Stewardship at Saint Andrew’s, Fall 2017

The earth is the Lord’s and all that is in it, the world, and those who live in it… Psalm 24:1

Growing up, I needed help learning what that bold assertion from Psalm 24 means for daily life.  I remember my father saying, You don’t need that.  Or, We can’t afford that.  I remember seeing a new toy advertised on our new television.  I had enough of my own paper-route money and I bought it. I was not mature enough to realize how the manipulation of wants and needs played on my thoughts and feelings.  The result was an object that just sat on the shelf until I finally discarded it.
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Looking back, I realize my father’s concern, about what we can afford, includes much more than numbers in a household budget.  I need to recognize continually the way things can have power over me.  I remember past lessons.  I also need regularly to rethink how that is working in my life.  If I focus too much on the thing I want, I may lose sight of all that God provides graciously.  Life is so much better when I remember the many ways I have experienced God’s generosity through people – sharing their time, their material goods, their very selves, with Christ’s Church and with me.
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Stewardship means the way we live out the affirmation, The earth is the Lord’s.  Our fall stewardship campaign is the time we urge you to …

• consider your household’s financial plan;
• ask how God fits into your plans;
• and consider how the ministries of Saint Andrew’s connect with the values expressed in your financial plan.

In our October worship services we have been considering:  If the earth is the Lord’s, what does that say about my stuff (Genesis 2:15)? my time (Psalm 90:12)? and my relations with others (Mark 10:43)?  November 8/9 we will consider what it is like to be on board completely (Mark 12:38-44).  On November 14/15 we will make our personal commitments through our Plan of Giving for 2016, followed after the 11:00 service by our annual Thanksgiving Dinner.  Between now and then, you will receive more information that helps you see how our generous God wants you to be of his work through Saint Andrew’s.
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I praise God and thank you for the lessons I continually learn about God’s generosity through the faithful Saints of Saint Andrew’s.
                                ~Pastor Paul