The Episcopal Church Office of Stewardship has developed a six-week series of readings, reflections and questions called “Feasting on Gratitude” to assist in discerning the practice of intentional and proportional giving to one’s faith community.

“Feasting on Gratitude” invites individuals and congregations to reflect and discuss stewardship principles and practices, based on the Sunday gospel readings from Matthew for October 2 through November 6, which is All Saints Sunday.

“The month of October is when most congregations across the country embark on their annual giving campaign,” noted the Rev. Laurel Johnston, Episcopal Church Officer for Stewardship. “The purpose of an annual giving campaign is not only to raise support for the life-giving ministries of the congregation, but to also help members of the faith community explore intentional and proportional giving as a spiritual practice that reflects gratitude and generosity for all that has been given.”

Prepared by six Episcopalians from across the country, “Feasting on Gratitude” is designed to complement and support a congregation’s annual giving campaign.  The contributing writers explore stewardship, giving, gratitude and generosity in connection with the Gospel lection for each Sunday.

For example, the reading for October 2, Matthew 21:33-46, relates the parable of the landowner who plants a vineyard. In his reflection, Bishop Gregory Rickel of the Diocese of Olympia writes, “All we have been given in this life is on loan at best.  It is not ours, we will never truly own it. We have it, for whatever reason, in order to care for it as best we can.” Among the reflection questions for that weekare: How can you live into the claim that we are not “owners” of anything, we are simply called to steward what has been entrusted to us?  How does the practice of giving bear fruit in your life and in your community?

Of the series, Johnston explained, “We know it is not always easy to be grateful. Work and life pressures abound and anxious worry often wins over trustful surrender. Gratitude is not always the obvious choice, it needs to be cultivated, nurtured and tended to with inner attentiveness. Cultivating gratitude turns what we have into enough and more, turning a meal into a feast, a house into home, a stranger into a friend.”

“Feasting for Gratitude” is ideal for personal use as well as clergy, lay leaders and those leading congregational stewardship efforts.

Resources in English and Spanish are available at http://www.episcopalchurch.org/feastingongratitude

In addition to Rickel, contributing writers are: the Rev. Richard Aguilar, Diocese of Southeast Florida; the Rev. Jennifer Baskerville-Burrows, Diocese of Central New York; Gary A Chubb, Diocese of Kansas; Bowie Snodgrass of the Diocese of New York; and Bishop Eugene Sutton, Diocese of Maryland.

Episcopal Church Weekly Bulletin inserts here:
http://www.episcopalchurch.org/126259_ENG_HTM.htm
(August 28 features the Stewardship Reflection Series)

Episcopal Church Office of Stewardship: www.episcopalchurch.org/stewardship

The Episcopal Church welcomes all who worship Jesus Christ in 109 dioceses and three regional areas in 16 nations.  The Episcopal Church is a member province of the worldwide Anglican Communion.

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Neva Rae Fox
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Georgeann Strong, her husband, Nick Nelson, and the Rev. Robin Reeves stand with the baby grand piano the couple recently donated to St. George’s Episcopal Church in Texas City.

The Daily News ran a wonderful article about Georgeann, Nick, Pastor Robin and the six foot grand piano.

Mainland church welcomes new pastor, piano

By Rick Cousins
Contributor
Published October 15, 2011

TEXAS CITY — Texas City’s St. George’s Episcopal Church, 510 13th Ave. N., recently has been twice blessed — first with a new pastor, then with a refurbished piano. Both arrived here in serendipitous ways.

“I did not grow up with church leadership in mind,” the Rev. Robin Reeves said. “Even as a young child, I delighted making up songs as I discovered God’s amazing beauty and the detail of his creation on the walks I would take. Originally, I planned to be an artist, but I ended up as a marketing major — after all, it was both practical and creative.”

While promoting Houston’s St. Luke’s Hospital, she found that what she liked best about her job was asking questions and uncovering needs — factors that turned out to be good preparation for her current career.

Please read the full article here.

John Wesley reminded us that we are called to step out of our little corner of the world to spread the good news, transform hopelessness into hope and help God’s children wherever they may be.

“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.”
–Matthew 25:35-36, NRSV

Volunteers are needed for all facets of the Citywide Thanksgiving Dinner Thursday, November 24th.

Items needed: Frozen turkeys (12-16 lbs. only) between 11/9 and 11/16; non-perishable food items, large brown paper grocery bags, and monetary donations. Checks can be made payable to Barbara White or Mainland Communities United Way with the notation “Community Thanksgiving Feast.”

St. George’s has been asked to supply 16 to 20 extra large cans of green beans.

It is on All Saints Day, we remember the Saints whom have gone before us, whom have passed on to us their faith in Jesus Christ by modeling how to be more like Jesus. We also welcome new members into the household of faith with the sacrament of Baptism on the Sunday closest to All Saints day.

This Year All Saints Day will be celebrated on Sunday, November 6. This is a day of remembrance of all the Saints who have gone before us and have passed on their faith to us.

All Saints Day is also a day in which we welcome new members into the body of Christ through Baptism. On November 6th, Pastor Robin will be baptizing Briggs Scott Harris. It is also a time in which the Body of Christ reaffirms their Baptismal Vows, recalling the covenant we have made to follow the light of Christ and turn from the darkness of this world.

All Saints Day is an important time for all the household of God to be present to celebrate the newly baptized. We look forward to seeing you at the 10:30 service on Sunday, November 6th.

[Episcopal News Service] In late 2007 the Rev. Zach Drennen, at the time working as a teacher and chaplain at a school in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, decided to take a three-month, self-funded sabbatical.

But rather than hike the Appalachian Trail or climb Mount Kilimanjaro, Drennen, who was ordained an Episcopal priest in 2002, decided to spend some time with long-time missionaries William “Gerry” and Nancy Hardison in Maseno, Kenya, where they run the Maseno Mission Hospital and St. Philip’s Theological Seminary.

He volunteered at the hospital and taught at the seminary, where he met Anglican Bishop Zakayo Iteba Epusi of the Diocese of Katakwa. It was through that relationship that one year later, in the fall of 2008, Drennen, by now an Episcopal Church-appointed missionary, found himself in Amagoro, a town in western Kenya near the border with Uganda, running the Elewana Education Project, a non-government organization rooted in the diocese that provides education scholarships to students and builds modern computer labs in schools throughout western Kenya. The project also connects Kenyan and American schools through interactive partnerships similar to parish-to-parish companion relationships, including organized mission trips.

Continue reading at Episcopal News Service.