News

This fall marks the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation — an event at the roots of the Presbyterian Church, when a group of people committed themselves to reading the Bible and found the imagination to challenge the status quo. Sometimes we think that the way things are is the way things have to be. But that’s definitely not true. Will you join me in this season to look at the status quo of our lives and imagine how we might live reformed and renewed?

This summer we looked at how our whole lives, from Sunday through Saturday, are lived through the lens of vocation. We reflected on how we use our gifts, talents, and resources to serve Christ in every aspect of life, from church to family to work. This fall, we will participate in a stewardship program rooted in the reflective, imaginative faith of the Reformation, called “Reforming Stewardship.” By seeing our lives in a new way, we hope to follow in the steps of the reformers, renewing ourselves and our community.

“Stewardship” is a word we hear a lot in the fall, and it makes us think of pledge drives and requests to give 10%. But stewardship (like vocation) is not just about what we give to church; it’s about our whole lives. As people who belong to God, how do we think about the things that belong to us — our time, our talent, and our treasures like physical resources and money?

Our fall stewardship journey will find its foundation in Jesus’ parable of the Good Samaritan, found in Luke 10:33-35:

But a Samaritan while traveling came near him; and when he saw him, he was moved with pity. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, having poured oil and wine on them. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said, ‘Take care of him; and when I come back, I will repay you whatever more you spend.’

This fall we will explore the three areas of stewardship that the Good Samaritan models for us:

• Time: The Good Samaritan had enough time to notice the man who was suffering. He went out of his way to check on the man and then took extra time to take the man to a hotel.
• Talent: The Good Samaritan bandaged the man’s wounds, doing what he knew how to do to address the man’s suffering.
• Treasure: The Good Samaritan poured oil and wine on the man’s wounds, carried him to the inn, and left money for the innkeeper. He shared what he had — using it for the good of another.

It is my hope that this study will encourage us and bring hope and joy to the places in our life where we often find anxiety, scarcity, and worry. On November 19, we will have a chance to pledge to the church in these three areas, but I hope that you will also think creatively about how you might want to steward your lives in every area — not just church. I pray that the Spirit will bring reform and renewal both in your life and in the community of Eliot Church.

The Pastor and the Faithful should not deceive themselves into thinking that they are a religious society, which has to do with certain themes; they live in the world. We still need — according to my old formulation — the Bible and the Newspaper. (Karl Barth, 1966)

I generally enjoy reading and watching the news. I like to know what is happening in our country and around the world. I believe being informed about local and national politics is not only my duty as a responsible citizen but also my duty as a follower of Christ. The call to care for the poor, the widow, the orphan, and “the least of these” is not only something I do by volunteering or donating money; it is also something I do by using my voice and vote to craft a city, county, state, and nation that cares for the poor, the widow, the orphan, and “the least of these.”  

Recently, though, I have often turned off the television frustrated with the news I was hearing. More specifically, I have been frustrated with the deep partisanship of our leaders and the apparent deadlock over many important issues. As the debates become more polarized and less friendly, I am tempted to stop listening and worse, to stop participating in the conversation.

Remembering the words of Karl Barth and the ministry of Jesus (which often challenged the political realities of the day), I repent of growing cynicism and apathy.

I also remember that as a Presbyterian, I am not a lone voice. When I feel powerless in the face of a big government and powerful politicians, I remember that as a member of the Presbyterian Church, I am part of a wider voice seeking to make God’s justice a reality in the world. Did you know that the PC(USA) maintains an office in Washington, D.C., to advocate the interests of the church to the men and women who govern our nation? The Washington Office talks to our leaders about health care, energy use, trade justice, education, criminal justice, immigration, and other key issues. In many ways, the Washington Office serves as the collective voice of Presbyterians. It reminds me that I am not alone and encourages me to keep reading both the Bible and the newspaper. It reminds me that when I might feel powerless to make a change in the world, the Spirit of God is working through God’s people, collectively, to inaugurate God’s Kingdom on earth. It empowers me to add my voice to the holy chorus.

Learn more about the PC(USA) Washington Office at www.pcusa.org/washington.