.

“Give, and it will be given to you.  A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap; for the measure you give will be the measure you get back.”  Luke 6:38

            The other day, the telephone rang.  There was a long pause when I picked up the phone.  Now, I dread those pauses because usually it means that an unfamiliar voice is about to tell me that I need to purchase a particular product, have been “chosen” to do a special survey, or I have “won” some kind of trip involving looking at “must see” property in another state.  You know the kind of calls that I mean.  With all due respect to the telemarketer’s need to make a living, these calls can be frustrating because I am not engaged in their particular cause.

But on a positive note, these kinds of calls can remind us of our priorities and commitments.  They can remind us of those things that we have chosen to give our time, our energy, and our resources.  They can remind us of what we have said “yes” to in our families, in our communities, and in our lives.  They can remind us of how we have chosen to engage with the world, an engagement that often involves difficult choices.

Our church represents one way that we choose to engage with the world.  As such, it is a standing testimony of those who have chosen to say “yes” to a purpose beyond mere self-interest or self-focus.  Our church is a living witness of our thanksgiving to God for the abundant blessings that we have received.  Here we have made a commitment to discover ourselves in relationship to God and one another.  Here we have an opportunity to grow not only as individuals, but also as a people of faith.  For all these reasons, our church is not simply a place, but a tremendous gift in which our faith is nurtured and shared.

As we enter into our stewardship season, please consider the ways in which you are able to say “yes” to God in return for the abundance in your lives.  The various ministries of this church are thriving and growing because you have responded to God’s call in your hearts—whether it is by nurturing our young people, lifting your voice in song, lending a hand in service to others, or by your participation on a particular committee.

“By what measure shall I give?”  As you prayerfully consider this question, consider what God’s presence and engagement in your life has meant.  Consider what this church means to you and to your family. Then, invite your heart to answer because that is the only place where a true measure can be found.

Faithfully,

Rev. Dee