Lectionary Reflection for the Fifth Sunday after Pentecost
June 27, 2021
This week’s epistle lesson offers an excellent chance to talk about stewardship and generosity. After all, every sermon should be a stewardship sermon. Read on for ideas for preaching and teaching, worship, and time with youth and children.
“Jesus reframes us ‘stewards’ rather than owners of money and possessions. For me, that’s been transformational for decades,” said Michael Zigarelli, professor of leadership and strategy at Messiah College in Grantham, Pennsylvania. Check out personal finance tips from students, faculty, and alumni. (Photo: Photo © Alfredo Muller – Fotolia.com)
The stewardship of the gospel begins where we are. It is within and outside the congregation that we share the responsibility and accountability with other stewards of the gospel. And it needs to be said as forcibly as possible that what we do is as important as what we say. Someone has wisely observed that “It is not enough to talk the talk, unless we also walk the walk.” (Photo: Sultry,Creative Commons)
Revised Common Lectionary Reflection, 2nd Sunday after Pentecost, Lectionary 9, Year B, June 3, 2018
Sabbath also involves ceasing, resting, and reveling in God’s love, presence, and good creation. It’s a celebration of goodness and grace all wrapped up in a loving promise that this was created and given for our good. One of the greatest gifts we can give one another as the beloved community is permission to take sabbath, even if we do it in creative and non-traditional ways. (Photo: TheDaveC, Creative Commons)
You have only one body, and scripture reminds us that we should take good care of it. It ought to be simple to do so, but it’s not so easy when life is full and multiple priorities get in the way. Here’s a good reminder that seven simple practices can make a big difference in the […]
Here’s a site for you if your congregation has been intending to get busy with planned and legacy giving. From the Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations, this site covers the issue well and provides solid resources to get you going with a planned giving program. Check out its link to the PDF “Planned Giving Guide […]
In this short reflection United Methodist Bishop Ken Carter discusses the need for the congregations and ministers to rediscover three ancient practices of stewardship to fund ministry and mission for the now and future church. Are you already using any of these three models in your context? (Photo: Photo © laurent hamels – Fotolia.com)
We know there are many reasons that people are generous, and now we also know that there is a perception gap between pastors and parishioners when it comes to giving and generosity. Here’s an enlightening read from The Barna Group that sheds light on the differences and offers food for thought about stewardship education and practice […]
Revised Common Lectionary Reflection for the Second Sunday after Pentecost, Year A, June 18, 2017
Faithful ministry and mission in the 21st century is an uncertain (and potentially volatile) mix of sound management and radical risk-taking. This week’s gospel lesson can instill either terror or radical risk-taking into everyday disciples and congregational leaders. Let’s shake the dust of fear off and fling wide the doors to go forth into a hurting and needy world. (Photo: Paxson Woelber, Creative Commons)
Every congregation can do something to increase giving and cultivate stewards. Not doing anything is, in fact, doing something; it’s compromising the future of your faith community. Here are six easy ideas to get your congregation started with stewardship right now. (Photo: Alfredo Muller, Fotolia)
