Preaching - Epiphany 6, Year B

Preaching Resources

Refrain for Epiphany 6:

You have turned my wailing into dancing; * continue reading...

Preaching - Epiphany 5, Year B

Preaching Resources

Refrain for Epiphany 5:
How good it is to sing praises to our God! *
how pleasant it is to honor God with praise!

The readings for the Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany are Isaiah 40:21-31; Psalm 147:1-12, 21c; 1 Corinthians 9:16-23; and Mark 1:29-39. 

Our first two readings remind us of the awesomeness of our Creator and the care that God gives to the whole of Creation. Both of these readings set our hearts in gratitude for the gift of the heavens and earth and all that is therein. They remind us whose we are, ...and whose all other people are. We are all children of God, sisters and brothers - siblings born out of our Creator.

Our epistle and gospel readings this week wrap these ideas together and present us with the implications of our divine-sibling love. I love the NIV translation of 1 Corinthians 9:16 because of the use of the phrase, "I am compelled to preach". In the depth of Paul's theology he can't help but deliver the good news to his fellow children of God - those under the Law and those outside the Law. The law of Christ, which is to love one's neighbor as oneself, demands this of him and compels him to preach it to both Jew and Greek alike. Woe to him if he does not do it, because he would be keeping the Gospel from his divine-siblings, and therefore not be acting in love. This message has been entrusted to him, not to hoard, but to share with the world in love. It is stewardship of love.

The gospel lesson presents the Good News to us in both action and word through Jesus. Jesus seeks to deliver the message of the Gospel both by acts of whole-making through healing those in need, casting out demons, and by preaching the restoration of Creation as God intended through the coming of God's kingdom on earth. The picture of the healing of Simon's (Peter's) mother-in-law restoring her to health and loving service of her fellow children of God illustrates the work and result of God's kingdom. All is made whole in Christ and through Christ. This is good news and we are "compelled" to share it with all of Creation in both word and deed.

But the echoes of Isaiah 40 and Psalm 147 remind us that this whole-making also refers to the rest of Creation, too, the earth and all that is therein, animal, mineral and vegetable. By caring for these with whole-making and healing, we are caring for our neighbors as ourselves. Part of the stewardship of the Gospel is also stewardship of Creation; and not only humanity, but also those represented by what Francis called Brother Wolf and Sister Moon. We cannot wholly care for our sisters and brothers without caring for the rest of Creation.

So this week we are reminded whose we are; and therefore, who we are. In this we are compelled to be stewards of the Gospel preaching it to all the world with word and deed, because we also are remind whose they are. We all belong to God, the Creator of all the earth.

Don't you think God the Creator wants us to be good stewards of one another (and every "other") in all we say and do?

In Christ,
Lance

The Rev. Canon Lance Ousley
Canon for Stewardship and Development
The Episcopal Diocese of Olympia

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Preaching - Epiphany 2, Year B

Preaching Resources

By Lance Ousley

The readings for the  Second Sunday after the Epiphany are 1 Samuel 3:1-10(11-20); Psalm 139:1-5, 12-17; 1 Corinthians 6:12-20;  and John 1:43-51.   continue reading...

A Christmas Carol Story of Stewardship

Discipleship & Generosity, Preaching Resources

By Dan Conway

We all remember the scene from old movies and TV specials. Two “portly gentlemen,” as Charles Dickens calls them, enter the offices of Scrooge and Marley hoping to raise money “for the poor and destitute who suffer greatly at the present time of year.” continue reading...

A Lay Stewardship Witness

Annual Giving, Preaching Resources

Given by Jim Blum, Episcopal Church of the Nativity, Phoenix/Scottsdale, December 11, 2011

I would like to begin with my favorite morning prayer that I think is very apropos for our Stewardship Campaign this year and our goals and dreams for taking the Church of the Nativity well into the future:  continue reading...

How Do We Give Thanks in the Midst of Loss?

Discipleship & Generosity, Preaching Resources

By Sam Candler

Naturally, most of us enjoy giving thanks at Thanksgiving for the good things of life. continue reading...

We Are the 100%: A Sermon for the Feast of Richard Hooker

Discipleship & Generosity, Preaching Resources

by Dan Joslyn-Siemiatkoski

We are living in times of crisis. continue reading...

St. Paul Motivates His Church's Donors - c. 56 A.D.

Discipleship & Generosity, Stewardship Formation, Year Round & Holistic Stewardship

By Ian Clark

This article is reprinted from the website of the Showcase of Fundraising Innovation and Inspiration, www.sofii.org. The original article can be found here. continue reading...

Preaching Stewardship - Year A, Proper 27

Preaching Resources

Stewardship Sermon Trajectories
for preaching and teaching on stewardship, fund-raising and spiritual depth regarding money and choices
for the readings of Year A, Proper 27
The Rev. Canon Charles LaFond
Canon for Congregational Life, The Episcopal Diocese of New Hampshire
© Concord, New Hampshire, October 2011

(Disclaimer: What follows are some thoughts based on the exegesis of upcoming, Sunday readings as well as from my own reflections on fundraising, life and stewardship, which might lead the reader towards a sermon or class which supports work being done in stewardship (fundraising.) Work to raise money in church (fundraising) and to teach spiritual depth regarding money choices (stewardship) which assists fundraising is a spiritual work with logistical implications and not a logistical work with spiritual implications. The pledge cards may be fantastic with moving, inspiring, full color photos and beautiful design, but if the spiritual formation of the receiver is anemic, the pledge card and all the hard work that went into it is for nothing. Likewise, churches may have both amazing fundraising tools and spiritual teaching around money and choices, but if the mission and outreach among the poor and marginalized is anemic then, because the church does not really deserve the money being asked for, the money will not be given (invested) by generations younger than baby-boomers whose giving is based on a case-for-support which actually changes lives in states of human, physical need. That said, the preaching office is only able to make impact on stewardship/fundraising if a church’s mission and extra-liturgical teaching and formation is being done well.) continue reading...

Sample Stewardship Letters and Mailings

Annual Giving, Best Practices, Congregational Leadership

Click on the links below to download sample stewardship mailings:

A Sample Stewardship Chairperson's Letter continue reading...