Stewardship 2010 - Grow
As we have been hearing over the past few weeks, this modified version of Psalm 118:24 is the stewardship theme that we at St. John’s have chosen to guide us this fall, to write upon our hearts like a catchy tune, to rally us together in gladness and prepare us for faithful pledging for the year to come.
This verse reminds us that each day is a gift from God and that each day we make choices about how we will live, based on that knowledge. As Christians we are called to recognize and appreciate joy in our lives, to grow (in faith and other ways), to reach out to others, and to be glad in the blessings that have been bestowed upon us.
Each week this month we focus more deeply on one theme from the verse:
October 11: Rejoice • October 18: Grow • October 25: Reach out • November 1: Be glad
Asked to ponder GROW, several St. John’s members shared these thoughts:
Remember the children’s song …
Inch by inch / row by row / gonna make my garden grow
All it takes is a rake and a hoe / and a piece of fertile ground …
Children are that fertile ground, and St. John’s lovingly tends the garden to help it grow. We witness and welcome as our pastors walk a newly baptized infant out into the congregation. We distribute age-appropriate Bibles at the beginning of the school year to the children who have grown hungry for stories and the Word. Just a few weeks ago in front of the congregation, Pastor Rachel gave a Bible to each child’s parent, and then the parents put the Word of God into the child’s hands—just as they had promised to do at baptism. The kids reached and strained to get their hands on their new books right away. For many, exploring those new Bibles began on the spot (“Dad, can I read it NOW?”) or as soon as they returned to their pew (“It has stickers to mark my favorite verses!!”).
Growth is inevitable with these children. We can feed their interest in the wonders of Jesus’ love. We can guide their excitement at discovering new truths for their lives. We can enjoy their exuberance in worship. We can thank those who take a special interest in nurturing their growth. We can decide, as a community, that growing in faith is our #1 priority.
There is a saying, “If you aren’t growing, you are dying.” When we prepare the fertile ground for a bountiful garden, we enable a life of healthy growth. Children bounding off to Sunday School, teenagers testing their adult mentors, adults discussing social issues—we are all growing.
Rejoice. Grow. Reach out. Be glad. Consider these themes in your life over the coming weeks and share your stories in this day, the day that the Lord has made. What’s YOUR story?