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Think of us in this way, as servants of Christ and stewards of God’s mysteries. 1 Cor. 4:1

Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received. 1Pet. 4:10

Dear Members and Friends of Gloria Dei,

In my sermon on Thanksgiving Sunday I spoke to you about how the church is the second greatest mystery after Creation which is the greatest wonder of all. And I shared with you how we often perceive the church with detachment or even with negative bias.  I then encouraged us to look at the church with the eyes of compassion - accepting that it is flawed institution, littered with all the of the ways we get it wrong, but that nevertheless, is an instrument of God’s love and work in the world.  

Each one of us are instruments God's love and work in the world, but so is our church building and the budget we vote on each year.  Hidden in the budget lines for building maintenance and staff salaries is ministry: the ministry of gathering each Sunday to hear God's word, and be noursished with spiritual food and worship; the ministry of friendship to our sisters and brothers fleeing the violence of war; the ministry of hospitality to numerous community groups that help knit the social fabric of our society. This is not an exhaustive list, and there are many more ways, we as a congregation in the Lutheran tradition, carry out the ministry and mission of God in the world. 

When we hear the word "stewardship," a word that - as one pastor has has noted - many associate with being guilted and shaken down and provoked to “give more” to the church that pays salaries and has to fix its building.

My hope is that when you hear the word stewardship, instead of these negative associations,  it will instead bring to your imagination all of the things we can do together, when we pool the resources that God has entrusted us with. When you hear the word stewardship my hope is that it will bring to our imaginations the mission of God and all of the resources that God has given us, so that we can share it with a world hungry for food, and music and friendship that nourishes both body and soul.  

In my sermon, I had promised that you will receive a letter from the congregation's leadership, asking you to prayerfully reflect on your financial pledge for 2024. Those letters are starting to go out. Check you church mailbox on Sunday. Others will have their letter by next Sunday, Dec. 3 and others will receive an email.

As you prayerfully read over the letter I am inviting to think about how everything we have—including our money—really belongs to God and to discern how God is asking you to be part of God’s work in the world through this body of Christ called Gloria Dei.  And to give thanks for the mysteries of God’s love at work in this place!

Yours in Christ, 

Pastor Vida