and I in them."
With these words, Jesus reminds all who will listen that we are partners with the Divine. In Christ, we are invited to receive God's abundant love. In Christ, we are invited to share God's abundant love.
What a beautiful way to describe what we do in this spiritual 'ohana we call St. Augustine's Church! And very much worth our efforts as stewards who hold, nurture, and maintain this amazing church family.
Blessings,
Vicar Jennifer
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