"Walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself for us, an offering and sacrifice to God."

Ephesians 5:2

walk in love

The great bells ring out across the city, across towns and villages, around the world, calling the faithful to prayer, to give thanks, calling them to worship and to make a sacrificial offering of themselves, to walk in love.

And all over the world the people respond, gathering together in groups large and small, singing hymns and psalms, reading and learning from the Word of God. They give their service and financial support in feeding the hungry, healing the sick, giving sight to the blind and setting prisoners free. They give so that all God’s children, not just themselves, may experience a full and abundant life on this earth.

as Christ loved us

We had sinned, we poor and foolish humans, and sinning, we separated ourselves from God. We could not reach the Divine, but the Divine in His infinite love could reach out to us. And so he made himself human for our sake. He was born into poverty, a refugee, a transient. He knew pain and grief and hard work, and he also knew joy and love. He taught us, by word and by example. He went beyond the teaching of the synagogue and the commandments and brought us a new law – just one – that we love one another as he loved us. That we share in the joys and the despairs of others; that we risk ourselves for them as he risked himself for us.

an offering and sacrifice to God

And there it is: at the heart of the Eucharist, there is the love of God. There on the Altar, lie the symbols of his generosity. See them there, the Body and the Blood of the Passover Lamb, the One whose blood washes us clean of sin, and saves us to everlasting life.

And our response for such love, such generosity, should be in like measure – a love that is expressed in joyful and thankful giving. We are called to be generous, with our time, with the skills we have learned, and with our money, giving back to God a portion of what he has given to us.

walk in love

St. Paul’s, as a member of The Episcopal Church, holds up the tithe as the standard of giving: that is, giving one tenth of your time, your talents and your treasure to the service of others and the building of God’s kingdom. The tithe is not about the church needing your money: it’s about deepening your personal understanding and awareness of the love of God. The tithe is a transforming experience in the life of a faithful Christian.

The Bible is clear on how we should give away our tithes: first, to the Church, from which we draw our spiritual nourishment; second, to the poor and needy, both within and outside the Church; to our enemies; and to the Kingdom of God in general.

The poor and needy hold a special place in the teachings of Jesus, and in recognition of this The Episcopal Church has signed up to the Millennium Development Goals of the United Nations. These are, by the year 2015, to:

• Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger
• Achieve universal primary education
• Promote gender equality and empower women
• Reduce child mortality
• Improve maternal health
• Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases
• Ensure environmental sustainability
• Develop a Global Partnership for Development

We ask you then to bring back your pledge cards and formson Ingathering Sunday, 23rd November 2008, pledging to the Church your talents, services and money for the building of Christ’s kingdom in this city.

We are called as God’s stewards to give joyfully, generously, and prayerfully, out of thanksgiving for all He has given to us. We are called to give sacrificially, as He sacrificed Himself for us.

Walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself for us,
 an offering and sacrifice to God. 

Working Definition of Christian Stewardship
Christian stewardship is grateful and responsible use of God's gifts in the light of God's purpose as revealed in Jesus Christ. Christian stewards, empowered by the Holy Spirit, commit themselves to conscious, purposeful decisions.

Stewardship is lived out in living and telling the Good News; hearing God in seeking justice, peace, and the integrity of creation in an interdependent universe; wisely employing God-given human resources, abilities, and relationships; sharing the material resources we hold and giving them in service, justice, and compassion; providing for future generations, sharing in the life, worship, and responsible stewardship of the Church and of its mission.

Both for the individual and for the community, stewardship is a joyful act for the sake of God's world.

Stewardship has also been defined as: What I do, with all that I have, after I say, “I believe;” and using the gifts God has given us, to do the work God is calling us to do.

[This definition comes from The Episcopal Church website]

Ingathering Sunday

The Feast of Christ the King

23rd November 2008