STEWARDSHIP EPISTLE BY MEG BRIDGE
FROM SERVICE ON OCTOBER 30, 2022
Good morning.
My name is Meg Bridge, and my family and I have been part of the All Saints community for more than 37 years.
The Stewardship Committee asked me to speak about WORSHIP this morning. I am humbled, and a bit nervous for I tend to be pretty private and shy regarding my thoughts about worship and faith. But… here I am.
For me, most simply, Worship is made up of Gifts and Giving – what we receive, and what we are able to share. I value and continually find myself most grateful for both of these opportunities.
Every Service we are a part of, whether here in person in the congregation, watching from home, singing in the choir, or serving at the Altar, we receive a multitude of Gifts. Among them:
- The gift of thoughtful, engaging, beautifully-crafted-and-delivered Sermons;
- The beauty of the words and celebrations of our Liturgy, receiving God’s grace and receiving inspiration from the life and teachings of Christ — invited to bring both out into the world in service.
- Our stirring choral and organ music: preludes, anthems, hymns – the musical settings of poetry and Scripture touching the souls of listeners and singers alike;
- And, (perhaps ultimately my personal favorite and most meaningful), the opportunity or gift to sit in this ever-beautiful space both IN congregation, and yet also alone in one’s mind and heart, in silent prayer, in wonder and contemplation – always seeking and perhaps sometimes finding that “still small voice of calm” (a phrase from the end of my favorite hymn!)
And then at every service, we also have the opportunity For Giving:
- We give with our presence, our joining in, sharing our time. There is a commonality in our joint reverence, and participation together;
- We generously welcome and include any and all in our midst, rejoicing in each other and in each other’s families. This giving of ourselves, sharing our joys, but also our sadness, is part of our belonging.
- We give with our loyalty and constancy. We give every time we help, every time we’re responsible for anything – our time given in a wide variety of roles and participating in the Sunday Services, other projects, committees, and groups – adults and children both. We offer and give service, starting within our walls here, but then carrying beyond as well.
And so, for me, WORSHIP is Gifts and Giving, and I am filed with overwhelming gratitude for each of them.
Why do I pledge and give what I can of my time and treasure to All Saints Parish?
Because of that gratitude.
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Give in faith, give in joy, give in gratitude for all the grace that God so generously bestows on all of us. “From God’s fullness we have all received grace upon grace,” so please join us in responding extravagantly!
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