My Blog

Tag: Stewardship

  • The Mission Field at Our Doorstep

    This reflection is about an epiphany from one of the saints I have known, Marjorie B. Lester. I became Marjorie’s pastor at Houston’s Bering Memorial Church in January of 1978 when she was 95 years old. Marjorie was born in Kentucky in 1882. Her father was murdered when Marjorie was not quite 5 years old. She married when she was 15, bore three children, and was widowed at the age of 46. Somehow, in the early years of her marriage, she managed to study law and was the second woman admitted to the bar in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Around 1910, the Lester’s moved to Texas, first to Hardeman County, then to Corpus Christi. She told me that following the death of her husband she moved to Houston to take a position in charge of corporate records for United Gas Pipeline, which position she held until her retirement in 1947. After retirement, Marjorie devoted much of her time, talent, and energy to programs for seniors. In 1957, she was appointed to the Governor’s Committee on Aging and in 1958, President Dwight D. Eisenhower appointed her to the White House Conference on Aging. She died at the age of 101.
     
    It was my first time to serve as a senior pastor and she was in many ways a mentor to me as she had been for pastors who preceded me. In October of my first year at Bering, our stewardship campaign theme was “Open the Doors.” The pledge cards were printed and folded to resemble the main doors of the church. On the Sunday members were asked to complete their pledge cards and bring them to the Altar, Marjorie raised her walking cane in the air and asked to say a few words to the congregation. She came to the front of the nave, stood facing those who were gathered there, leaned on her cane, and challenged everyone to give generously. She concluded her remarks by pointing to the doors of the church with that cane and saying, “The Apostle Paul would be envious of the mission field at our doorstep.” She then returned to her pew and sat down. 60% of the pledge cards turned in that morning had the original numbers erased or crossed out and higher amounts filled in!
     
    Marjorie’s closing words rang in my ears for the remaining eight years I served in that place and they have remained with me ever since. It became my practice at the end of the service to invite worshipers to turn and face the door of the church for the Dismissal. From there, through the door of the church, near the Baptismal Font if possible, and with the Book of the Gospels in my hands, having been nourished by Word and Sacrament, I send Christ's followers into “the mission field at our doorstep.”
     
    Above the Choir in the front of that church is a stained glass window I have never especially liked. It is a poor representation of William Holman Hunt’s famous painting of Jesus “The Light of the World” knocking on a door. In Hunt’s painting, there is no latch on the door, the implication being that it must be opened from the inside. However, in this particular window, there is a huge latch right there in front of Jesus. I could never reconcile the window with what I believed about the way Jesus enters our lives.
     
    Until recently! A story shared by Bishop Scott Mayer in a sermon at the Ordination of Deacons provided the very insight I needed. It was a story told by a Roman Catholic Cardinal, Blasé Cupich of Chicago – a story about the days leading up to the Conclave to choose the current Pope. In the days leading up to the Conclave, it is their practice for the gathered Cardinals to deliver addresses designed to help their colleagues discern where the Holy Spirit is calling the Church.
     
    Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio of Argentina took his turn and remarked that, “In the Revelation to John, Jesus says that he stands at the door and knocks.” “The idea,” he continued, “is that Jesus is knocking from outside the door.” But Cardinal Bergoglio inverted the image … and asked his fellow Cardinals and indeed the whole Church to consider “the times in which Jesus knocks from within so that we will let him come out.” When the Church keeps Christ to herself and does not let him out … it becomes “self-referential – and then gets sick. The Church must go out of itself to the peripheries, to minister to the needy.”
     
    Evidently, Cardinal Bergoglio spoke the words the Church needed to hear, for he was called. We know him now as Pope Francis.
     
    Jesus wants to lead us out into the mission field at our doorstep, as Marjorie so powerfully envisioned it 45 years ago this month. I rejoice to say that the faithful of Bering Memorial Church are still going out there, responding with love and compassion to the needs of others. The doors continue to open outward and through them all kinds of people come and go. Marjorie was one of them. There is no way to even estimate how many lives she has touched. I am grateful she touched mine and, hopefully, many others who’ve heard my stories about her.

