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Stewardship Reflections Greetings from the Stewardship/Mission Interpretation Team of our Synod, This fall our team took a day to study and prepare stewardship reflections for the texts of the seasons of Advent, Christmas and Epiphany. These reflections are included the propers for the day to assist you in your proclamation of God’s living Word.

First Sunday of Advent December 2, 2012

Jeremiah 33:14-16 Psalm 25:1-10 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13 Luke 21:25-36 Prayer of the Day Stir up your power, O Lord, and come. Protect us by your strength and save us from the threatening dangers of our sins, for you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Color: Blue

Stewardship Reflection: First Sunday of Advent A prevailing theme in this week’s collection of readings is that a faithful stewardship of time

finds us living in the direction of God and his beloved world. As the lessons pulled together for the first Sunday in Advent make that claim, they assure us we do not have to find the confidence to turn towards God and world on our own. When taken together, the appointed psalm and gospel text assure us that faith active in love, and the Spirit who makes such faith possible, come to us through prayer and devotion to the Word of God. Hence, if the Church is to stay awake, then the means of grace shall have to be its caffeine. Fundamental to a faithful stewardship of time is the recognition that slumber rather than activity is the end result of falling asleep in prayer and devotion to the Word of God, whether the audible Word of the pulpit or the visible Word of font and table.

Second Sunday of Advent December 9, 2012

Malachi 3:1-4 Luke 1:68-79 Philippians 1:3-11 Luke 3:1-6

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Prayer of the Day Stir up our hearts, Lord God, to prepare the way of your only Son. By his coming give to all the people of the world knowledge of your salvation; through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Color: Blue

Stewardship Reflection: Second Sunday of Advent We are very busy at this time of year. The world encroaches into this season of preparation, and

we don’t notice. Our lives become filled with lights, trees, bows and wrappings. We find ourselves in the wilderness of the world’s “Christmas,” but not the Christmas we know as followers of Christ. Like John in the wilderness, God’s living Word brings change to our lives.

Perhaps the change that Philippians experienced when hearing the Good News of Christ. Paul lifted them up in prayer with joy for the work they are doing. As disciples and stewards, how does our daily life reflect for others the glory and praise of God? How do we express our gratitude to God for the gifts bestowed upon us?

Third Sunday of Advent December 16, 2012

Zephaniah 3:14-20 Isaiah 12:2-6 Philippians 4:4-7 Luke 3:7-18 Prayer of the Day Stir up the wills of your faithful people, Lord God, and open our ears to the preaching of John, that, rejoicing in your salvation, we may bring forth the fruits of repentance; through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Color: Blue

Stewardship Reflection: Third Sunday of Advent Sometimes we allow ourselves to think, “If I give enough of my money, my time, or myself,

God will love me more.” But this week, we are reminded that our role as God’s stewards comes as a response to what God has already done, not as the cause of God’s care. God rejoices over us in gladness (Zephaniah 3:17), so we respond by rejoicing with all our heart always (Philippians 4:4). We give thanks to God for what God has done not only for us as individuals, but as the whole people of God. Our lives are lived in grateful response to all that God has done, and will continue to do. This response is not optional; it is the result of our lives together in Christ Jesus.

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Fourth Sunday of Advent December 23, 2012

Micah 5:2-5a Luke 1:46b-55 Hebrews 10:5-10 Luke 1:39-45 [46-55] Prayer of the Day Stir up your power, Lord Christ, and come. With your abundant grace and might, free us from the sin that binds us, that we may receive you in joy and serve you always, for you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Color: Blue

Stewardship Reflection: Fourth Sunday of Advent One of the national cellular providers stated their claim in a recent advertisement to having the

“biggest 4G network.” This commercial begins with children being asked “Which is better: bigger or smaller?” The children yell out “Bigger!”

Once again we see how the world’s view is backwards from God’s. So bigger, expensive, etc. is equated with success. Micah, however, speaks of the “little” clan that would produce a king.

At times we don’t think we measure up to the world’s expectations. We have nothing to offer. Perhaps we feel like the runt “Bethlehem of Ephrathah.” But God has called us, welcomed us, and blessed us. We come with all we have – a little or a lot – and offer our whole selves to God. Stewardship is not of trifles and trinkets but of our entire selves. A little further on in Micah we see a response to following God… to do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with God (6:8).

Mary’s song of praise reminds us that God is with us no matter where we find ourselves in life… He has mercy on those who fear him…he has lifted up the lowly…he has filled the hungry with good things…he has come to the help of his servant”. The blessings outlined in the Magnificat continue to be showered upon us in many ways. How do we respond to these blessings? How do we respond with the world yells for “Bigger,” and we show them a babe in a manger who grew up to die on a cross and rise from a tomb for all? No matter how litter we have to offer, we can offer ourselves to others in the name of Christ.

