Dearly beloved,

Last week at Synod Assembly, our guest speaker, Rev. Tim Brown, led a Bible study on stewardship that challenged me to think more deeply about what stewardship really means.

When most people hear the word stewardship, they think about money. While financial giving is certainly part of stewardship, it is only one piece of a much larger picture.

At its heart, stewardship is about recognizing that everything we have comes from God and asking how God is calling us to use those gifts. Stewardship is not a fundraising program. It is a way of life. It is a response to God's generosity.

Psalm 24 reminds us, "The earth is the Lord's and all that is in it." Our time, abilities, relationships, possessions, experiences, and financial resources are gifts entrusted to us by God. Stewardship asks how we will use those gifts to serve God, our neighbors, and the world.

One form of stewardship is the stewardship of talents and abilities. God has gifted each person differently. Some teach. Some organize. Some cook. Some repair things. Some listen well. Some welcome newcomers. Some sing. Some lead. The church thrives when people share the gifts God has given them. Stewardship asks not, "What do I have?" but rather, "How can God use what I have?"

Closely connected to our talents is the stewardship of time. We all receive the same twenty-four hours each day, yet we use them in different ways. Stewardship invites us to consider how we spend our time and whether we are making room for worship, prayer, service, rest, and meaningful relationships. Time is one of our most valuable resources because once it is spent, it cannot be recovered.

Sharing our time is one of the most meaningful ways we participate in God's mission. Every ministry of the church depends on people who are willing to give a few hours to serve others. Counters, altar care, worship assistants, readers, greeters, fellowship hosts, musicians, committee members, outreach volunteers, and those who quietly work behind the scenes all help make ministry possible.

At Faith-La Fe, we currently need volunteers in many areas of our ministry. Whether you can serve once a month or once a week, your participation makes a difference. If you have been wondering how God might be calling you to serve, this may be the invitation you have been waiting for. You do not need special qualifications or endless free time. You simply need a willingness to share a portion of the time God has entrusted to you.

Stewardship is not about doing everything. It is about each of us doing something. When we offer our time alongside our gifts, prayers, and resources, we help build a stronger community of faith and participate in God's work in the world.

Another form of stewardship is stewardship of creation. From the very beginning, God entrusted humanity with the responsibility of caring for the earth. How we use resources, reduce waste, conserve energy, and protect God's creation reflects our gratitude for the world God has made.

We are also called to practice stewardship of relationships. God places people in our lives and calls us to care for one another. Encouraging a friend, visiting someone who is lonely, mentoring a younger person, welcoming a newcomer, or offering forgiveness are all acts of stewardship. Relationships are gifts that require attention, care, and love.

Stewardship also includes the stewardship of faith. Faith itself is a gift from God. We nurture that gift through worship, prayer, Scripture reading, and participation in the life of the church. As our faith grows, we share God's love through acts of kindness, service, and witness so that others may experience the hope and grace we have received.

And yes, stewardship includes the stewardship of financial resources. Giving is an act of trust. It is one way we participate in God's work through the church and beyond. Our offerings support ministry, worship, outreach, education, care for those in need, and the many ways the Gospel is shared in our community. Giving is not about obligation. It is about gratitude for all that God has first given to us.

Jesus often spoke about stewardship because he understood that our priorities reveal what matters most to us. Stewardship is not about earning God's favor or paying God back. God has already given us everything through grace. Stewardship is our grateful response to what God has first done for us.

As we continue our journey together at Faith-La Fe, may we remember that stewardship is not a season of the church year. It is a daily practice of discipleship. Every day God places gifts into our hands. Every day we have opportunities to use them in ways that reflect God's love.

 I want to express my gratitude to all of you who already share your time, talents, prayers, and financial gifts with Faith-La Fe. So much of what happens in our congregation is made possible by the quiet work of people who serve behind the scenes. Week after week, I see people caring for one another, welcoming others, and sharing God's love in many different ways. 
I am deeply grateful for all that you do. Thank you for the many ways you help us live out God's mission. Your commitment is a blessing to our church and to all those whose lives are touched through our ministry together.

Stewardship is simply living as people who know that everything we have belongs to God and has been entrusted to us for the sake of God's mission.

Blessings,

Pastora Veronica Alvarez