When I arrived at my last parish 15 years ago, a few folks cautioned me about talking too much about money… even when we were in the midst of our stewardship season. To be clear, those who warned me were themselves fine with subject; yet they had in their mind that the older generation came from a time when one simply doesn’t talk about such things.
Do you know what? I found that feedback to be well-intentioned but generally not accurate. The more I spoke with the matriarchs and patriarchs of the parish, the more I heard them say that they yearned to talk more about money because it was so central to their faith stories…and were actually frustrated that for so many decades the clergy were sheepish when it came to talking about it.
These were folks whose faith lives were deeply integrated: their worship, their service to the community, their fellowship, and their financial lives were all woven together through their relationship with God. Indeed, those who gave generously really wanted to see us talk about money, because they wanted the younger generation to understand how we support the church, and how giving deepens faith.
This Sunday Trinity Cathedral begins its annual stewardship campaign: Growing and Giving. Our stewardship committee – led by Becky Fuller and Marcia Milter – has been faithfully preparing an invitation for our whole community into a life of deeper generosity and richer faith.
I look forward to sharing this invitation with you, and sharing throughout the season some of the ways that giving has shaped my own life, and our shared ministry as well.
Faithfully,
