Browsing

Stone Soup Stewardship

Here’s a wonderful reflection by Kimberlee Cloutier-Blazzard employing the familiar “stone soup” story as an entrance into discussion about stewardship, sharing, and community building. It’s a perfect option for your Thanksgiving service, for a children’s time, or for a discussion-starter with your youth or adult study group. (Photo: shawndwturner, Creative Commons)

What We can Learn from Refugees

Canon Trevor Stubbs, who teaches at a college in South Sudan, shares four things we can learn from refugees about stewardship and generosity. (Photo: European Commission, Creative Commons)

Sharing the Gift

Here’s an interview with the director of the documentary film GIFT, about the gift economy. On the rise in secular culture, the notion of “gift” has long been a principle of faith communities. How might we encourage and heighten awareness of how our congregations can participate in the gift culture? After all, we are all […]

Is Leisure Essential to Life and Spirit?

In this study of the necessity of leisure, cultural curator Maria Popova calls us all to rethink our ideas about work and play and rest. While the article does not address Sabbath, the connections are clear. Stewardship of our selves and our time are essential to a well-balanced life and vigorous spirituality. (Photo: Andres N […]

Will We Ever Have Enough?

What does it mean to have enough? Writer and retreat leader Erin S. Lane explores this question through scripture and observation of natural world and our human interactions. (Photo: Lisa L. Wiedmeier, Creative Commons)

  • September 22
  • 0

Be Careful What You Ask For

Lectionary Reflection for the Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost, Year B
September 27, 2015
Do you occasionally pine for “the good old days”? Do you hear folks in the parish lament about the way things used to be? Moses heard the same thing. Thankfully, God is still up to new things in, with, through, and even in spite of us. What if we turned our “Oh, if only…” into “With God only”? (Photo: wsilver, Creative Commons)

  • September 21
  • 0

A Trinitarian Approach to Finances

Tim Schuster writes about the financial trinity: A practical, emotional, and spiritual view of money in this article from Brightpeak Financial. Whether you are young, old, or somewhere in between, single, partnered, or parenting, your approach to finances is a matter of stewardship. (Photo: Chris Potter, Creative Commons)

  • September 16
  • 0

Go in Peace—and then do something!

15th Sunday after Pentecost, Year B, Lectionary Reflection
September 6, 2015
Luther may have called the book of James an “epistle of straw,” but this week’s lessons complement each other, compelling us to action after having been “opened” to the amazing grace of Jesus. (Photo: Daniel Holt, Creative Commons)

Let’s Hear it for Dirty Disciples!

14th Sunday after Pentecost, Year B Lectionary Reflection
August 30, 2015
Sometimes disciples have to get their hands dirty to do God’s work, and that may not always be the popular choice. Today’s lessons lift up the importance of seeing beyond a little surface dirt to the work of ministry and the love of neighbor. (Photo: St0rmz, Creative Commons)

Sharing Food and Stewardship

Check out Dr. Greg Carey’s reflection on feeding the hungry. There’s a strong stewardship component here–and feeding others is something we can do. How is your congregation working to eradicate hunger? (Photo: Rob Blezard)