According to Mark 2018-September
It’s time for beginnings. New school year. Newly committing to those new years’ resolutions (again…). And beginning a new rhythm for our church lives: how should we be good stewards?
We are asked to be stewards of a lot of things in our lives. Money. Stuff. Growing children. Aging parents. But what is a faithful steward? Well, the Bible has a lot to say about that, and in biblical parlance, it’s more than just caretaking. It’s more than just maintaining the status quo. And it’s certainly not just letting things go. Stewardship is the active care so that things are not just surviving, but thriving.
And we’re going to answer that in a couple of ways in September. First, we’re going to talk about how we take care of each other, our ministries, and the gifts with which God entrusts us in September this year rather than around thanksgiving. Why? Because our congregation’s stewardship is something that we need to know about right now, as soon as we gather, so that our hearts, minds, and spirits are focused on spreading the good news to folks with whom we want to share our good news. The Good News that God is here, near, and active in our community.
We are doing amazing things with our Center for Hope and Healing, our Church School, the FACET foundation, Youth Ministry, Stephen Ministry, and the ever-generous hearts of the people who call TCC home. Don’t know about these? Ask a member. Ask the pastor. Ask the church secretary. The point is: ask; because your participation is needed in Townsend, right here right now.
Second, we’re talking about stewardship of our earth, the second of our Three Great Loves initiative, How the Church Loves Creation. Beginning September 30, we will embark on a 5-week journey of how scripture and God view creation and our stewardship of the same. And this is not just for consumption and thinking, but will culminate in actionable steps for us to do right in Townsend. Because writing checks to Greenpeace or OXFAM helps, but we engage more deeply in our faith when we engage our hands as well as our bank accounts.
So I invite you to come see what we’re doing, how we’re changing, how we’re growing, and how each of us and all of us can grow too. If you haven’t attended in a while, I’ll give you the invitation Christ gave to his first disciples which started it all: “Come and See”.
You just might be amazed how your heart will respond. As the old song says, “See you in September.”
Pastor Mark
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