Nativity of Our Lord December 24, 2012

Set I – Christmas Eve Isaiah 9:2-7 Psalm 96 (11) Titus 2:11-14

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Luke 2:1-14 [15-20] Prayer of the Day Almighty God, you made this holy night shine with the brightness of the true Light. Grant that here on earth we may walk in the light of Jesus' presence and in the last day wake to the brightness of his glory; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Color: White

Stewardship Reflection: Nativity of Our Lord: Set I – Christmas Eve Gathering on the eve of the Christ child’s birth, we are in wonder at the love and grace of God

that comes to us. We rejoice in the faithfulness of God and the fulfillment of God’s promise of a savior. We celebrate God’s gift to us.

But what good is a Christmas present that is unwrapped and left under the tree? As recipients of God’s good news, we are stewards of the gift we have received. Will we leave it under the tree? Will we leave the wonder and joy of the Christ child here at church tonight?

Or will we be transformed by all that God has done, so that our life is changed, and we return to God thanksgiving, praise, honor and worship. Isaiah prophesies about everything the Messiah will do for God’s people, including being that light to guide us, and giving us an opportunity to be God’s light to the nations and the dark places of our world. Our stewardship of God’s blessing is to be faithful in carrying the light of God’s good news into the darkness that overshadows people’s lives.

Our Psalm tonight invites us along with Israel to sing a new song, a song of joy, celebration, gladness and victory, to join the whole of creation in praising God. And in this proclamation, we are faithful stewards of God’s blessing as our voice joins with the body of Christ in proclaiming what God has done. So Christmas Eve is not just about baby Jesus and me… It is about what God’s gift in Jesus means for me, and all of creation, and how in joy, we share that joy with the world. We gather celebrating, we scatter sharing.. IT is God’s work…. Communicated by our hands…

Luke 2:1–14 [15–20] God’s activity set in secular/human/roman history. God’s great saving activity, fulfillment of promise… all creation/heaven sing’s God’s praise… How can I help but sing (how can I keep from singing)…. Praises God even the stones cry

out… Evangelism… thanksgiving.

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Nativity of Our Lord December 25, 2012

Set II – Christmas Day Isaiah 62:6-12 Psalm 97 (11) Titus 3:4-7 Luke 2:[1-7] 8-20 Prayer of the Day All-powerful and unseen God, the coming of your light into our world has brightened weary hearts with peace. Call us out of darkness, and empower us to proclaim the birth of your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Color: White

Stewardship Reflection: Nativity of Our Lord: Set II – SEE Christmas Eve

Nativity of Our Lord December 25, 2012

Set III – Christmas Day Isaiah 52:7-10 Psalm 98 (3) Hebrews 1:1-4 [5-12] John 1:1-14 Prayer of the Day Almighty God, you gave us your only Son to take on our human nature and to illumine the world with your light. By your grace adopt us as your children and enlighten us with your Spirit, through Jesus Christ, our Redeemer and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Color: White

Stewardship Reflection: Nativity of our Lord III Stewardship is not an acquisition strategy or a means to an end. Stewardship is a “now what”—

a response to all that God has done for us. To put it in the language of this celebration’s appointed readings, stewards arise when the Gospel of God’s peace is proclaimed; when by the Spirit creation apprehends God’s victory in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ; when by grace children of God are born in the font of holy baptism. Once stewards have been birthed from above, the words of this celebration’s appointed readings all say the same thing about their lifelong task. According to Isaiah, John, the author of Hebrews, and

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the psalmist, the life of a steward is a life where feet and mouth are constantly in motion so that others might see and hear the Gospel of God’s peace in Jesus Christ, thereby becoming potential stewards themselves.

First Sunday of Christmas December 30, 2012

1 Samuel 2:18-20, 26 Psalm 148 (13) Colossians 3:12-17 Luke 2:41-52 Prayer of the Day Shine into our hearts the light of your wisdom, O God, and open our minds to the knowledge of your word, that in all things we may think and act according to your good will and may live continually in the light of your Son, Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Color: White

Stewardship Reflection: First Sunday of Christmas “Joy to the world, the Lord is come! And heaven and nature sing!” Words that we joyously sang

on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day echo through today’s readings. The psalmist’s call to praise God is to all creation; there is not one element of creation that will be able to resist responding to God with songs of praise. As part of that creation, and members of the body of Christ knit together in that creation, we, too, join in giving thanks to God for all that God has done for us. We cannot keep silent; we obediently share the Good News of God’s action in our lives in grateful response to God’s love for us.

