A Word from Pastor Nathan

Dear Friends:

Stewardship season is quickly becoming one of my favorite “unofficial” liturgical events in parish ministry. Truly, every period in the church’s life relates to stewardship. We cannot rid our worship of stewardship anymore than we can remove the table and the sacrament of communion. I know pastors who dread preaching about stewardship, fearing congregations will hear nothing more than a sermon about money. The fear may be well-founded.

At Washington Avenue, stewardship is a practice of discipleship; stewardship is not about being nickled-and-dimed to meet the bottom line. In reading about stewardship this week, thoughts are ricocheting in my mind like copper coins in a piggy bank. David King writes, “Far more than managing resources, stewardship is the way that disciples make a life, and giving away yourself and the resources God has entrusted to you is central to our formation within a life of faith.” This sounds counterintuitive, doesn’t it? Culture dictates other ways of making a life: do this, do that, earn this, and buy that, and then you shall have a life. Well, maybe.

King continues, “Most of us know that our faith requires us to give, but we are content to give just enough to make peace with our consciences that we are not giving more.” That hurts. Even in writing this column, those words sting me a bit because they expose the false narrative to which culture demands our submission.

In fifteen months of being with you, you have changed my life. You’ve helped me reevaluate my priorities and commitments. You’ve also increased my stewardship because the life I’d like to live is one among people like you. King states, “For stewardship made whole, giving is a way of life. Framing giving as discipleship shifts the paradigm from the needs of our institutions to the passions and practices of individuals. We have refocused from transactional to transformational giving.” Your witness through stewardship is transforming; this church is living proof.

Here’s what I know: I believe in our future with hope. I trust you do, too. God has been, is now, and will continue to be faithful to this church and its people. Together, we will inspire one another to love wastefully, dare courageously, and give fully toward the abundant life that God has promised. What a wonderful life that will be.

Peace,