How deep is your knowledge of the Son of God? How mature are you in your faith? How close are you to the measure of the full stature of Christ? I wonder how we as a diocesan community are doing at these things. These are questions about Christian formation, spiritual growth, and maturity in Christ.
Labor Day is upon us. It’s the unofficial end of summer. There will be last flings for many “down the shore.” Many will be purchasing school clothes and supplies this weekend, or cars, or other consumer items, talking advantage of the ubiquitous sales across the nation and the internet.
A-M-P stands for Annual Giving, Major Gifts and Planned Giving. Healthy congregations should be actively engaged in all three of these areas of financial stewardship. Faithful financial stewardship is a vital area of Christian discipleship. As summer draws to a close, it is an appropriate time to consider Annual Giving.
Frederick Buechner the man has died, but his words, insights, faithfulness and sage counsel live on through his books. Stop, look, and listen.
Episcopal Community Services of the Diocese of New Jersey is a significant means by which we all can show our love for Jesus by tending to the sheep he has entrusted to us, and especially those who hurt most, who are most fragile and vulnerable. This third Sunday in Easter, as we proclaim the risen Lord, I pray you will join me in giving thanks for the work we are doing together through Episcopal Community Services of the Diocese of New Jersey. More important, I pray you will support the work of the Lord, our feeding the sheep and tending the flock entrusted to our care by generous with your donations and your prayers.
ECS is already making a meaningful and positive impact across the diocese through its education and advocacy work and through the grants it is making to address vital human needs in this part of God’s dominion. The convergence of ECS Sunday with the Second Sunday of Advent is appropriate and powerful.
Gracious and generous God, giver of all we have and hold as stewards; grant the people of this church a deep and abiding awareness that all that we have-our health, our incomes, our jobs, our talents – are gifts received from your hand. Send your Holy Spirit to help us as we swim against the rising tides of materialism and greed in our culture. Send your Holy Spirit to teach us that we make a living by what we get but we make a life by what we give! Send your Holy Spirit to remind us that when we give generously and joyfully, we grow in grace and our spiritual lives are transformed as our stewardship becomes a witness to the love of Jesus Christ in our lives. We pray with grateful, thankful hearts, in the name of Jesus, the Christ…AMEN!
Diocese of New Jersey – Online Sermon 19 Pentecost – Proper 22 – Year B – October 3, 2021 Hebrews 1:1-4, 2:5-12; Mark 10:2-16 Preacher: The Right Reverend William H. Stokes, Bishop of New Jersey In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy
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