    Faithfully,

    Ron Short Blue Sig Cropped

     

     

     

     

    The Very Reverend Ron Pogue

  • Don’t forget to remember!

    A Ray of HopeDuring Morning Prayer, we often pray A Collect for Guidance:

    Heavenly Father, in you we live and move and have our being: We humbly pray you so to guide and govern us by your Holy Spirit, that in all the cares and occupations of our life we may not forget you, but may remember that we are ever walking in your sight; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

    Some days, I wonder if the reason it is so difficult for the Church to attract the attention and devotion of her people is because our busyness causes forgetfulness. Or, could it be that we are distracted? That's certainly a possible explanation during this time of pandemic, politics, economic uncertainty, unemployment, and a host of other distractions.

    Has our generation forgotten God? Or, is it that, given all the other things we have to remember, we just don't think of God that often. Maybe we are "practical atheists." By that I mean, we believe in God but don't allow God to have that much to do with our lives.

    What does it teach our children when we never forget an athletic event but don't remember to be present for worship and Sunday school? What does it say about our values when we leave a 15% tip on the table at the restaurant but balk at the idea of 10% for God? What does it say about our integrity when we have time for the news, weather, and sports but not for daily prayers?

    Do we just forget to remember God?

    If so, we're not the first generation to do so. People forgot to remember God after the death of Joshua and his generation. "Moreover, that whole generation was gathered to their ancestors, and another generation grew up after them, who did not know the Lord or the work that he had done for Israel" (Judges 2:10).

    This is not a rant about making America a "Christian nation" or about how bad people are. It's a reminder to myself to rearrange my life so that the Lover of my soul is not left out and life can be what it is meant to be. I'm missing so much when I'm not trying to see the world and the people around me as God sees. I want to please those I love. I want to please God. But without God, I cannot please God.

    So, today, I invite you to pray with me to God, "…that in all the cares and occupations of our life we may not forget you, but remember that we are ever walking in your sight."

    Blessings,

    Ron Short Blue Sig Cropped

     

     

     

     

    The Very Rev'd Ron Pogue
    Interim Rector
    St. Martin-in-the-Fields Episcopal Church
    Keller, Texas

  • The Christian Lifestyle

    A Ray of HopeJesus summed up the lifestyle God wants us to live a few words; "The first commandment is this: Hear, O Israel: The Lord your God is the only Lord. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. The second is this: Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these" (Mark 12:29-31).

    The call to be faithful stewards of God’s bounty is the call to a lifestyle – a way of life – that acknowledges that everything we have belongs to God and that we are managers of a sacred trust. We fulfill that vocation through the spiritual disciplines of worship, proclamation, teaching, presence, fellowship, service, and offerings. We commit ourselves to offer God the very best we have in the confidence that when God receives our offering, joined with the offering of Christ, it will be pleasing to God and accomplish the things God’s heart desires to accomplish through us. There may be no vocation in the universe that is greater or more of a wonder than the vocation of stewardship. It makes us unique among creatures. It makes us human. It is an expression of our creation in the image of God, whose love created and sustains the universe.

    To avoid faithful participation in the life of the Church because we are too busy should be evidence to us that we are simply too busy. To avoid tithing because we think we don’t have enough is to underestimate how bountifully God has blessed us and is evidence that we are living both materially and spiritually beyond our means.

    Loving God with all our heart, and soul, and mind, and strength, and loving our neighbor as ourselves involves giving the best we have, devotion to this shared way of life, and an understanding that the life God wants us to live demands faithful participation of each one of us.

    Loving God and our neighbor is the essence of how God created life to be lived. It is not meant to be simply an abstract theological concept to which we give intellectual assent. It is meant to be carried out in tangible ways. It is meant to be the driving force in the life of the community of God’s people. It is meant to be central to our witness to others that God will always give us enough to be generous.