Epiphany of Our Lord January 6, 2013

Isaiah 60:1-6 Psalm 72:1-7, 10-14 (11) Ephesians 3:1-12 Matthew 2:1-12 Prayer of the Day O God, on this day you revealed your Son to the nations by the leading of a star. Lead us now by faith to know your presence in our lives, and bring us at last to the full vision of your glory, through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. or

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Almighty and ever-living God, you revealed the incarnation of your Son by the brilliant shining of a star. Shine the light of your justice always in our hearts and over all lands, and accept our lives as the treasure we offer in your praise and for your service, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. or Everlasting God, the radiance of all faithful people, you brought the nations to the brightness of your rising. Fill the world with your glory, and show yourself to all the world through him who is the true light and the bright morning star, your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Color: White

Stewardship Reflection: Epiphany of our Lord The Wise Men bring gifts – they are gifts of thanksgiving – they pay homage BECAUSE of

what God has done. They respond by giving back to God – we respond by giving to others and sharing with others out of the gift that has been given to God. Before they give their physical gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh, they first bow down and honor him. Then comes the gift of treasure – first honoring him with their heart then offering they treasure.

Stewardship begins in our heart in our being humbled before God – overflowing to that response. Stewardship is how we recognize who the Lord of our lives is. Their hearts were filled with JOY – JOY OVERFLOWING

What is the gospel that gives us that joy today? Is it the Gospel of the Lord? Do we know anything in our world that brings overwhelming JOY. God can and do big things

with you – it will just be the things God wants (not necessarily what you think you want). May we always be led by the star of his generous and eternal love. How far will I go and what will I offer to do homage to this newborn King and Savior? Stewardship is Servanthood.

Baptism of Our Lord January 13, 2013

Isaiah 43:1-7 Psalm 29 (3) Acts 8:14-17 Luke 3:15-17, 21-22 Prayer of the Day Almighty God, you anointed Jesus at his baptism with the Holy Spirit and revealed him as your beloved Son. Keep all who are born of water and the Spirit faithful in your service, that we may rejoice to be called children of God, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

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Color: White

Stewardship Reflection: Baptism of Our Lord Life begins with God, all of creation, and each of us in our unique individuality. We need not

fear, we are precious in God’s sight. Our stewardship is the love letter we write back to God in thanksgiving for everything we have, but more importantly everything we are. The Psalms remind us to give glory to God which is our first response. But this is just the beginning of our response. Stewardship is about living out what we pray for; hallowed by thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done… in all the world

As we grow in faith and life we grow in our ability to respond to God’s blessing, growing in prayer, our conversation with God, growing in prayers of thanksgiving and for our own needs, and growing in prayer as we lift the concerns of others. As we see in Acts, concern for the world is not simply inviting the curious into the church; it is going out to where they are with the word God’s grace. Good stewardship is evident in faithful obedience to God’s command. John and Jesus were both obedient as Jesus joined all those who were baptized. In that obedience Jesus is affirmed and begins God’s work in a new way. This is a sign of our own new beginning in Christ and Baptism. It is not the end, it is the beginning. The gift of the Holy Spirit is God working, transforming our lives from the inside out as we become the people God knows we can be, by his grace and power.

Second Sunday after Epiphany January 20, 2013 (Lectionary 2)

Isaiah 62:1-5 Psalm 36:5-10 (8) 1 Corinthians 12:1-11 John 2:1-11 Prayer of the Day Lord God, source of every blessing, you showed forth your glory and led many to faith by the works of your Son, who brought gladness and salvation to his people. Transform us by the Spirit of his love, that we may find our life together in him, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Color: Green

Stewardship Reflection: Second Sunday after Epiphany The appointed psalm proclaims that God’s love is life’s source, sustenance, and security. Yet as

basic to life as God’s love is, it still somehow manages to be a surprise; a surprise that keeps on getting better and better according to the reading from John; a surprise that God has every intention of sharing with the entire world according to the prophet Isaiah. This Sunday tells us that in the past the Israel rescued from Babylonian captivity, the author of Psalm Thirty-Six, the church at Corinth, water, and Jesus, the Incarnate Son of God, have all been some of the concrete and earthly means by which God has made good on the

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divine intention to make all aware of the love which is life’s most basic ingredient. Today, to contemporize what St. Paul once said to the church at Corinth, we are the communicative means others once were. Shocking and startling as it may be, it’s nonetheless true that it is through our Spirit-enabled stewardship, the stewardship to which we all have something incredibly important to contribute, that others come to know of God’s abundant, surprising, and life-giving love.

