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…With Glad and Generous Hearts
4th Sunday of Easter, Year A, May 15, 2011
How’s your faith community doing in terms of joy and generosity? Why not use this Sunday’s texts to challenge them to look with fresh eyes at how your congregation rates in terms of having glad and generous hearts? (Photo by purplbutrfly used under Creative Commons License. Thanks!)
Can Stewardship be More Inviting?
Because Americans are comfortable keeping faith and money separate, whenever we start a conversation about stewardship by talking about money or financial need, we immediately arouse hostility. All stewardship talk which begins with money starts at the wrong place. The place to begin meaningful stewardship conversation is with the concept of freedom. (Photo (c) 2006 Jgroup, via bigstock.com.)
Barefootin’
Is it possible to let one’s feet do the talking when it comes to justice and equity? Or is going barefoot for a day merely a form of “slacktivism”? (Photo by pineapple9995 used under Creative Commons License. Thanks!)
“Staying Put” Day
Our blogger explores how a “Buy No Gas” Challenge leads to larger questions of consumption and entitlement. Her conclusion? Old habits die hard, and getting out one’s walking shoes is a good response. (Photo by Jay Cuthrell used under Creative Commons License. Thanks!)
Grace & Gratitude Grow Givers
The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord: “Come, go down to the potter’s house, and there I will let you hear my words.” So I went down to the potter’s house, and there he was working at his wheel. The vessel he was making of clay was spoiled in the potter’s hand, and […]
A Steward’s Take on the Apostles Creed
For me the Apostle’s Creed is a starting place for this personal witness, for this living out of the Christian faith, because in the Creed I state personally — as well as corporately and publicly — what I believe. It’s an oral confession. My life must be “in sync” with what I confess in the Creed. (Photo by Graye, used by Creative Commons license. Thanks!)
Five Principles of Stewardship in the Congregation
The stewardship of the gospel begins where we are. It is within and outside the congregation that we share the responsibility and accountability with other stewards of the gospel. And it needs to be said as forcibly as possible that what we do is as important as what we say. Someone has wisely observed that “It is not enough to talk the talk, unless we also walk the walk.” (Photo by Sultry used under a Creative Commons License. Thanks!)
Listen up, Disciples!
Transfiguration Sunday, Year A, March 6, 2011
Listening is hard work. Just ask Peter! If, however, we can stop long enough to really listen to each other and to God, amazing things happen. Don’t believe me? Well then, listen up. (Photo by quinn.anya used under Creative Commons License. Thanks!)
The Stories of Isaiah and Pepe
You and I learn much about living as faithful stewards from the examples of others. For example, let’s examine the calls of two men, hoping thereby that we can examine, accept, and renew our own calls. (Illustration is Michaelangelo’s depiction of Isaiah at the Sistine Chapel.)
Challenged to be Open to God’s Surprises
By the Rev. Marcus C. Lohrmann