    St. Martin's has a heritage of expressing God's love through generous hospitality and inclusiveness. Even during this pandemic, that work goes on. All who have been the beneficiaries of that generosity want to be sure that it continues into the future when this strange season is over.

    This Sunday, October 4, we will come together in the parking lot and online to renew our commitment to faithful and generous stewardship of the treasure entrusted to us in the coming year. As we approach this day, let us be mindful of God’s bountiful love and care. We’ve experienced it for ourselves and we want to help others know the same blessing.

    So don’t hold back! Give God the opportunity to use your life and all the blessings that have been entrusted to you in ways that become tangible evidence of your love for God and for your neighbor. And, through the miracles that God will perform in your life, you will see that it is also the best way of loving yourself.

    The night before one of his musicals was to open, Oscar Hammerstein pushed past Mary Martin, his singing star, in the soft red glow of the semi-darkness of the curtained stage and pressed into her hand a slip of paper. On it were these words, which later were to become the basis of one of the hit numbers in the uncut version of "The Sound of Music."

    A bell's not a bell 'til you ring it.
    A song's not a song 'til you sing it.
    Love in your heart wasn't put there to stay.
    Love isn't love 'til you give it away!

    (Have a listen!)

    Bountiful blessings for you and yours!

    Ron Short Blue Sig Cropped

     

     

     

     

    The Very Rev'd Ron Pogue
    Interim Rector
    St. Martin-in-the-Fields Episcopal Church
    Keller, Texas

  • Creation Has Been Given Into Our Care

    A Ray of HopeDuring the next few weeks, we will be hearing a lot about faithful stewardship in preparation for Consecration Sunday, October 4. We're asking everyone to save the date and plan to worship together that morning either in the parking lot or online. While we are passing through this pandemic, we need all the hope, gratitude, and generosity we can summon. That's why we've chosen as our theme the words of the Prophet Jeremiah: "For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope" (Jeremiah 29:11).

    Members of the parish will be sharing wonderful testimonials about stewardship and their faith journeys. I hope you will take the time to read them and listen to them. I, too, have a story to share. It is basically the same every year. I shared it with you when I arrived last year and I'm sharing it again for emphasis, for it represents the theological foundation that guides how I follow the spiritual practice of stewardship.

    Creation Has Been Given Into Our Care.

    In the very first chapter of the very first book of the Bible, we read that God created human beings in God’s own image. God blessed our species, entrusted the rest of creation into our hands, and gave us all the gifts we will need to fulfill our unique purpose.

    This ancient passage is the basis for our Christian theology of stewardship.

    • To be created in the “image” of God means to be a living witness to the Creator and to be an official representative of the Creator on planet earth.
    • To “subdue” the earth means to bring things under control and to manage them according to God’s purposes.
    • To have “dominion” means that human beings have been appointed as the rulers and protectors of all living things, serving under the ultimate sovereignty of God, their Creator.

    So, human beings have been entrusted with the vocation of stewardship, the call and commission to represent our Creator in caring for everything in the amazing universe that has been given to us to sustain all life.

    God doesn’t expect such things from other creatures nor has God equipped other creatures for such a role. Birds, for example, build essentially the same kind of nest every year. A robin builds a robin’s nest. A cardinal builds a cardinal’s nest. A hummingbird builds a hummingbird’s nest. From one generation to another, each kind of bird builds the kind of nest into which it came into this world.

    Humans, on the other hand, have the capacity to build an infinite variety of buildings for an infinite variety of purposes. We build houses, schools, hospitals, office buildings, convention centers, and churches. Every one of them can be different from the others and from those that we built a generation or a year ago.

    The vocation of stewardship is given uniquely to human beings. Therefore, it is one of the chief attributes that makes us human.

    Everything we have, whether spent, saved, or given away, is a sacred trust from God. We are stewards of all of it.

