Blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord whose confidence is in God. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. Jeremiah 17:7-8
Dear People of St. James’,
Someone said somewhere, “The work of stewardship is not for the wealthy; it is for the bold.” I think this is true and worthy of a bit of reflection, because, at the end of the day, the work of stewardship is not simply fulfilled in completing the pledge card.
The work of stewardship is for the bold because it engages us in habits of self-reflection, which are not for the faint of heart. When was the last time you prayerfully examined how you are using the gifts God has given you – your capacity for relationship, your resources, your passion and experience – for the love of God and neighbor?
If we are truly bold, we don’t just do this work as an act of self-examination. We start asking these questions and having these conversations in those more public spaces of our lives with those who know us. We recognize that this is a communal task because we are stewards who hold God’s creation in common. The coming year will challenge us in so many ways, so I would like to invite you to sit down at table with us for two St. James’ Round Table Conversations, October 16 & 23, 12-1 pm, in Founders Hall. Together, we will remember those who planted us, and we will look forward together to identify the seeds of new creation springing up in our St. James’ community that we desire to nurture.
St. James’ Episcopal Church has a long history of boldly offering itself for the sake of God’s people in Austin. You can feel this boldness in the warmth of our welcome. You can hear it as we lift our voices in praise together. You can see it in action as we serve the vulnerable in our communities. Even in times of drought and strain, St. James’ has been like that tree planted by the water, resilient and sustained by hope and a vision of God’s kingdom. Perhaps you have had an experience of being sustained by the powerful faithfulness of this community and offered a space of sanctuary among its branches.
In 2023, we seek to grow in our capacity to nurture St. Jamesians of all ages in their bold witness to hope and love that has a sure foundation even in a fearful and changing world. As a growing congregation, we see a need to add a full time clergy position to our staff in 2023, but we need your help to make this commitment.
Take up the challenge of the season through discernment, prayer, and courageous conversations, and be sure to get your pledge card in by November 6, so that we can plan for the future.
In Christ,
The Rev. Eileen O’Brien
