Shiloh Stewardship Blog

The Power Of Prayer

2010-07-20T17:02:00.004-04:00

Hello once again!

Prayer is an integral part of an individual's stewardship "process." It is important because it is through prayer that we are able to discern God's will for us. Prayer eventually is able to provide us with a "road map", revealing avenues through which we can use our spiritual gifts to enact God's will in the world.

To me, prayer is an experience unlike any other. Once everything else has drowned out, all I can feel is that... connection. The excitement. The empowerment. The energy. I can't find the words to describe the feeling of tapping into that energy that binds us all... Luckily, I don't need to, because we all have access to it.

The problem that I see with prayer is that too often, we use prayer as a means of absolving ourselves of any necessity to act, rather than using it as a part of the process empowering us to take action. We find ourselves praying to ask God to take action in order to have some effect in the our lives or the lives of others, rather than using prayer to seek a means through which WE can act. Avenues through which WE can make that difference in someone's life.

This strikes me as an example of making our faith passive rather than active, a problem that is in no way a new one. Admittedly, it does seem easier to just ignore the archetype of crucifixion and resurrection that we are called to emulate. Ignore the empowerment that we are all given and all the work that the ability to make our own differences out there in the world entails. Sure, it seems easier to just keep expecting God to bring about Kingdom while we sit here, waiting. But is it responsible? Or does being a good steward mean using prayer as a jumping off point for getting our hands dirty?

Your Stewardship Team

God's Household: A Primer

2010-06-27T23:39:00.005-04:00

Hello again, everyone! It's been too long. I would like to preface the following article, which is also found in your July Connection, by explaining this new format we are going to be using for the Stewardship Blog. In addition to original content created exclusively for this blog, which will begin to resurface in the coming weeks, we will be posting the Stewardship Connection articles from the monthly Connection up on this site as well. I think that this will help us in two distinct ways. First, by allowing you, the reader, to interact more directly with us and provide your feedback regarding our monthly articles. Second, it will allow us to easily post more content on the site, and will allow the articles to be seen in more of a "big picture" context, in relation to other articles. We're excited to be getting reestablished, and hope to hear from all of you in the coming months. Now, on to the July Connection article.

In a recent Bible Study we learned according to author M. Douglas Meeks in his book, God The Economist, that there is an economic sphere in which we all reside. The sphere in which we reside is God's household. The order of God's household is reflective of God. God's household has those living according to the house and that the order (of the house) and that the order (of the house) is the economy of the household. That economy displays a universal welcome where the doors are always open and there is always room at the table and that everyone has a chore. The qualities of the household include equality, justice, kindness, mercy, forgiveness and love at least, where we live an alternative way of life reflecting the archetype of crucifixion/resurrection. Living this way gives us God's household. It is all about what we do and what we do is called Stewardship. The steward makes living in the household tolerable. We as stewards make living in the household tolerable. The scope of God's household is to dispense God by Spirituality in Stewardship. How do we dispense God and expand God's household by expanding a way of life that reflects who God is? We spread God's household by giving of our time, talents, and treasures learning to speak the language of spirituality and not necessarily the language of "religion."

Your Stewardship Team

Giving Of Ourselves?

2010-01-15T00:23:00.003-05:00

I don't know if it started when I joined the Stewardship Ministry Team, as I can't remember ever having a real need to use this phrase prior to that, but I am someone who frequently uses the phrase (or some variation of) "giving of ourselves." As someone who writes things here and there for stewardship, you can see how this phrase might come into play. As we all came to embrace the idea of stewardship as the cultivation of our spiritual relationship with God through the giving of our time, talents, and treasures, it seemed fitting to think of this as "giving of ourselves." The obvious sacrifice of "giving of ourselves" seemed to go along so well with the sacrifices that all of us were making in our stewardship, and I found a deeper element rooted in some sort of implication that this phrase implied giving everything we had to give, even pieces of ourselves. It added a sort of emotional connection to what we were doing, by claiming that which we were giving as a part of "ourselves." We were not just donating to the food pantries, we were giving of ourselves. We were not just volunteering to work at the pumpkin patch, we were giving all of our time that we could muster. Now, I find a problem with this phrase.