    Nothing pleases God more than for us to consciously live our lives as God envisioned. To understand ourselves as stewards of God’s bounty is the perfect way to do that. When we deliberately surrender to God a portion of our time, talent, gifts, and service, as a spiritual practice, we consecrate all the rest of our resources and declare our intention, with God’s help, to manage the rest in ways that please God. In that way, we become fully alive children of God.

    What a remarkable way to honor and glorify God.

    Blessings,

    Ron Short Blue Sig Cropped

     

     

     

     

    The Very Rev'd Ron Pogue
    Interim Rector
    St. Martin-in-the-Fields Episcopal Church
    Keller, Texas

     

  • Extravagant Generosity

    (Continuing a series based on Bishop Robert Schnase's book, Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations)

    51mChVECPeLGenerosity describes the Christian’s unselfish willingness to give in order to make a positive difference for the purposes of Christ.  Congregations that practice Extravagant Generosity provide ministries that address our spiritual need to give in ways that exceed all expectations and extend to unexpected measures. Fruitful congregations thrive because of extraordinary sharing, willing sacrifice, and joyous giving out of love for God and neighbor.

    Here are a few excerpts regarding the spiritual practice of extravagant generosity from Bishop Robert Schnase’s book Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations:

    “Generosity enlarges the soul, realigns priorities, connects people to the body of Christ, and strengthens congregations to fulfill Christ’s ministries. Giving reflects the nature of God.”

    People who give generously give because they:

    • Love God
    • Love the Church
    • Desire to grow in love of neighbor

    “Churches that model Extravagant Generosity give joyously, generously, and consistently in ways that enrich the souls of members and strengthen the ministries of the Church.”

    “As people grow in relationship to Christ, they grow also in the practice of Extravagant Generosity, offering more of themselves for the purposes of Christ and providing the resources that strengthen ministry and that help the Church touch the lives of more and more people in the same way their own lives have been transformed by God.”

    “Giving is central to Jewish and Christian practice because people perceive God as extravagantly generous, the giver of every good gift, the source of life and love. People give because they serve a giving God.”

    The Bible is chock full of examples of the significance of generosity both on the part of believers and on the part of God. In every example, giving is always extravagant, life-changing, and joyous.

    A passage that speaks clearly to both divine and human generosity is the Parable of the Prodigal Son. The word “prodigal” means “spendthrift.” The son greedily and prematurely demands his inheritance, moves away, then squanders his treasure. He is a prodigal in the sense that he is spendthrift of his treasure. We see in him what happens when there is an unhealthy relationship with one's possessions. When the son realizes what he has done, he returns home. Upon his return, his father runs out to greet him. The father is a prodigal also in that he is a spendthrift of his love and forgiveness. In the father’s extravagant generosity, we get a glimpse of the generosity of God.

    And nothing prompts generosity in us as powerfully as experiencing the generosity of God. Whether it is in the forgiveness of our sins or the blessings we enjoy, our own generosity is largely a reflection of our awareness of and response to God's generosity toward us. As we have been reminded several times recently, we are created in the image of an extravagantly generous God and, therefore, such generosity is in our DNA. We are created to be the most generous of all God's creatures.

    Sunday, October 20, is Consecration Sunday at our church. Estimate of giving cards will be distributed during the 10:30 a.m. service and we will fill them out and present them at the Altar as an act of worship. This is an opportunity for us as a community of faith to respond to God's generosity as we renew our commitment to the spiritual practice of extravagant generosity through faithful stewardship of the treasure entrusted to us. This is always an important event in the life of a church community, but even more so during the transition between rectors because it is an opportunity for the true spirit of the members to shine forth. Take some time to pray about your response and to consider how you might grow in giving in the coming year.

    I'll see you in Church!

