Following Christ Through Thin Times

"But I tell you, unless you repent...." Luke 13:3

Dear People of St. David's,

I pray that you are well. I am writing ahead of my vacation to share some comments about our national church and Jesus' call to follow Him.

St. David's is part of a national body of Christians known as the Episcopal Church. As part of the Episcopal Church, we belong to a huge mosaic of Christian communities and Christian individuals that are varied and different, similar and alike all at the same time. Sometimes this great community looks a lot like St. David's and your Christian life and sometimes it's hard to tell if we share anything in common. And if you've been following the news about our denomination and this most recent General Convention that I attended in Indianapolis, you can get a sense of the variety.

I write about this because several of you have expressed your dismay and disappointment at the downward direction the Church seems to be taking or about decisions that have been made by our community on a number of issues. We as a denomination have seen a decline in rolls like all of the main line denominations. We have also been struggling to find center after several decades of cultural upheaval and change, which to many of us, feels like sifting sands. With these changes, we wonder about the future of the Church and what's next.

These are thin times for many congregations and Dioceses and for our national Church in many ways, yet I am confident and fearless that God is in fact leading the Church and is in the process of renewing it-though it looks much more like Good Friday to some people rather than Easter morning.

This is a long way of saying pay attention to your own following of Christ. It is interesting to have opinions and even judgments about where our Church is going, but if it becomes a distraction from following Christ, then let me invite you to set those opinions aside. I've found, as have many of you, that following in the ways of Jesus is a pretty full-time commitment. So turn to it. Lift your cares and concerns to God and then allow God to make you into the best Christian you can be so that you may experience God's grace and presence and draw others to him by your shining example.


Grace and Peace,
WFA

Rest Awhile

And Jesus said, "Come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest awhile." Mark 6:31

Dear People of St. David's,

I pray that you are well and that you are enjoying these warm and beautiful summer days. This is an amazing part of the world for seasonal variety and is worth our thanksgiving to God.

I've been away a good bit this summer, but not for vacation until now. I flew to Guatemala for the start of the mission trip and to renew our relationships with our companions there. I spent ten days in Indianapolis as a Deputy to our Church's General Convention to participate in the life of the national Church and to make connections to support our mission and ministry. But no vacation until this coming week and I'm ready.

It's important in all of our lives to take a break from the regular. It's so easy to get caught up in our day to day lives with all its activities and commitments and people that it become harder and harder to remember why we're living the way we're living much less hear God's voice in our lives. Even Jesus understood the value of going away from His busy schedule to rest, reflect, renew, re-energize and His life is marked by a pattern of rest and activity, rest and activity.

So, as Amy and I head out on our little vacation adventure this coming week, I encourage you to come away from your life. Be still. Think deep thoughts. Listen for God. Eat good food. Look at your life. Do something ridiculous and rest awhile from your regularly and sometimes over scheduled life and allow the presence of God and God's love to seep into your soul. You'll be glad you did and so will all those around you.
   
Grace and Peace,
WFA

Giving: How Much is Enough

"And so the people were restrained from giving because there was more than enough." Exodus 36:7

Dear People of St. David's,

I pray that you are well and have been considering making plans for your giving in these quieter summer months. It makes such a difference to have a plan. It brings purpose. It brings joy. It makes a difference to the receiver and in your own life. Being proactive in your giving opens the way for God to guide you and encourage you and will give you a better sense of God's generous giving in you life.

All well and good, you say, Frank, but how much is enough? Well the Bible and our Church teach tithing or giving away ten percent of your income for God's purposes and for the good of others. It doesn't have to be to church alone, though I do have a slight bias that way. There are certainly important causes and institutions outside the church that need our support. And please don't make it some kind of legalistic challenge for your life. That's the quickest way to spiritual failure I know and may limit some of you in how much God may be calling you to give. I like to think of the tithe as a goal, like loving your neighbor as yourself. Some days are better than others, but we strive to reach it and trust that God will use our giving in effective ways and forgive us when we fall short.

I don't know the answer to how much is enough, but there is an upper limit as witnessed in the quirky little scripture quoted above from the Book of Exodus. Moses and the Hebrews are gathering treasures to build the ark and the tent of meeting to worship God in their desert wanderings. They pray together and people being bringing gifts to be used for the construction of the worship space. At some point their generosity exceeds the needs of the plan and Moses has to tell them to stop giving because they already have more than enough. I'd like to see that in our own time, but it does give us a sense that giving has limits. That there will be moments, milestones, achievements that let us know that we have given enough and can either rest or invite God to redirect our plans to some other purpose.

When I was younger and even less subtle than I am today (hard to imagine), a friend once asked me how much was enough to give. I responded without even pausing for breath, "That God has given you everything you have and only wants ten percent back. You get to keep ninety percent and in giving will get to see God at work." He reminded me of this years later and I apologized for being so blunt. Apparently he wasn't looking for an apology, but was bringing it up to thank me for setting him on the right path of giving. It has been his pattern for over twenty years and his stories and the people he has come to know through his giving has helped to make his life as rich as anyone's I know.

When you're making your plan, set a limit for your giving. See how it goes and then, if you can, push it a little. I think you will find that you won't miss it, even at ten percent, and your life and the lives of those around you will be blessed immeasurably.

Grace and Peace,
WFA

Joy-filled Giving

I pray that you are well and want to spend a little time this week and next week talking about your giving and mine - and specifically as it relates to giving money. We are in an important capital campaign and will have our annual financial stewardship campaign coming up in October. In the quiet of the summer, I want to offer some thoughts to help you take control of your giving, to be proactive, thoughtful and generous all at the same time.

If you're like me, you are inundated with people asking you to donate to this worthy cause and that worthy cause. The mail is filled with letters asking for our support of people and institutions and research that will make a difference in the lives of others. Even our church asks us for money to support the mission and ministry and to help build buildings. Too many of us, me included, get tired of everyone having their hand out and trying to encourage or guilt us into giving money. We don't have a plan or any kind of theology of giving. Most times we feel pressed and confused about what our best course of action may be. So, sometimes, we give in and write a check or make a pledge. And when we give in this spirit, the joy of giving is lost somehow.

How can we give joyfully? Assuming that you and I will give over the course of our lives, we need to make plans. In fact, having a plan for giving is the start of changing our hearts and making a difference that matters. Think for a moment about who and what is important in your life. That's probably a place where your money will make a difference. Look at what communities and institutions are important to you and to the life of the world and set aside some funds for them. Stop being a reactionary giver and make plans so that you can give to make a difference for others and in your own heart. St. Paul says God loves a cheerful giver, but it's unlikely that you and I are going to be cheerful unless we are thoughtful and proactive about our giving.

God has given all of us gifts. In fact, there is not one thing that you are or one thing that you have that God didn't give you in some way and for some purpose. So, just as God has freely given, make plans to give of yourself. It will fill your heart with both joy and love while making a difference in the world, all at the same time.

Grace and Peace—
WFA