From the Rector…
Over the past several weeks, we have explored our stewardship theme to Walk in Love. As I have listened to the testimonies of our members and read their words in the bulletin each week, I am inspired by the depth of faith and love that so many of you demonstrate in your walk with Christ. Your stories are uplifting and testify to the power of God and the strength of being part of a church community. I feel truly blessed to be among you and to walk in love together at Ascension.
For me, the annual stewardship campaign is more than a pledge drive, it is a reminder of my hope in God, the mission of his church, and the celebration of our life together. At its core, stewardship is about our spiritual life and development. The cynical side of us might see it as a fundraiser—and that is part of its function—but the deeper commitment and message of stewardship is about how we define our lives in gratitude and growth.
Intentional giving, where we make a pledge to the church and then follows through with financial contributions, reflects a core commitment in our lives. It acknowledges that giving is part of God’s call to us, and how we give reflects a first fruits, proportional, sacrificial transformation. In scripture, God always asks for the first of the harvest—not the best, not what is left over, simply the first fruits. When we receive our paycheck, our first act is to honor God by giving to meet our pledge. Proportional giving is way of understanding what we are called to give. It allows us to acknowledge God’s gifts to us and return a proportion of those gifts in gratitude. Scripture prescribes a tithe of ten percent. The best way to begin working toward a tithe, is to discern, through wonder and prayer, what percentage of your income God is calling you to give. Sacrificial giving is not about harm but humility. It doesn’t mean giving so much that you can’t feed your children or pay the mortgage, but it does require us to be more intentional about how we spend our money—perhaps going out to eat one less time a month or passing on buying those adorable pink high heels. First fruits, proportional, sacrificial giving leads to transformation because it helps us become more mindful about our money.
There is a saying that “money is the root of all evil.” I don’t think that is true. I believe that our relationship with money is the root of much evil in our lives and in the world. Too often, money defines our values, desires, hopes and dreams, even our identities. When money is the source of our motivation, then clearly, God is not. Reshaping our relationship with money in service to God—and as a grateful response to all that God gives to us—is a powerful way of turning from sin and despair. It opens our hearts in hope and trust of God’s promises for us. We learn to lean on God rather than trusting in our own abilities. We stop trying to be the master of our destiny and allow God to shape us into his image. We move beyond a scarcity mindset and embrace the abundance of God that surrounds us. We learn to walk in love by appreciating the gifts of God for the people of God.
As our annual campaign comes to a close, I invite you to consider what percentage of your income God is calling you to give to Ascension and how that giving can renew your life in Christ. Stewardship is a celebration of that life in Christ. To share our joy and gratitude in giving, this Sunday will be a time of in-gathering of all our pledges followed by feasting together at our Celebration Sunday event. We will bless our pledges at the altar during our 10:30am service, consecrating them to God. Our Celebration Sunday feast will follow with shrimp and grits, live music, and fun for the kids. I hope to see you there.
Light and Life,
Candice+