Stewardship Season

First Presbyterian Church is in the middle of stewardship season. This is a time of year when we are invited to review the types of commitments we have made to God and to evaluate the depths of those commitments. We usually talk about time, talent, and money. I like to believe that we think about stewardship of life -- or discipleship -- steadily throughout the year. The focus this month is actually upon the financial pledges made to the church for the coming year. Over the next six weeks the Finance Committee and Session will evaluate the pledges that are made and the programs we want to support for the 2009 year.

Our stewardship theme this year comes from the title of a hymn, "Called as Partners in Christ's Service." During the last couple weeks we reviewed the web of relationships -- global, regional, and local -- in which we live and serve. The focus next Sunday will be upon the local partnerships which have shaped the life of our congregation. It is an impressive list.

All of this is happening in the midst of a major financial crisis in our country, now having global impact as well. It is pretty clear that many people whom we trusted were unworthy of that trust. Greed and selfishness, on many levels, motivated people to feather their own nest and ignore the well-being of the society as a whole. Jesus call to "love your neighbor as yourself" was ignored and forgotten by many.

Jesus calls his followers to be salt and light in the world. The selfless gifts of money and time that we see in faith-based groups gives us all hope that things can be better. Because of the hard economic times we expect it to be harder to gather funds for ministries like our church, but the influence of Christ is needed now more than ever.

One Great Family

September has just ended and we are beginning October. This is a favorite time of year for me. The first Sunday in October is World Communion Sunday. For me that means a celebration of the worldwide international nature of the church and of life. Some scientists who are studying human genetics are saying that all of humanity can be trace back to less than a hundred people who lived fifty to sixty thousand years ago. We really are of one blood and of one origin.

One of the happy surprises of my years in Africa was the profound oneness and "peopleness" of all humankind. I remember one occasion when we were entering a portion of the rain forest for the first time. We were challenged by African warriors with spears whose heads were mostly covered with monkey skins. They were intimidating. Within a few hours we had eaten together and were seated around the evening fire, discussing the issues of life. Education of kids, medical care, and family financial plans were the concerns of us all.

On several occasions I met National Geographic and other film teams who were making documentaries about Africa. Without the ability to converse with local people they could be made to appear "primitive" and backward. When there was time to eat and talk we quickly learned how much we have in common. The great hope of the gospel is that God is guiding us toward a shared destiny and a world that will be healed and reunited.