Newsletter Article: Saints and Stewardship

Indeed they cannot die anymore, because they are like angels and are children of God, being children of the resurrection. And the fact that the dead are raised Moses himself showed, in the story about the bush, where he speaks of the Lord as the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. Now he is God not of the dead, but of the living; for to him all of them are alive.” Luke 20:27-38

We will celebrate All Saints Day on November 7, the first Sunday in November. It is a day when we remember our saints – departed family members and friends, departed members of Emanuel Church, all those whose lives have helped to shape our lives, those who have departed from this life to be with God as members of the Church Triumphant.

In many churches, November is also a month in which “stewardship” - returning to
God a portion of our time, talent, and treasure – is remembered. It’s a recognition that all we have and all we are is a gift from God. It is a privilege to offer a portion of our time, talent, and treasure to God through the church – not in the spirit of paying yet another bill or fulfilling yet another duty or responding to yet another guilt trip, but instead, with joy, as an expression of our love for God and neighbor flowing from glad and generous hearts. It’s a form of “thanksgiving” we can practice all year ‘round. The Bible prescribes proportionate giving: as we have been blessed, so we can be a blessing to others. The Biblical standard is a tithe – 10% of income is to be given to the church. In a difficult economy, tithing is likely a stretch for most of us, perhaps for all of us, but we can all commit to giving some proportion of our income to support Emanuel Church. This giving is also a way to honor and continue the ministries that our departed members, our Emanuel saints, carried out. As they supported the church in their time, so it is our privilege to support the church in ours.

And finally, November marks the end of one liturgical year and the beginning of another. November 21 is the final Sunday of our church year, and is called “Reign of Christ” or “Christ the King” Sunday in recognition of Jesus Christ as Lord. And November 28 begins a new church year. November 28 is the First Sunday of Advent, that season of preparation for the coming of the Christ Child. In the words of the carol, “Let every heart prepare Him room.”
See you in church!
Pastor Dave