    Ron Short Blue Sig Cropped

     

     

     

     

    The Very Reverend Ron Pogue
    Interim Rector
    St. Martin-in-the-Fields Episcopal Church
    Keller, Texas

  • Live Your Legacy Now

    Legacy – Something handed down from one generation to another…

    There are many ways people leave legacies. For example:

    • A legacy of wise leadership
    • A legacy of moral character
    • A legacy of professional excellence
    • A legacy of compassion
    • A legacy of faithfulness
    • A legacy of friendship

    All of these, along with many other qualities and accomplishments, are worthy of our attention. While we focus on what endures beyond our lifetime, the truth is that we must live our legacy now in order for there to be something to pass along to the next generation. Each day, how we live our lives, practice our vocation, relate to others, contribute to the welfare of our society, is an investment in the legacy that remains when we have reached the end of our days.

    In Church circles, when the term “legacy” is used, it is most often in reference to monetary gifts bequeathed to a church by members, as in “Legacy Stewardship.” In fact, that is one very important way one generation can hand something of value down to another generation. And, like any legacy, we have to live it day by day in order for there to be something to pass along.

    At St. Andrew’s Cathedral, we have a permanent endowment, contributions to which are held in trust, invested and reinvested, with only a portion of the earnings made available to spend on the purpose for which the gifts have been restricted by the donor. Our endowment makes it possible to maintain our historic facilities, do extraordinary things to strengthen parish and diocesan life (e.g., music, youth, formation), and to serve our neighbors in need.

    Much of our discussion about the Cathedral endowment focuses on estate planning, wills, trusts, and bequests. All of those things seem more of interest to our communicants who are retiring or who have come to the point where they want to be sure their affairs are in order as they face a shorter future.

    Here is another way of thinking about legacy stewardship, one that may be of interest to younger families and individuals. It is possible to name an endowment fund when contributions to that fund reach $25,000. You can make a pledge to create such a fund and add to it as you are able. In fulfillment of your pledge, you can invest a certain sum each year for a certain number of years to reach the goal of $25,000 in a designated fund. At that point, you can name the fund.

    What’s even better is that your endowed fund at St. Andrew’s Cathedral will be there in perpetuity. You, members of your family, or others who want to honor you can make a gift to it at any time, before or after it is named, increasing the legacy you have begun. And, when you reach the age when you are facing retirement or the end of your days, it will be there, almost like a member of the family, to be included in your estate plans.

    If you are interested and want to have a confidential conversation about how to live your legacy in this way, contact the Endowment Committee (endowment@standrews.ms).

    Think about it.

    I’ll see you in Church!

    Ron Short Blue Sig Cropped

     

     

     

     

    The Very Reverend Ronald D. Pogue
    Interim Dean
    St. Andrew’s Cathedral
    Jackson, Mississipi

  • The Christian Lifestyle

    Jesus summed up the lifestyle God wants us to live a few words; “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets’ ” (Matthew 22:37-40).

    The call to be faithful stewards of God’s bounty is the call to a lifestyle – a way of life – that acknowledges that everything we have belongs to God and that we are managers of a sacred trust. We fulfill that vocation through the spiritual disciplines of worship, proclamation, teaching, presence, fellowship, service, and offerings. We commit ourselves to offer God the very best we have in the confidence that when God receives our offering, joined with the offering of Christ, it will be pleasing to God and accomplish the things God’s heart desires to accomplish through us. There may be no vocation in the universe that is greater or more of a wonder than the vocation of stewardship. It makes us unique among creatures. It makes us human. It is an expression of our creation in the image of God.

    Loving God with all our heart, and soul, and mind, and loving our neighbor as ourselves involves giving the best we have, devotion to this shared way of life, and an understanding that the life God wants us to live demands faithful participation. A parable that has been told from thousands of pulpits for who knows how many generations gets to the heart of the matter:

    A small village was excited to discover that it would soon receive a visit from their beloved King. Community leaders immediately began planning for the great event. Everyone agreed that they wanted to present a gift to the King that would represent their appreciation for his benevolent supervision and management of the realm. But the village was poor and couldn’t afford a gift worthy of a King as great as theirs.

