Stewardship
Why I Give to All Saints’
When Bonnie ask me to speak today,
I said sure without hesitation.
And then I realized how many people would be here
and I got a bit nervous.
And I started thinking that Morgan,
My three-year-old, would be dressed like a sheep,
and probably wandering from the flock.
And there was no way I could speak
AND manage her at the same time.
And then I realized, “Oh, but Matt will be here,
and he’ll watch her.”
My husband, Matt, isn’t a regular attendee,
but he wouldn’t miss the pageant.
And then I thought, “Oh God, Matt WILL BE HERE.”
And Matt doesn’t really know we give money
to All Saints.
Believe me, he knows I give time.
And I’d like to take this moment
to thank him again for encouraging me to
take the trip to New Orleans before I tell him,
that “yes, honey, I’ve been giving money
to All Saints.”
You see, Matt’s always had this saying –
What’s yours is yours
And what’s mine is yours.
But I may have been taking that too literally,
And now I’m glad he’s here so I can explain
why I’ve been giving what’s ours to All Saints.
Two and a half years ago, I came here for the
same reason I’m sure many people do –
They think their kids need church.
Not that they as adults do.
No, not me, but the kids.
You see, I’d read the article that said kids need something
to rebel against as teenagers,
And plus, they were starting to ask questions about God
I just couldn’t answer.
So my three girls and I started coming on Sundays,
And to be honest, church got mixed reviews.
We knew Morgan liked it because she found
Bonnie and has never really left her side since.
And I liked it too – the social part.
Okay, and the community outreach.
And the social justice efforts.
But the religion part – I wasn’t so sure.
But we joined the parish and I made a pledge.
Why?
Because when I asked Bonnie if there was anything
I could do, she handed me a stewardship form and said,
“Give money.”
And then a year later, things here began to change for me.
One day I woke up and I realized my life was heading
in a direction I wasn’t happy about.
The business I’d started 10 years ago to take control
of my career was now controlling me, and I was miserable.
Financially comfortable, but miserable.
But that day, I knew there was a place and people I could turn to
who could help me look at things differently,
And for the first time in my life,
I honestly feel like I opened myself to the power of God.
I didn’t have to handle this alone.
And now it’s clear to me why I give money to All Saints.
Because I honestly believe
that the things people say
and the things people do within this congregation
change lives.
And not just mine,
but the lives of everyone who walks through these doors.
Be it for church services, the food pantry, AA meetings,
weddings, baptisms or funerals.
Not to mention those who encounter us as far away
As New Orleans or Sudan.
Charles Dickens said that
“Change begets change.
Nothing propagates so fast.”
This past Thursday was my last day of work
And I know 2007 will bring more change.
For one, I will probably need to start telling Matt
where we’re spending his hard-earned dollar.
But I also hope with our contribution to All Saints
that I can help foster change for someone else.