Words from the Pastor

A Sacred Trust

We give thee but thine own, whate’er the gift may be; 
all that we have is thine alone, a trust, O Lord from thee. 

We sing that response each Sunday as our offerings are brought forward.  I wonder, what does it mean to live those words, to live our lives believing with every fiber of our being that “all that we have is thine alone, a trust O Lord from thee”?  A sacred trust.  

I am reminded of the first question and answer of the Heidelberg Catechism. 

What is your only comfort in life and in death?
That I am not my own, but belong—body and soul—
to my faithful Savior Jesus Christ.

We belong to God, who created us in God’s image, and who holds us in the palm of God’s hand.  Oh but there is more.  Not only do we belong to God, body and soul, everything that we have including our possessions and our money belong to God.

“But,” you may ask, “ Doesn't my money belong to me? After all, I worked hard for it.  It’s only fair, I deserve it; it’s mine.”

Ah, but what of our creator who gave us the means to earn that money?  We have been named and claimed as God’s own.  By virtue of our baptism, each of us is a child of God, a disciple of Christ, a member of the church.

All that we have is thine alone, a trust, O Lord from thee. 

Do we see ourselves, all that we are and all that we have, as a sacred trust from God?  And how does that change the way we live our lives?

These are not easy questions.  And whenever we are faced with difficult questions, it is important that we pray about them.  What does it means in your life and mine that everything we have belongs to God?  Pondering that question in prayer is a great way for each of us to grow in our faith.  And God is forever and always nudging us to grow in our faith.

Very shortly you will be receiving a letter challenging you to grow your faith by growing your giving.

God wants us to use our money, which is really God’s, to support Christ’s mission here on earth.  We do so here at Pennsburg United Church of Christ, 

•by teaching our children just how much Jesus loves them,

•by feeding the hungry around the corner and around the world,

•by caring for our aging.

It is our prayer, the prayer of your leaders, the consistory, the stewardship team and your pastor, that you will indeed pray, asking God to show you how you can grow your faith by growing your giving!

Yours in Christ’s Service,

Pastor Becca