Good and Faithful Servant!

What do you give to your church? What does it cost you?
 
As we return our giving pledges this week and calculate the cost, you may respond saying “A LOT!”
 
Your financial sacrifice is truly appreciated! Thank you for praying and discerning God’s guidance for your level of commitment and giving. You are amazing and appreciated for who you are, all you do, and all you give!
 
We will give more thanksgiving next week on Sunday 25th and ask God’s blessing over our pledges and give thanks for His provision and faithfulness to each of us, our families, and our Church Family. There is much to give thanks for so please come prepared to share thanksgiving stories, food, and more of our lives with one another.
 
In the meantime, this coming Sunday (Sept 18) let us consider what else God has given us to be responsible for (In addition to money). I am of the true belief that everything I/we have comes from God, and I/we have a responsibility to be faithful with it – and to govern it well!
 
This week as we look at faithful “Governance” – which is our 6th and final pillar in the Mission Action Plan, (MAP). I have appreciated reflecting on the good and faithful governance of Queen Elizabeth. I agree with the words which Bishop Paul sent to Clergy this week “How good it has been to be encouraged by the Queen’s personal Christian faith. There is an account of her saying to a chaplain that she was so hoping the Lord will return in her lifetime. The chaplain asked why, and her reported reply was, ‘I would so love to lay my crown at His feet.’ I suspect the burden of office was a factor in her thinking, but even more that the true and great King is Jesus Christ. More and more we need to remember that he is our King, and we need to humbly submit to him, even now, and not feed the temptation to be king of our own realm, to draw attention to ourselves, to always insist on our own way, to feed a sense of self-importance. Thank you, Ma’am, for your example. Come Lord Jesus, come soon.”
 
These are timely words to reflect on. As are the readings for this Sunday: Matthew 24:42-51 and Matthew 25:13-30.
 
May these passages remind us that Jesus Christ is indeed coming at an hour we don’t know, and so we ought to live as if it might be today! With this mindset, let’s ask ourselves: “Am I being faithful in living out what God’s called me to do at this time with my skills, energy and talents (in addition to money)? When I meet my maker will he say “Well done good and faithful servant?”
 
Maybe keep this question in mind as we ask for more volunteers to serve on the committee of “Friends of St. James the Less Historic Church”?
 
If you have any interest in or knowledge of our beautiful Heritage building and would like to contribute to help maintain the property, write grant applications, fundraise, and find new ways to connect the local community to our Heritage Church then please consider joining our team.

If this responsibility isn’t for you, there are many other ways and opportunities to serve. Whatever we choose to put our hands to, and however we use our time, gifts and money, may each one of us someday hear our Lord say; “Well done good and faithful servant”.
 
I’ll be saying this to you on Sunday.
 
I hope to see you then.

Rev. Tanya