    Someone suggested, “We have wonderful vineyards and produce the best wine in the land. Let each of us bring the best wine from our cellars and create a great vat of wine to present to our beloved King!” The people embraced the idea with enthusiasm. Over the next several days, they brought bottles of their best wine and poured it into a large vat that would be presented to the King upon his arrival.

    It occurred to some of the townspeople, however, that with so many people contributing wine to the large vat, their own contribution would not make much difference. “With so much wine,” they reasoned, “my failure to contribute will neither be noticed nor missed.” So people brought bottles filled with water instead of wine.

    The day of celebration arrived. The village leaders proudly made their presentation of the town’s best wine to the King. They raised their glasses in honor of His Majesty and tasted the best wine their village had to offer. To the abject horror and humiliation of the entire village, the “town’s best wine” was nothing more than water. Everyone had thought the same thing; their personal contribution would not be needed nor missed. Although they all wanted to honor the King, they had failed to understand the necessity of their own personal participation.

    Loving God and our neighbor is the essence of how God created life to be lived. It is not meant to be simply an abstract theological concept to which we give intellectual assent. It is meant to be carried out in tangible ways. It is meant to be the driving force in the life of the community of God’s people. It is meant to be central to our witness to others that God will always give us enough to be generous.

    So don’t hold back! Give God the opportunity to use your life and all the blessings that have been entrusted to you in ways that become evidence of your love for God and for your neighbor. And, through the miracles that God will perform in your life, you will see that it is also the best way of loving yourself.

    The night before one of his musicals was to open, Oscar Hammerstein pushed past Mary Martin, his singing star, in the soft red glow of the semi-darkness of the curtained stage and pressed into her hand a slip of paper. On it were these words, which later were to become the basis of one of the hit numbers in the uncut version of “The Sound of Music.”

    A bell is not a bell until you ring it.
    A song is not a song until you sing it.
    Love was not put in your heart to stay.
    Love is not love until you give it away.

    I’ll see you in Church!

    Ron Short Blue Sig Cropped 

     

     

     

     

    The Very Reverend Ronald D. Pogue
    Interim Dean
    St. Andrew’s Cathedral
    Jackson, Mississippi

     

    Click HERE to pledge online.

     

  • Are you ready to give?

    Man-with-one-shoeA friend of mine, when he was a clergyman in a downtown church, was confronted one day by a street person who was seeking assistance. My friend observed that the man was wearing only one shoe. “I see that you’ve lost a shoe,” said my friend. “No,” the man replied with a cheery, toothless smile, “I found one!”

    My friend said he learned a valuable lesson that day from an unexpected teacher. Things are not always as they appear. Sometimes we tend to notice what is not there instead of what is. It’s a matter of perspective. Faithful stewardship requires a perspective that is focused on what is rather than what is not, on abundance rather than scarcity. That is why St. Paul held up the generosity of the poor and persecuted Macedonians as an example to the more affluent Corinthians. He counseled them, “…if the readiness is there, it is acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what one has not” (II Cor. 8:12).

    God doesn’t expect us to give out of what we don’t have, but from the resources God has provided. God has certainly been generous with us. Shouldn’t we in turn be generous with God?  Of course! All we need now is the readiness to follow through on that belief.

    Many churches are asking members to make new stewardship commitments at this time of year.  At St. Andrew’s Cathedral, Consecration Sunday is October 14. Wherever you may be, I invite you to give prayerful consideration to the stewardship commitment you will make to God for the coming year. Christian stewardship is not about the Church’s need to receive but about each Christian’s need to give. When we are dealing with our need to give to God, we are probing one of the most sensitive areas of our spirituality. Money comes between people and God more often than anything else. That is why prayer has to precede decisions about giving.

