Sailing the Steward Ship

Offering baskets

Week after week in our Lutheran liturgy we pray with our offerings, “We offer with joy and thanksgiving what you have first given us, our selves, our time, and our possessions: signs of your gracious love.”

At Amazing Grace, we’re trying something new. We’ve long collected canned food items, clothes donations, eyeglasses, cell phones, and other items for people in need. Instead of putting them in boxes in the back of the worship space, we now have wicker baskets up front by the altar.

Brining these items is an act of worship. By having the collection point closer to the altar, we make a stronger connection between our social concerns and our worship. It also helps us remember that stewardship is about more than money. Stewardship issues are justice issues.

Widows, budgets, and murder

Three websites that are referenced in this week’s sermon:

A church that gives away money:
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-talk-church-cashnov02,0,5901781.story

A church body that says not to give away money:
http://archive.elca.org/questions/Results.asp?recid=7

A horrible and tragic situation:
http://www.npr.org/blogs/tellmemore/2009/11/bodies_of_11_women_found_at_cl.html