May 22-28, 2006
May 22-28, 2006
SOLI/Update
www.stewardshipoflife.org
OK, Pastor. You preach the gospel in its purity
and administer the sacraments with fidelity to the Scriptures. You see
evidence that the Word of God is working in your congregation. Good job! So
now what else can you do to help your congregation members live better, more
fulfilled lives?
Help them to be happy.
How? Community. After you've perfected ministry of Word and
Sacrament, transform the church a place where they can make friends, find
companionship, interact with people who have the same values and interests.
Studies show that people are happiest when they have lots of what Harvard
researcher Robert Putnam calls "social capital" -- measured in the degree to
which they have good, trusting relationships with friends and family.
And when it comes to happiness, social capital is much more valuable than
money capital. In his research, Putnam found that while Americans have gained
much income in recent years, they simultaneously lost social capital as our
culture became more mobile, more fragmented and more isolated. As a result,
happiness declined even as income rose. (Click
here to read about Putnam's research and how it is inspiring Canadian
officials to action. Read other articles about happiness in
Gleanings.)
Other studies show America is not alone in this phenomenon of declining
happiness and rising income. UK researchers say 52 percent of Britons in 1957
considered themselves very happy, whereas only 36 percent do today (click
here to read a report). At the same time, Britons have three times as much
income today than in 1957 -- when England was still recovering from World War
II.
Churches can lend a hand by helping our members to build up "social capital"
with one another. Here are some ideas: Form small groups, arrange retreats,
hold potluck suppers, make coffee hour a regular part of church life, host
family game nights, offer "marriage builder" classes, plan a great annual
picnic, appoint several mentors to new members, offer community day care, go
on field trips to museums and shows, organize a
bridge/chess/Monopoly/dominoes/backgammon club and tournaments.
In John's Gospel, Jesus says he came that we
would have life with more abundance Churches can help lead the way.
(c) Copyright 2006 by the Rev. Rob Blezard, webmaster for the
Stewardship of Life Institute,
www.stewardshipoflife.org.
Used by permission.
)
New This Week:
Thomas
Berry:
Ethics and Ecology
In this address, theologian Thomas Berry frames the issues of environmental
stewardship. "The natural world surrounding us is simply the context in which
human affairs take place. Our relations with this more encompassing community
are completely different from our relations to the human world. In the
presence of the human, the natural world has no rights."
Click
here for "Ethics and Ecology." From the
Environmental Ethics and
Public Policy Program.
The Practice of
Stewardship:
A Spiritual
Discipline in Response to God's Grace
"The practice of stewardship begins with hearing the Good News of Jesus
Christ. It is the power of the Holy Spirit working through Word and Sacrament
that changes our hearts and wills so that we become the generous children of
God. ... Stewardship is everything that we do after we say, 'I believe.'" A
good essay from Gary Hedding, assistant to the bishop of the Northwest Synod
of Wisconsin.
Click here for "The Practice of
Stewardship," from the
Association of Lutheran Resource Centers.
Personal
fulfillment versus fulfilling God's purposes
"I have been thinking a lot about what it means to be stewards of the
mysteries of God. We talk a lot in stewardship circles about using our gifts.
And each of us has great gifts that can be used for the glory of God. But the
Gospel is a greater gift and all the others are in service to it."
Click here for this column from Pastor
Dana Reardon.
Click here to peruse columns from her
archives.
For Youth!
10-10-80: Empowering Steward Leaders
It's
a problem facing many a parent and congregation: How to teach youth to handle
money responsibly. This program inspires young people to give 10 percent, save
10 percent and spend 80 percent. Good lessons for people of all ages. Includes
free online materials and a DVD available for a nominal cost of $5.
Click here
to learn more about 10-10-80, produced by three Lutheran Synods in Wisconsin,
the ELCA Department for Communication and Augsburg Fortress Publishers, with
funding from Thrivent Financial for Lutherans. This week's
Treasure Chest offering.