    As you pray, first ask God to remind you how much you have received. Next, ask God to grant you the readiness to give from that abundance. Then, ask for a clear, honest assessment of your priorities. After you have answers to these requests, you will find it easier to decide how much to give and to make an intentional commitment to approach your giving as a spiritual practice

    Several members of our parish have shared their stories about giving and about having their eyes opened to see God’s gracious hand at work. You can find their stories HERE. Perhaps their perspectives can help yours.

    None of us ever fulfilled our destiny or achieved anything great by focusing on what we can’t do. Let the extent of our gifts reflect a perspective that sees an abundance of possibilities and resources. When the readiness is there, God can accomplish amazing things through us.

    I’ll see you in Church!

    Ron Short Blue Sig Cropped

     

     

     

     

    The Very Reverend Ronald D. Pogue
    Interim Dean
    St. Andrew’s Cathedral
    Jackson, Mississippi

  • Too Much Stuff!

    Francis-blessing-animals-2I write this on the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi, who reminds us of our uniquely human capacities and responsibilities as stewards of creation.

    Last Sunday, St. Andrew’s hosted a service of Blessing of the Animals. The liturgy included the Collect for the Feast of St. Francis from the Book of Common Prayer:

    Most high, omnipotent, good Lord, grant your people grace gladly to renounce the vanities of this world; that, following the way of blessed Francis, we may for love of you delight in your whole creation with perfect joy; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

    We were reminded of our relationship with the other living creatures with whom we share this planet and, in particular, those for whom we are protectors.

    Francis and his companions took Jesus instructions to his disciples when he sent them out on their mission quite literally:

    "As you go, proclaim the good news, 'The kingdom of heaven has come near.' Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. You received without payment; give without payment. Take no gold, or silver, or copper in your belts, no bag for your journey, or two tunics, or sandals, or a staff; for labourers deserve their food" (Matthew 10:7-10).

    These words of Jesus reminded them, as they should remind us, of the relationship human beings have with their possessions. It certainly has been a reminder for me each time Gay and I have prepared for a move to a new place of ministry. This happens every year or two for interim clergy. Each time it has happened and we start packing for the move, we realize that we have accumulated too much stuff.

    There was a time (1996) when all of our worldly possessions would fit in a 900 square foot apartment and one 10x10x10 foot storage unit. Then, we bought a 3,200 square foot house in Galveston that had a full attic and an above ground “basement” in which to accumulate things. When we sold that house in 2012, we had to come face to face with all our stuff.

    This point was driven home again when we contacted movers! I won't go into the details, but the costs for a full-service move took my breath away. I could not imagine spending so much money to move our stuff from one place to another. There are better ways to use those funds. We eventually worked out a reasonable and affordable solution for our move, but for a few moments I almost wished I had taken a vow of poverty like Francis and his Friars as a part of my rule of life.

    Perhaps we already have enough people living in poverty and those of us who are in a position to earn may be able to help them when they find it impossible to help themselves. So, for now, I won't take that vow. But I will be more mindful of how my stuff can get in the way of life and my relationship with God, my neighbors, and my own spiritual being.

    But there is a kind of vow I take that helps me live in a healthy relationship with my possessions. I make a pledge to give on a regular basis throughout the year for God’s work. I have learned that it is important that my rule of life includes that spiritual practice along with other practices, such as daily prayer, study of the scriptures, works of mercy, worship, and weekly Holy Communion.

    You are invited to join with your Cathedral community on October 14 as we gather to make our pledges of faithful stewardship for the coming year. Following the one great service at 10:00 a.m., we will share a complimentary meal at the Capital Club around the corner. Let us know your attendance plans HERE so we can provide an accurate count for the club's management.

    So, thank you, Francis, for doing what most of us cannot bring ourselves to do and for offering us an example of a life that is not weighed down by possessions to the extent that we cannot see beyond them to all that is eternal.

    Here is a beautiful hymn, composed by Sebastian Temple and based upon a prayer attributed to St. Francis.

    I'll see you in Church!

