Dear ones,
Last Wednesday morning, parishioners filled the back of Fred Kerby’s truck with green tubs containing 200 coats for Hazel Hill families. It was rainy and cool, and I kept thinking about all the warmth in those coats. Both the physical warmth they would provide as well as the spiritual warmth. These coats carry our love and hope for these young people.
Every week, Trinitarians bring the love of God to our neighbors: Blessings in a Backpack, Tuesday night Outreach, Caregivers Support, Recovery Meetings, and on and on. We have a role in healing this community, in bringing the Light of Christ into the darkest places. We have a history of feeding people physically and spiritually. Our common life together - gathering for worship, reading books together, praying together - all these equip us for that work. Love, care, compassion, learning – these are at the heart of Trinity.
As we consider the need around us, we know the church needs to pay bills, to fund ministry and to pay staff salaries. And those bills are largely paid by member pledges. But the Bible tells us that stewardship is more than fundraising; it’s our call to care for people, for the earth, and for the gifts that have been entrusted to us.
In the scriptures, God’s people are instructed to give a tithe, or 10%. This tithe is also referred to as the gift of first fruits, the best of what we have to offer. Our tithe does not make God love us more – that’s not possible. God loves, God is love, and we are loved. The call to tithe acknowledges that we are dependent on God, and everything comes from God. We say it at the beginning of the Eucharistic prayer: “All things come of thee, O Lord, and of thine own have we given thee.” All things, all people, all our money, all our efforts and energy – we bring it all to the altar with some bread and some wine.
Talking about money isn’t easy. We give it amazing power. Look at how gently and even secretly we speak about money. Money itself is a tool; it’s neutral. Money doesn’t have value until we put value on it, its “goodness” or “badness” is our creation. Jesus knew the power of money and the power it holds over us. He spoke frankly about our need to rethink our relationship with our possessions and money in particular. We can take away some of the power money holds by being brave. It takes courage to talk more openly about money. If I’m inviting you to talk more openly (and I am!), then I must be willing to do that, too, so here goes…
When I arrived at Trinity, I promised that I would be transparent about my pledge. Trinity pays me $104,970 and in 2021, I pledged $10,000, which is not quite 10%. For 2022, my pledge is $11,546.70. That’s 11% of my income. I’m working toward 15% total giving. I’m not there yet, but it’s getting easier. I wish I could say I’ve always tithed, but I haven’t. Serving in a parish has offered me a chance to teach and preach about stewardship, and my heart has been changed. Just as helping others somehow blesses us, giving out of our abundance blesses us as well.
It’s great to know that my pledge helps the ministries at Trinity, but I don’t give because the church needs money. I give because I need to give. Giving shapes me and changes my heart. I suspect it does the same for you. When we share what we have, we are changed for the better.
Our theme for Stewardship is “Come and See.” Come and see Trinitarians changing lives through outreach efforts. Come and see neighbors and children walking our outdoor labyrinth. Come and see how hearts are softened through the embodiment of God’s grace and love. I invite you to prayerfully consider your pledge for 2022. Come and see how we might engage our own deep heart work and then listen to how and where God is calling us. Come and see God’s love at work. What a joy to be part of this community of hope and transformation. I’m tremendously blessed to be serving as your rector.
With love,
Mother Cynthia McKenna+
