Stewardship Season
The point is this: the one who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the one who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each of you must give as you have made up your mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that by always having enough of everything, you may share abundantly in every good work. 2 Corinthians 9:6-8
This week we enter the second Sunday of Stewardship at Emmanuel. Last Sunday, we held our Time and Talents Ministry Fair, where many of you turned out to learn about the many ways to participate in the life of faith at Emmanuel. It was a joy to watch people share how the ministries they represent have impacted their own lives. That joy was infectious as many responded by signing up to begin their own journey with outreach, choir, pastoral care, and the many other ministries of the parish and wider community.
We have four more opportunities to grow together in stewardship this month:
- Tomorrow, Sunday, October 4 at 9:00 a.m. — A Theology of Stewardship: I will lead a forum exploring how Stewardship shapes my understanding of life and ministry. We will look at the ways Scripture speaks about humanity, money, responsibility, and our calling to care for all that God has entrusted to us.
- Sunday, October 11 at 9:00 a.m. — Century Project Update: Your warden’s, Judy Davis and Steve Millender, will lead a forum updating you on the visioning work begun in the 2025 listening sessions. They will talk about our ongoing conversations with the Episcopal Day School, Blum Construction, Latent Designs, and Capital Development as we work toward a master plan for our block.
- Sunday, October 18 at 9:00 a.m. — Stewardship of Emmanuel: I will lead a forum on how Emmanuel’s seeks to faithfully steward the resources God has entrusted to us. We will talk about our properties, endowments, and annual budget, and how these gifts enable the mission and ministry of Emmanuel throughout our community.
- Sunday, October 25 at 9:00 a.m. — Breakfast of Gratitude: We will gather as a parish family for breakfast and give thanks for all God is doing in and through Emmanuel. It will be a joyful opportunity to celebrate our life together and the many ways our community gives, serves, and shares.
This stewardship season, we are considering what it means to sow bountifully. Not simply with our money, but with our time, our talents, our attention, and our lives. Through these various opportunities, I hope you will learn more about the exciting growth and ministry of Emmanuel and discover new ways to joyfully participating in the life of this parish.