Third Sunday after Epiphany January 27, 2013 (Lectionary 3)

Nehemiah 8:1-3, 5-6, 8-10 Psalm 19 (7) 1 Corinthians 12:12-31a Luke 4:14-21 Prayer of the Day Blessed Lord God, you have caused the holy scriptures to be written for the nourishment of your people. Grant that we may hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that, comforted by your promises, we may embrace and forever hold fast to the hope of eternal life, through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Color: Green

Stewardship Reflection: Third Sunday after Epiphany After years of captivity, after being held for decades away from their homeland, after

generations of wondering what God was doing – the people of Israel were blessed as God called them home – helped rebuild the temple – and reminded them again that they are his people. Here in the 10th verse of Nehemiah these ones who have been recalled after hearing the Word of God that they are to, ‘Go your way, eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions of them to those for whom nothing is prepared.” This passage is reminding us that we are children of God who have been blessed by his life and his presence in our lives. We are given the opportunity to worship him, to turn to our God and Lord Jesus Christ – AND – we who have been so blessed are given the opportunity to share this blessing with the rest of the world. We are stewards of the Gospel Good News that in Jesus Christ the way that God does things is breaking into the world. We have the opportunity to proclaim that good news to all. To proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor. Why? Because, there are people to need to hear this message! We who are the body of Christ are called to proclaim Jesus in word and in our witness. We who have been claimed, we who can celebrate because we have been given this life with and in Jesus Christ – are all part of sharing that Word with all of the world.

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Fourth Sunday after Epiphany February 3, 2013 (Lectionary 4)

Jeremiah 1:4-10 Psalm 71:1-6 (6) 1 Corinthians 13:1-13 Luke 4:21-30 Prayer of the Day Almighty and ever-living God, increase in us the gifts of faith, hope, and love; and that we may obtain what you promise, make us love what you command, through your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Color: Green

Stewardship Reflection: Fourth Sunday after Epiphany Being a steward of all that God has given to us is the mission to which we have been called

since the moment we were formed. But what, exactly, is it that drives us to live out that mission? Paul’s words to the Corinthians remind us that it is one simple thing – love. We find ourselves driven by many competing forces that have the danger of becoming noisy gongs and clanging cymbals, things that distract us from our mission from God to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ. But this love is not motivated by our own desires, nor is it distracted by the world’s temptations. It is driven by the love that was first shown to us by God through Jesus Christ. As recipients of this extravagant love, we are then freed to share God’s abundant love with all whom we meet.

Transfiguration of Our Lord February 10, 2013

Exodus 34:29–35 Psalm 99 2 Corinthians 3:12—4:2 Luke 9:28–36 [37–43a] Prayer of the Day Holy God, mighty and immortal, you are beyond our knowing, yet we see your glory in the face of Jesus Christ. Transform us into the likeness of your Son, who renewed our humanity so that we may share in his divinity, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Color: White

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Stewardship Reflection: Transfiguration of Our Lord On this day we see the Transforming power of God…. From Moses in the Old Testament to

Jesus in the New, God’s power results in visible changes in people’s lives. Moses was initially unaware of how his time with God changed his countenance, but the people saw it, and noticed how he had changed… Moses’ veil was put on only after God’s message had been delivered. As God encounters us, our countenance changes and we are transformed. We do not always see it, but others do! Our face may not be glowing with a godly light, but God’s change is in our hearts, lives, attitudes and actions.

Today’s Psalm proclaims that worship is our response, as stewards, to all that God is and has done.

Paul’s calls for us to act with boldness, being transformed by God’s mercy, sharing openly and honestly the power of God we have experienced in our lives. And also sharing the freedom we have because of Christ.

As Luke records Jesus’ transfiguration, we also have Jesus coming down the mountain and helping people who were living in the valley. As stewards of God’s mountain top experiences, ;these are not given that we remain on the mountain top, but to energize us for life back in the valley. We gather to celebrate God’s victory over death and the grave, we scatter, as stewards of the message, to take the word of life, word of hope, in to the valleys of life, bringing healing to lives broken by the power of sin.

We are stewards of God’s power… it is not our power; it is God’s power at work in us, and through us. But it is still God’s power.

Online resources for stewardship…

Stewardship of Life Institute … www.stewardshipoflife.org ELCA Stewardship Sermon Starters

www.elca.org/stewardship (look near the bottom of the page): Printed resources

Stories of Faith in Action Giving: Growing Joyful Stewards in your Congregation

Both are FREE and available to pick up at our Synod’s office if you hadn’t received them from the ELCA.

This Church Year Calendar and Propers uses the Revised Common Lectionary as it appears in Evangelical Lutheran Worship (2006). This version includes the church year calendar and terminology from Evangelical Lutheran Worship.

• The appointed psalm refrain is from the verse in parentheses. • Scripture references are from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible.

The Prayer of the Day and other references come from Evangelical Lutheran Worship, © 2006 Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and published by Augsburg Fortress, Publishers.