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Publications
Sunday News Articles September
Conserving and Sharing God’s Abundance
Mindful of the need to conserve our natural resources, so that we can better share our fiscal ones, Stewardship 2010 is going green. This year the Stewardship Committee has cut publication costs by printing materials in-house, sending a single campaign mailer, e-mailing an initial "ask," and creating pledge envelopes that can be reused year after year. In addition, those parishioners who pledge online by October 1 will not receive a solicitation letter in the mail. To help this effort, please confirm your e-mail address with the receptionist and pledge online at www.saintmichael.org/stewardship.
September Archangel
Sharing Abundantly
We are told in the Creation Story that it was in God’s grace – a one-way, unconditional love – that the world was made and given in abundance. Humankind, being made in God’s image, is to care for all that has been given, sharing abundantly for the benefit of the created order.
Generosity, then, is one of the deepest characteristics of God. The foundation of reality and a life well-lived is a spirit of generosity, and when you and I have received the bounty of God’s grace, we want to share this abundance of God’s gifts for the sake of others.
One day Jesus was in a wilderness area when a large crowd gathered. As the day wore on and the sun began to set, restlessness and hunger set in among this crowd of more than five thousand. The disciples became anxious and said to Jesus, "send them away."
Jesus responded, "you give them something to eat….how many loaves have you? Go and see." The disciples were focused on inadequacy (who are we in the face of so many?) and the problem of scarcity (will there be enough for us?).
In one of the accounts, Andrew was the only one of the twelve who responded to Jesus’ request. Instead of being immobilized by anxiety, he began to garner resources, first finding a young boy with five loaves and two fish.
Who knows what miracles can come from gratefully doing the best with what we have been given. It begins in grace, of course, and issues forth in gratitude, generosity, and increase.
The Stewardship Team of Saint Michael and All Angels is inviting us into this spirit of sharing from God’s abundance. In a season of economic challenge for many, when the church is called upon to do our best and give more, we call upon all of us to push through the "problem of scarcity" (will there be enough?) and to find the sense of freedom and joy in sharing abundantly to the glory of God and for the benefit of God’s children.
Our challenging goal is that every member of our congregation make a pledge to the operating ministries of Saint Michael and All Angels for 2010, and if you are a pledger, that you’ll increase the amount of both the offering of money and talents for the advancement of the gospel.
This comes with my prayers and gratitude for your generosity.
Bob Dannals
August Archangel
Our Christian life begins with the knowledge that God will give us what we need, so that we may share our gifts in service to God and to our neighbors far and near. The stewardship theme for 2010, Sharing God’s Abundance, affirms this concept. Our inspiration is drawn from 2 Corinthians 9:8: And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. This fall, the Stewardship Committee challenges each parishioner, in every stage of life, to reflect on ways we all may share God’s abundance. Mark your calendar for Stewardship Sunday, October 18, 2009.