Don’t forget to do good and to share what you have because God is pleased with these kinds of sacrifices. - Hebrews 13:16
This Sunday has a lot to offer! We will celebrate All Saints Day, which reminds us of the great cloud of witnesses and the faith we have inherited from those who have gone before us. Our morning also includes baptisms and the ingathering for our Love in Action stewardship campaign. All this, and we get an extra hour with daylight savings time! I want to offer a little more reflection on our stewardship ingathering. Giving is a powerful act of gratitude. It reminds us of the many blessings we receive and is one way we share these blessings with others. I also see giving as an act of faith. We make our commitment to God and the church, trusting that we will be able to honor it and that our gifts will be used well in the year ahead. Having the ingathering focused on one Sunday accentuates at least two things for me. First, we are in this together and can accomplish far more than we can individually. Second, the fullness of our collective commitment is most visible when we contribute in a community setting. Don't get me wrong; I'm grateful for those who turned in their cards early. I will also be glad to receive commitments in the weeks ahead. It helps our church leadership to plan well when commitments come early. In the end, God is not concerned about the timing of our gifts but more concerned with our heart for others and the church. Our cards and our collective commitment reflect love and, therefore, are a reflection of God. Don't forget to set your clocks back an hour and bring your Commitment cards on Sunday! Thank you in advance for your support.
Blessings, Fr. Paul
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