    Ron Short Blue Sig Cropped

     

     

     

     

    The Very Reverend Ronald D. Pogue
    Interim Dean
    St. Andrew’s Cathedral
    Jackson, Mississippi

  • Reflections on Pledging and Tithing

    On Consecration Sunday, October 14, we will be invited to complete a pledge card as an act of worship during. In discussing this with a group, one person suggested that some of our members don’t make a pledge because they don’t understand why it is important to them or to the Cathedral. Perhaps the following thoughts will be helpful.

    What's it all about?

    Financial stewardship is an important component of a balanced spiritual life. We emphasize the giver’s need to give rather than the Cathedral’s need to receive. Our generosity toward God is a grateful response to God's generosity toward us. When we make giving to God our first priority, it helps us remember that everything we have – spent, saved, or given away – is a sacred trust from God. We are the stewards of all of it and we want to be faithful in using what God has given in ways that align with our faith. Maintaining a healthy relationship with our possessions keeps them from getting in the way of our relationships with God, our neighbors, and our own inner being. Returning to God from what God has given us is a tangible way to express our faith. When each of us gives, together we fund ministry within our parish and to the community and the world.

    What is a pledge?

    A pledge is an estimate of giving and a statement of intent representing your commitment to a spiritual practice within the community of Christians. The amount of your pledge may be changed at any time as your financial circumstances change. 

    Why should I pledge?

    Pledging allows you to make intentional decisions about your giving along with the rest of your financial commitments. When you plan ahead for your giving, you make conscious choices about spending in ways that reflect your faith and values.

    The pledges of our members also allow our Vestry, the Cathedral’s governing board, to plan wisely for the use our resources in support of the mission and ministry to which God has called us. The Vestry sets a budget based on the total amount pledged. While regular giving that is not pledged is important to the parish, your pledge helps the Vestry plan more accurately.

    How do I pledge?

    Annual giving pledges at St. Andrew’s are made each year. While our annual giving campaign is held in the fall, pledges may be made at any time. Every new member during the course of the year is invited to make a pledge.

    How do I fulfill my pledge?

    Contributing toward your pledge is a matter of your personal preference. You may give weekly, monthly, quarterly, or yearly via cash, checks, credit card, or electronic fund transfer (EFT). You may place your contribution in the offering plate. You may also initiate your own bank payments, via Paypal, Online, or you can arrange for the Cathedral to charge your credit card or debit your bank account. Some members make gifts directly from a retirement account or a donation of stock. Many companies have matching funds for charitable donations of their employees. For assistance, contact Tom Williams, Business Administrator at 601-487-2742 or twilliams@standrews.ms.

    How much should I pledge?

    The amount of your annual pledge is between you and God. The Cathedral offers some guidelines to assist you as you make this important decision. HERE are two charts that may be helpful. You may download and print them. The main thing is your commitment to the spiritual practice of giving to God.

    What is proportionate giving?

    Proportionate giving is basing your pledge amount on a percentage of your income. 

    What is a tithe?

    A tithe is 10% of your income. Since its General Convention in 1982, the Episcopal Church has affirmed the tithe as the minimum standard for giving and encourages members to tithe or be work toward a tithe. A tithe may sound like an unattainable goal to begin with, but if you start with a certain proportion of your income and increase the percentage each year, you will be tithing in a short time. You could start with 5%, a half tithe. Another option is 2½%, which is equivalent to the first hour’s pay of a 40-hour work week.

    Just do it!

    Where you start or whether you tithe on your annual or gross income is not nearly as important as simply making your first pledge.

    Questions?

    If you have questions about financial stewardship or tithing, your clergy are happy to talk with you in confidence. You can reach us at 601.354.1535.

    I'll see you in Church!

    Ron Short Blue Sig Cropped

     

     

     

     

    The Very Reverend Ronald D. Pogue
    Interim Dean
    St. Andrew’s Cathedral
    Jackson, Mississippi