Greeting Siblings in Christ,
Summer has officially come to a close. School has started up. Fall sports are now in full swing. Pumpkin spices lattes are back. The weather is starting to be cooler. It's just that time of year when a lot of things are happening, and the church is not immune to this business. The congregational program year has begun. Different ministries are starting back up. Sunday school is going again. Many congregations are already planning for the holiday season. Another thing that happens this time of year is an intentional time of stewardship. During this time, we are reminded that God has called us to be stewards of creation and all that God has made. As steward, we are called to use what God has given us to do the work of the Church. Thus, this year our congregation theme is Building A Culture of Generosity: The Impossible Promises of Enough. During this intentional time of stewardship, we will work to shift our mindset from that of scarcity to that of abundance. Over the month of October, we will be sharing stories of God’s abundance and generosity. We will learn together how through God's generosity that we too are called into generosity, to love and to serve. Thus, we will discern together how God is calling to share in abundance of God.
And so, to start this time of stewardship, I want to share with you a time that I was a recipient of generosity. It was June of 2024. Earlier that week, I had traveled from Philadelphia to Springfield, IL. I had spent the last few days at the hospital at the death bed of my grandmother, Janet Stender. We were saying our goodbyes. She had been diagnosed with lung cancer less than two weeks prior. However, the cancer had already progressed too far. She passed away, and my family now found ourselves planning a funeral. We were sitting at my grandparents’ house. We were overwhelmed. We were not sure how we were going to pay for everything. My grandfather did not know how much money they had in the bank. My grandmother did all the finances. However, we paid the funeral home hoping that there was enough. Our pastor came to help plan the service, and then he asked us “are you planning to do a luncheon afterwards?” We had not even thought about it. We did not know who or how we would provide the food. It was just another thing that we would have to figure out. However, then the pastor said, “the women of the congregation would like to do it. So, we can take care of it.” After the funeral service and the burial, we went to our local community building where the meal was to be had. When we walked in, the buffet tables were full of food. There was fried chicken, mashed potatoes, vegetables, sandwiches, casseroles, etc. There was a whole table full of homemade desserts. It was a feast, and there up at the tables of the food were the women of the congregation. They were ready to serve, and at that moment, I felt a deep feeling of gratitude. These women had known me since I was a baby. They had taken care of me my whole life and watched me grow. They were always generous to me. They were family. I went up there and said thank you. We gave each other hugs. I was talking to one of them, known to my family as Mrs. Thomas. She had been a substitute teacher for us all throughout our childhood. I was telling her how much I appreciated what they had done. She looked at me and said “well, what else would I be doing. This is where I and God would want me to be right now. I wouldn't be anywhere else.” Then, I started talking about all the food they made. It was a big meal and there were a lot of people present.” She said “well, we were not sure how much food we were going to have, but then God provided and we got it done.”
Therefore Church, I share this story as a reminder that God does indeed provide. God’s abundance is always more than enough. Thus, we are called to share in this abundance, and that will look different depending on the context. For some congregations, that might mean giving financially to help support a non-profit. For others, that might mean supporting a food pantry with physical items. Then, again for others, that might mean starting a new ministry that supports the community, or it may be providing a meal at a funeral. So, Church, I ask you how will we share in God’s abundance? And so, let us discern that together, and let us do so in the abundance and generosity of our God, Amen.
Peace and Blessings, Pastor Ethan Doan
Summer has officially come to a close. School has started up. Fall sports are now in full swing. Pumpkin spices lattes are back. The weather is starting to be cooler. It's just that time of year when a lot of things are happening, and the church is not immune to this business. The congregational program year has begun. Different ministries are starting back up. Sunday school is going again. Many congregations are already planning for the holiday season. Another thing that happens this time of year is an intentional time of stewardship. During this time, we are reminded that God has called us to be stewards of creation and all that God has made. As steward, we are called to use what God has given us to do the work of the Church. Thus, this year our congregation theme is Building A Culture of Generosity: The Impossible Promises of Enough. During this intentional time of stewardship, we will work to shift our mindset from that of scarcity to that of abundance. Over the month of October, we will be sharing stories of God’s abundance and generosity. We will learn together how through God's generosity that we too are called into generosity, to love and to serve. Thus, we will discern together how God is calling to share in abundance of God.
And so, to start this time of stewardship, I want to share with you a time that I was a recipient of generosity. It was June of 2024. Earlier that week, I had traveled from Philadelphia to Springfield, IL. I had spent the last few days at the hospital at the death bed of my grandmother, Janet Stender. We were saying our goodbyes. She had been diagnosed with lung cancer less than two weeks prior. However, the cancer had already progressed too far. She passed away, and my family now found ourselves planning a funeral. We were sitting at my grandparents’ house. We were overwhelmed. We were not sure how we were going to pay for everything. My grandfather did not know how much money they had in the bank. My grandmother did all the finances. However, we paid the funeral home hoping that there was enough. Our pastor came to help plan the service, and then he asked us “are you planning to do a luncheon afterwards?” We had not even thought about it. We did not know who or how we would provide the food. It was just another thing that we would have to figure out. However, then the pastor said, “the women of the congregation would like to do it. So, we can take care of it.” After the funeral service and the burial, we went to our local community building where the meal was to be had. When we walked in, the buffet tables were full of food. There was fried chicken, mashed potatoes, vegetables, sandwiches, casseroles, etc. There was a whole table full of homemade desserts. It was a feast, and there up at the tables of the food were the women of the congregation. They were ready to serve, and at that moment, I felt a deep feeling of gratitude. These women had known me since I was a baby. They had taken care of me my whole life and watched me grow. They were always generous to me. They were family. I went up there and said thank you. We gave each other hugs. I was talking to one of them, known to my family as Mrs. Thomas. She had been a substitute teacher for us all throughout our childhood. I was telling her how much I appreciated what they had done. She looked at me and said “well, what else would I be doing. This is where I and God would want me to be right now. I wouldn't be anywhere else.” Then, I started talking about all the food they made. It was a big meal and there were a lot of people present.” She said “well, we were not sure how much food we were going to have, but then God provided and we got it done.”
Therefore Church, I share this story as a reminder that God does indeed provide. God’s abundance is always more than enough. Thus, we are called to share in this abundance, and that will look different depending on the context. For some congregations, that might mean giving financially to help support a non-profit. For others, that might mean supporting a food pantry with physical items. Then, again for others, that might mean starting a new ministry that supports the community, or it may be providing a meal at a funeral. So, Church, I ask you how will we share in God’s abundance? And so, let us discern that together, and let us do so in the abundance and generosity of our God, Amen.
Peace and Blessings, Pastor Ethan Doan
