Thoughts About Stewardship

Messiah Episcopal Church's Senior Warden gave a thoughtful and helpful stewardship talk this past fall. In this stewardship offseason, his talk could be a resource regarding faithful church ministry.

Dear Messiah Family, 

We are in the midst of our Generosity Season, when together we are considering God’s
generosity to us and our grateful response. The process of mature stewardship requires prayer, wisdom, and faith, to be sure—but when I think of giving, or of my church involvement, there is always a question of trust hovering in the background. I will need to decide how much to give, but trust is needed for me to establish why I will give, and to give from the heart.

TRUST IN PEOPLE - The first question for me is “Is God leading me in his purposes together with these people?” What I mean here is not whether the clergy, staff, vestry, and people beside me in the pew are trustworthy, but do I want to link my hopes, concerns, and effort with them? Do I want to share life? Our stated mission is that we are “committed to the worship of God, the Lordship of Jesus Christ, and renewal through the Holy Spirit.” Those are the things we want to shape our common life. I hope you say with me, “Sign me up!”

THE QUESTION OF TRUST IN GOD - is, of course, the biggest question. By “trust in God” I mean having a confident expectation that God is with us, wants to be in us and use us, and will guide us and provide whatever is needed for his glory and our good. Appropriately, our theme this season is is “Revive us again”, and the focus is on God’s generosity, and of much more than money. How will God revive us again? How will I increase my trust in God?

INCREASING TRUST - In Luke 11, Jesus startles us with an unqualified promise:

“…how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

How will God revive us again? Please join me this season in doing three things:

Asking your heavenly Father daily for the Holy Spirit,
Asking for the Holy Spirit to work in and through this church, and
Waiting expectantly but patiently for God to answer in his own way and time, according to his wisdom and goodness.

We do not know what God’s answer will look like. We aren’t looking for a sign, but a gift of God himself. What we do know is that if we are asking, we’ll be looking expectantly for God’s “yes”. God’s past generosity increases our trust in him. Looking forward, praying for the promised Holy Spirit and experiencing his goodness will do the same.

Looking forward with you in Christ, 

Doug Goetz, Sr. Warden