Stewardship Witness November 2008 – Pamela Payne
The Church is the body of Christ, and we at St. Edmund’s are its members. I came to St. Edmund’s almost 15 years ago, looking for a spiritual home. I found a group of people who were warm and accepting, and who embodied the spirit of Christ in the world through their daily lives and their giving to the community and the world. I found a theological home in the Episcopal Church, which honors Scripture and takes it seriously, which honors tradition in worship and order, yet acknowledges that human reason, a gift from God, allows each of us to interact with Scripture and tradition in a search for truth as God continues to unfold it for us. I found a community here that has become my family.
Throughout the gospels, Jesus speaks of the duties we owe to our neighbors. “Love your God with all your heart and mind and soul, and love your neighbors as yourselves…on these 2 commandments hang all the laws and prophets.” Through my connection with St. Edmund’s, I have been introduced to the many ways I can act in this world for love of my neighbor: through my prayers, my donations and my presence. My neighbors are the homeless men and women in Pasadena, who come to the Bad Weather Shelter for food and a warm, safe place to sleep. My neighbors are the men, women and children in our diocese living with HIV/AIDS, facing illness and despair, rejection and misunderstanding, who find homes and livelihoods through Project New Hope. My neighbors are the children and families living in the Tijuana dump, who are given medical care and Christmas gifts by the dedicated volunteers of Healing Hearts Across Borders. My neighbors are the women and children living with HIV/AIDS whom I met in Namibia and South Africa, who find support and love and medical care and education through the tireless efforts of parishes of the Anglican Church. My neighbors are all those persons devastated by floods and earthquakes, tsunamis and fires, who are aided by Episcopal Relief and Development. My neighbors are the people in El Salvador who have shelter and clean water to drink, thanks to the efforts of the youth of St. Edmund’s. My neighbors are the children at Hillsides, who are getting a second chance at a life with love and support through the ongoing commitment of members of my parish and my Episcopal Church.
I am proud that my parish is involved in so many projects that help my neighbors, here and abroad. I am proud that the Episcopal Church is a staunch supporter of the United Nations Millennium Development Goals. These 8 goals are a 21st century version of Jesus’ call to feed the hungry, comfort the sick, clothe the naked, assist the poor to rise beyond their poverty. I ask each of you to read this year’s Stewardship booklet carefully, and see where you feel called to commit to one or more of the Goals. We cannot, as individuals, eliminate poverty and hunger and disease, empower women and children, provide education that will lift persons out of the depths of despair and into an active, vibrant contribution to the well being of their families and their societies. But we can each, as an individual or as a family, make a contribution of our time, talent and treasure to aid in bringing about the realization of these Goals.
While you consider your plans to help us work for the Millennium Development Goals here at St. Edmund’s, please remember that it is because of what you receive here that you have the strength and courage and treasure from which to offer your gifts. Give what you can to keep this place active and vital in doing God’s work, and equipping the Saints for ministry.
As Edmund Burke once said, “all that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.” Well, all it takes for poverty and hunger and disease to triumph is for good people to do nothing. As you ponder your stewardship decisions for the coming year, I ask that you search your hearts to find that one step that will help to make our world the place that Jesus sought to make, through the work of the Saints here gathered in this place.
“Then the king will say to those who are at his right hand, ‘Come, you are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, “Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you or naked and gave you clothing? And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?’ And the king will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.’” (Matt. 25:34-40)
Thank you.
