Sunday's gospel starts with disciples obsessing over who's number one, which leads Jesus to say something about God's take on importance and power. Here Jesus makes it explicit that the reversal of values in God's community is a direct challenge to the values of the dominant culture, where wielding power over others is what makes you great. When we pray "your kingdom come" we are praying for an end to tyranny and oppression. We pray this gathered around the cross, a sign of great shame transformed to be the sign of great honor and service.

 

During our one worship service at 9:00 am this Sunday, Oct. 18th, you have an opportunity to make a commitment to our For All The Saints' campaign. Your commitment to help God's kingdom come through All Saints' stewardship of our worship home, the earth, music, and ministry through a three year capital and annual time/talent/treasure pledge commitment to our shared work in Wolfeboro and beyond, is our way of saying God is number one in terms of importance and power in our lives.

 

Congregations that approach stewardship from a biblical perspective do not view the time/talent/treasure we give to the church merely as a way to pay its bills. Rather, such congregations see these commitments as a way to help themselves grow spiritually in their relationship with God by supporting their church's mission and ministry with a pledge of support. We give of our blessings not like members of a social club who should pay dues, but as followers of Jesus Christ who give unselfishly as an act of discipleship. The question to ask yourself before Sunday is, "What percentage of my time/talent/treasure is God calling me to give?"

Sunday we celebrate the many blessings we have been given and our congregational commitment to share these blessings doing God's work as All Saints' Episcopal Church, Wolfeboro. I look forward to seeing you in worship!