From the Pastor
It’s an old question that has found its way into a lot of sermons and church newsletters over the years: “If you were charged with being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you?” I suppose it has jolted a few people into examining their faith and action. What would your friends and neighbors say if someone asked that question about you? Could people tell by examining how you handle your financial resources? What would they say about the times you have forgiven others or asked for forgiveness and reconciliation? How about your stands in the name of justice and peace? Could they tell from the hope and joy you exhibit in everyday living? How about the way you handle and move through difficult and painful times? Yes, an old question, but still an interesting one. Even as I write this, I find myself pausing to reflect on my own life and its Christian witness.
November is always a challenging and fascinating month in the life of the church. The first Sunday of the month – All Saints Sunday – we pause to reflect on all those saints who have touched and shaped our lives over the years. Their faithfulness and love always hold a mirror to our faithfulness and love. Then we move on to our season of stewardship. In challenging financial times, just what do our checkbooks say about the depth of our Christian commitment? The week of November 8th, pledge cards for 2010 will be mailed. What would a stranger in our midst learn by observing our giving? What would that stranger learn about our faith, our thankfulness, our commitment? Yes, a challenging and fascinating month.
We move from stewardship into Thanksgiving and then the season of Advent – again all in November! And we discover, once again, a God who is so generous to us. Father Andrew Greeley spoke of the “passionately loving generosity of God.” As we reflect on our many blessings, freely given – I need only look as far as our grandson; as we reflect on the God who finally gives God’s very self at Christmas, we encounter a God who refuses to be limited by our careful, rational, human calculations. The reckless, generous, self-giving of God. Something to think about this month…and any month!
Gene
