-Shawn

shawnschreiner@sbcglobal.net

I'm the first of several who, over the next few weeks, will share just a few thoughts about stewardship, as our congregational stewardship campaign gets underway and you consider how you will pledge your support for the church in the coming year.

Since today is All Saints day-one of several feasts during the church year on which we renew the promises made at our baptisms-I want to focus my comments on the connection between baptism and economic stewardship.

In just a few minutes, when we renew our baptismal covenant, the question will be put to us: "Will you continue in the apostles' teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in the prayers?" This question is, of course, a reference to the end of the 2nd chapter of the book of Acts, which describes the day of Pentecost, when the very first converts to Christianity were baptized into the faith.

The story tells of how those first Christians were transformed in their economic lives:

they sold their possessions and opened their homes to one another;

they prayed together in the temple daily,

and they ate their meals together, "with glad and generous hearts."

When I was in Washington, DC, I had the chance to live for one year in a community that sought to model its lifestyle on that of the early church. We lived together from a common purse, and we shared daily in communal meals and prayer time.

It wasn't an easy year, but it was a deeply joyful and transformative one.

And my thinking about money in particular has been forever shaped by it.

My housemates and I learned that it is a powerful and life-giving thing to pool our resources toward a greater good.

And I think, that in that experience, we felt just a tiny sliver of what might have motivated those first Christians to transform their economic lives together as a result of their baptism.

And so today, as we say YES to continuing in the Apostles' teaching and fellowship, I encourage us all to consider what that promise might mean as we decide, in the coming weeks, how we will commit some portion of our household budgets to the common good pursuits of this congregation.

Thank you.

-Nadia Stefko, Grace Church member and vestry member

The United Thank Offering is a long-standing tradition in the Episcopal Church. Placing "thankful coins" in the Blue Box you have at home is also a tradition, one that is rich in spirituality and love. The United Thank Offering, or UTO, began as a part of missionary efforts of the Women's Auxiliary to the Board of Mission in 1889. Their goals that first year were to build a new church in Alaska and to send a woman missionary to Japan. They succeeded in both.

Every coin from every Blue Box and Blue Envelope is given away in grants. Every cent you give, representing your thankful prayers today fulfills the dream for tomorrow's life and gives hope to people all over the world.

A special UTO collection will be held on Sunday, November 18th.  This is the same day as the Parish Thanksgiving Dinner.  Your money and prayers have built churches, made needed renovations, fed the hungry, clothed the poor, provided shelter for the homeless and have provided care and support for those with physical, mental and emotional problems.  You can pick up a UTO envelope in the back of church that morning.  Please make your check payable to UTO or United Thank Offering. 

In our area, your offerings have enabled grants to be given to St. Paul the Redeemer and Messiah-St. Bartholomew, both in Chicago.  At St. Paul's, the Supreme Bean, a coffee shop and youth center in the parish hall, provides a safe, healthy, clean and positive space for nearby high school students.  Messiah-St. Bartholomew has used the funding to buy computers to start a technical learning center to help underprivileged youth and adults build skills for job readiness.

The power of the Blue Box is unlimited.  Keep one on the kitchen counter, on your dresser or in the car.  It can be personal or shared by the whole family.  Drop a coin or two in every day.  It can make a difference in your life as well as the person receiving your offerings.

WORKING ON YOUR CHRISTMAS SHOPPING LIST?
PLEASE DON'T FORGET TO ADD

ONE MORE SPECIAL NAME ...

Through the Cathedral Shelter Christmas Basket program, Grace Church will supply Christmas gifts and food for over 50 individuals this year. Grace will be providing gifts as well as Jewel gift cards for these families and seniors. The Outreach Committee has generously offered to purchase the Jewel cards, so those participating in the program need only purchase gifts.    

Thank you in advance for your support of this very important program!