August
16 - 22, 2004 August
16 - 22, 2004
SOLI/Update
This past weekend Hurricane Charley took an unexpected turn and plowed into an area of Florida that had not anticipated it, and so had not made extensive preparations. Charley’s winds and water destroyed an estimated quarter million homes and thousands of businesses in a rampage estimated to top $15 billion in damage.
Now thousands of people are homeless, and hundreds of thousands lack telephone or electricity or clean water.
Fortunately, churches are responding to the call for help. This week’s Gleanings items focus on the storm and the work of Christians to feed, house, clothe and care for victims.
“Go and do likewise,” Jesus told his disciples at the conclusion of the parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37). Can you or your congregation help Floridians? Check out Lutheran Disaster Response for ideas and updates.
-Rob Blezard, webmaster and editor
Biblical
stewardship Principles
Perfect for inspiration or reference alike, theologians from
the Lutheran
Church-Missouri Synod came up with a wonderful list of eight
biblical principles for stewardship, available in a variety of languages (how
many Lutherans read Portuguese?) and versions for presentation to different
age groups. Uses a Q-and-A format similar to Luther's catechisms.
Proclaiming
stewardship
Here's a gem for pastors who want to emphasize stewardship from
the pulpit and classroom.
Susan K. Hedahl,
professor of homiletics, Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg,
offers tips for sermons and temple talks. "Ask
what the stewardship profile of your congregation is -- Before public
proclamation, it is necessary to ask: Where have we been? As a congregation,
what gifts do we already employ for ourselves and others? Where do we hope to
be in the months, the years ahead? Which resources do we need to consider,
expand, develop?"
In
the Lutheran Laity Movement Archives.
Generous
givers
In its August cover story, the flagship publication of the Presbyterian Church
(U.S.A.) takes a look at church members who give generously -- and the
congregations that cultivate them. "Most who give regularly and generously to
the church view faithful stewardship of money, time and talent as
non-negotiable. What motivates this kind of commitment?" Good reading!
Go
in peace! Serve the poor!
"But
this road in the Christian life, this way of the cross passes by many people
all over the world. It passes by soup kitchens in our neighborhood and
disaster victims in Florida and aids victims in Africa. If we haven't seen
them on our journey maybe it is because we aren't making the journey.'" In
Dana Reardon's weekly reflection.