Stewardship Campaign 2018-19 "Open My Eyes, Lord"

We think of Stewardship as something that happens in the fall.  But stewardship is a lifestyle.  In the fall, as things begin anew after summer, we have our stewardship campaign, we take stock, how are we doing?  Do we need to change our lifestyle?  Go another direction?  

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In John 15, Jesus says "I am the true Vine and my Father is the vine-grower.  He removes every branch in me that bears no fruit.  Every branch that bears fruit he prunes to make it bear more fruit."   We sometimes bemoan the fact that we have fewer members, our members are getting older, we do not have many young families, we do not have enough money to cover expenses and the neighborhood is changing.  But let us look at it differently.  The vine-grower has pruned us so we may bear more fruit.  What an opportunity!  Lord, Open our Hearts. 
 
For this year’s Lenten Wednesdays the theme was open my Eyes, Ears, Hands, Heart and Life to Christ.  During the 40 days of Lent, Pastor Tim wrote Laments.  There is so much trouble in the world and so much for us to pray for and ask God's mercy. Then in the 40 days before Pentecost, Pastor Tim wrote about the resurrection and new life he saw, giving thanks for God's light and grace. 
 
You have had the months of June, July and August to think about those things. 
 
During the next six weeks we will give you some scripture and ideas to help you discern as a steward of God's word, world and people, what is God calling you to be and do?  Are your eyes, ears, hands, heart and life open to Christ in this troubled world?  Do you want to help change things so we can see resurrection and new life in our church and communities?  God has pruned us to bear more fruit.  Seminarian Barry reminded us that we are "the beloved children of God and we can change the world."