Stewardship Commission
Preparing for our Stewardship Campaign, we hear the following from our Senior Warden.
My Dear Friends,
Consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am the Lord God. Leviticus 20:7
What does this passage mean to you? For the past month I have been thinking of this and what it means in my life. When I was ten days old my parents took me to the church to be baptized and I was baptized by water and marked on the forehead with oil with the sign of the cross and sealed by the Holy Spirit as Christ's own. I was then received into the household of God. At confirmation, I stood before a Bishop of the church and reaffirmed my baptismal vows. The Bishop then said this prayer, "Strengthen, O Lord, your servant with you Holy Spirit; empower her for your service; and sustain her all the days of her life." I am always touched deeply at the services of baptism and confirmation when those baptized or confirmed are told that they are sealed by the Holy Spirit, marked as Christ's own forever, and empowered for service in God's eternal priesthood. This means more than just being moved deeply. God empowers us all for ministry. I take this as a very personal vow to God whom I love with all my heart, soul and mind and I am commanded to love my neighbor as myself. This is the foundation of my faith: 'a loving God."
This also means I must take action. This means to seek a personal relationship with God, at the Eucharist, prayer, studying the word of God, and reaching out to those in need. It is very important always to seek and discern God's will in our lives.
On October 26, 2008, our Congregation will be celebrating Consecration Sunday at 8 a.m. worship service with a potluck breakfast at 9 a.m. The 10:15 a.m. worship service will be followed by a potluck luncheon. I urge you all to come and celebrate together as we discern God's call. This is a time for us to gather together in worship and prayer to show our love for God and for one another. This will be a wonderful celebration in which we can visit and share our lives with each other, and discern together how to give back financially to God for all the blessings that God so generously bestows on us, each day of our lives.
May God Bless you and Keep you.
Bernadette Hartshorne, Senior Warden