Holy Trinity Episcopal Church

“The Lord provides.”

What do we immediately think when someone makes this statement?  What we think may be one clue to our state of faith, or trust in the Divine. Trusting (or not) in the Lord’s provision can be influenced by our experience. In a former church, I remember a time when we needed $10,000 to pay our bills. Some people were anxious about this; others were less concerned because they had past experiences with the Lord’s timely provisions in unexpected ways. One Sunday we celebrated a baptism: it was glorious. After everyone left the coffee hour that day, an usher said to me, “I have something to show you.” Right in front of my face he held up a $10,000 check for the church. Even more wonderful, a note from an out-of-town worshiper accompanied the check. He was so inspired by the baptism, unknowingly, he became a human vehicle for the Lord’s provision - ”unknowingly” because he had no way of knowing the fiscal needs of the church at that particular time.

Recently at Holy Trinity we were notified about a similar “provision” which is forthcoming. Stay tuned, as you will hear more about the details later. This gift was not spontaneously inspired, but a thoughtful, deliberate act of leaving Holy Trinity in a will. There are infinite ways to be vehicles of the Lord’s provisions.

From generation to generation, the Lord provides through the amazing generosity of faithful people.  As this season of pledging to the 2011 operating budget begins, please prayerfully consider how you are a vehicle of the Lord’s provisions. Time, talent, treasure: which to offer when? Ponder briefly. Then actively join in the communion of saints who make their offerings, giving us memories of extraordinary blessings, and reason for our ongoing trust that “the Lord provides.”

Thanks be to God!
Karen+

As many of you know personally, these financial times are challenging.  In all times, we are called to discern how to be the best stewards of all God has entrusted into our care. Recently I have been pondering: “How much money does it really take to live a reasonable life?” Like so many other times, once I begin thinking about something, then I begin hearing stories and other examples that address it (often without me even bringing up the subject).   This is one kind of “answer to prayer,” our prayers sometimes being questions.

Some of you have shared your own stories about simplifying your life.

Choosing to rent rather than own. Changing your residence to a much smaller abode, thereby making decisions about what you can keep, which calls into question what you truly need. Turning off the air-conditioning except in extreme heat, or using one air-conditioner in one room for those hot, balmy days.  Some have given up the dream of paying for children’s higher education, which may be a blessing in disguise: their children are responsible for paying for their own education, which can be especially motivating. I rarely meet a college student who is partying so hardy he is a poor steward of his college education and experience, when he is paying for it himself.

Naturally, how much money it takes for our life varies from person to person and household to household. Yet, in the midst of the current angst about our monetary system, from how it affects our country and the world, to how it affects “me and mine,” we have been presented with the opportunity to truly reflect on our corporate and personal stewardship.

Accompanying the financial landscape is the environmental landscape. The oil spill in the gulf invites us to re-evaluate our lifestyle, and how much of the planet’s resources we are accustomed to using. Recently we have raised several questions at Holy Trinity, even about such simple things as light bulbs. Fortunately, when we checked our exit lights, we discovered that good stewards before us had already changed them to environmentally-friendly (and long-lasting!) bulbs. I pray that corporately and individually, we will continue to make active changes in our lives, however big or small. When we do, we often discover that in caring for Mother Earth, and in helping others as ourselves, we are blessed in unexpected ways: sometimes even lowering the amount of money it takes to live a reasonable life.

Thanks be to God!

Karen+