…God is able to bless you abundantly,
so that in all things at all times,
having all that you need,
you will abound in every good work.
2 Corinthians 9:8
What is the Faith Lane?
That’s where our hearts align with God’s mission in the world and we become the hands and feet of God here on earth.
What is Stewardship in the Faith Lane?
Stewardship is how we make the concerted effort to apply the best use of our time, talents [gifts/abilities], and treasures [finances] — our life — in support of God’s work in the world.
Zion’s chair for Stewardship, Tom Moline, wrote the above definitions. They are spot on. Stewardship is about taking time to make a concerted effort to live life in the Faith Lane. To live life first and foremost, focusing on the truth that we are children of a generous and abundant God.
Since we are made in the image of a generous God, we strive to be generous people. Learning to be generous is rooted in clarifying for ourselves who we perceive as the ultimate source of life—ourselves or God.
Since coming to Zion, I have seen and heard your clarifying answers to that question. You are a generous people. You are generous with your time, your talents, and your finances. Thanks be to God! Living generously is the ultimate joy for disciples of Christ. And, let me be clear—not every congregation can claim that joy. Zion! You have and do, and I have no doubt, will continue to be able to claim that joy.
Through a worldwide pandemic that has caused disruption in our work, schools, churches, and homes, you have remained generous to your church and the mission we are committed to together. Through multiple staff transitions and changes; you have remained generous to your church so that the mission God has called Zion to continues. Thank you.
Has that been easy? Not in the least. But you have and will continue to lean on God to guide you to a new and exciting future.
Thank you for your faithful contributions of money, time, and talent. Your contributions help make Zion reflect the love of an abundant God. That is doing something that truly matters in this life.
As we move forward in this in-between-time [interim], I encourage you to continue to pray for your leadership and staff. Pray for the future of Zion’s ministry. Pray for the person you will call as your next Senior Pastor. Zion is also in the process of hiring new staff in the Children, Youth, and Family ministries. Please pray for those involved in that process and for the people God is preparing to join you in your work with High School youth and their families.
Many of you have commented on how wonderful it is to see people back together in the building at Zion. And, while we continue to understand that for some, participating in the life of the congregation takes place from home, the connections and reconnections that are happening in person are joy-filled. If you are participating from home, please know that we will continue our efforts to make sure you are connected via the gift of technology.
Zion, you are a generous people. You have “merged together” [or re-e-merged together] on this Faith Lane. The destination is a God-sized dream for impacting peoples’ lives for the good of this God-so-loved-world. Thank you and Praise be to God from whom all blessings flow as you enjoy the joy that comes from being God’s generous people. It is clear that Thanks-giving lasts more than a day around here. For, as we read in scripture, our God is abounding in abundance and we have all we need, all we can ask for, and far more than we can imagine.
