Last Sunday, I was absolutely delighted to share the pulpit with Jonathan Streff to honor the anniversary of Leslie’s Retreat. And this Sunday I will be equally delighted to turn the pulpit over to Marlene Warner and some of our sixth graders to mark the beginning of women’s history month. I can’t think of a better way to launch our Stewardship campaign than with two collaborative services that so perfectly capture our past, present, and future, and celebrate the many ways our community members contribute to the life of this historic congregation.
Leslie’s Retreat Sunday reminded us that our church has a long, fascinating past that shapes and informs our present. We know what it’s like to be witness to pivotal moments in our nation’s history and we have experience discerning how we respond to moments that demand clarity of conscience. The service reminded me of our shared responsibility to be good stewards of that history and to carry that legacy into the future. We are at another pivotal moment in our nation’s history and we desperately need spaces of belonging, respite, spiritual nourishment, discernment, prophetic voice, and faithful resistance. Working with Jonathan also reminded me of the full meaning of church "stewardship," which is about so much more than just money. What a blessing to have someone willing to share this history in such a meaningful and engaging way. We have such deep wisdom, talents, and passion present in this congregation and such a generosity of spirit for sharing those gifts.
This coming Sunday, we will officially kick off the stewardship campaign following a multi-generational lead service. Some of the participants in this service are the same youth who installed the gum-ball machine at church as their contribution to our fundraising efforts—the same group of kids who told me so confidently on my first Sunday here, “You should know we do a lot for this church!” They remind me that stewardship of this congregation isn’t limited by income or age. I love that our congregation embraces that idea with an enthusiasm that is pretty rare, in my experience. Our children and youth know that they are both recipients of the gifts others share and stewards of this congregation in their own right. They also remind me our faith has such a bright, energetic, creative future.
I actually get choked up thinking about the story these two services tell about who First Church has been, who we are, and who we can become. I hope you feel proud when you reflect on this community’s rich history and bright future. You should. And I hope you’ll make that pride, love, and hope concrete by engaging in this year’s stewardship campaign.
The stewardship team has set a visionary financial goal that will put us on a healthy financial trajectory, fund a sustainable staffing structure, support programming for justice and spiritual growth, and help maintain our historic building so we can welcome folks in for years to come. Over the month of March, we will be asking you to take time to think about what the church means to you and how you can contribute financially to its future. But we will also take this time to reflect on stewardship in the fullest sense of the word. This stewardship season is an opportunity to come together and dream big about how our church can show up at this critical moment in history and discuss what unique gifts we have that we can share with one another and our community to make that vision possible.
I hope you’ll join in these conversations beginning this Sunday, March 1st at the Stewardship luncheon in Wilson Hall following service and then at small group potlucks throughout the month. You’ll be able to sign up for those potlucks starting Sunday and I’m going to attend as many of them as possible so I can hear firsthand about your vision for the future of this community.
I am so grateful to the dedicated and enthusiastic stewardship team, Anna Brandenburg, Mike Giauque, Charlie Hildebrand, John Wathne, and John Wendelken. It is, always, a blessing and a privilege to be on this journey with you all. I’m looking forward to this month of creativity, community, and commitment with great joy and anticipation.
In faith,
Danielle