The problem, to me, is that this phrase makes what we are doing all about us, when it really is not. These gifts that we are sharing with the world through our stewardship, these gifts that we claim as our gifts or as a part of ourselves, are gifts that we have already been blessed with by the spirit. These "spiritual gifts," though different based on the individual, are given to each of us so that we make take them out into the world and use them to bring God's will to fruition. We are called to use them. Yet, when we do use them, too often it is not in answering the call to share these gifts in every opportunity. It is using these gifts at a time and in a way that is convenient for us and our schedules. It is "giving of ourselves" rather than utilizing the gifts of the spirit that we have been given to their fullest in order to bring about Kingdom. However, we are getting better, and are beginning to act in a way that promotes God's will in the world without concern for self. But the question I keep coming back to in my mind is...

Does the idea that we are using these spiritual gifts out in the world to fulfill the purposes for which they were given to us warrant any sort of "sacrifice of self," or is there really as much flaw in phrases like "giving of ourselves" as I am currently seeing there to be?

Yes, it is through our stewardship and the development of our spiritual relationship with God that we are given the opportunities to share these spiritual gifts, but are they really our gifts to look at with a sense of personal sacrifice?

On the one side of the coin, I feel like we all view our stewardship as being built on personal sacrifice. We see the opportunity costs associated with the money we give or the time that we spend in ministry, and view all of these decisions as a conscious choice that we have to make regarding the use of our gifts. On the other side, however, I can see that some of us were given voices to sing, and spread God's love through song. Some of us were given talents in home repair, to spread God's will by bettering the lives of others. Some of us were given joy and the gift of laughter, to spread God's love by putting a smile on the faces of complete strangers. And all of us were given time, to spread God's will by working to bring about Kingdom in the world. If we are simply using a gift we have been given by the spirit for its intended purpose, is it really "self sacrifice," or is it simply answering our call?

What do you think Shiloh?
Justin Sierschula

2009-11-24T15:02:00.002-05:00

Stewardhip at the forefront of what we do!!!!!!

Greetings everyone on what will be a truly thankful holiday season for all of us. Our stewardship campaign was completed and we finished our first year on such a high note. The future for us as a congregation is rich with the spiritual foundation of stewardship as one of its cornerstone pieces in creating this kingdom to which we are called. This past month we have seen so much from so many in giving of their time, talent, and treasure to so many areas of ministry, that the Shiloh Stewardship Ministry Team is looking forward to the upcoming year where we feel that stewardship in all that we do will be bigger and better for 2010. We have seen a very successful pumpkin patch where we had over 100 individuals give of their time to make this ministry a success. We had in my opinion one of the best Holiday Bazaars, this past week where so many of us worked hard and put ourselves out there in hospitality in welcoming others, to see another success. And just recently the congregation was given a goal of 175 bags of food to bring in for the local food pantries. We brought in as many as 169 bags of food and raised over $1100.00 for the local pantries. This my friends is stewardship at its finest. It's to the core of our beliefs, that we think of how WE can make a difference in the lives of so many and bring about the joy and love of Jesus Christ in all that we do. Our covenant renewals are coming in and we are so thankful as many of you have extended yourselves into the ministry in which you are called. Our upcoming year we urge all of you to look inside yourselves and see the potential and possibilities before us. Let the year that is to come be the time where stewardship is a natural extension of God working through us into many avenues of mission and ministry. We are on a journey like never before seen, and through these works of time, talent and treasure, the kingdom will become fruitful for all to rejoice in. God bless all of you in your own quest of understanding in creating the stewardship to which we are called and asked to pour out for God in this world.

Pastor Jay

Stewardship Is Upon Us!

2009-10-06T14:51:00.003-04:00

Hello again, Shiloh!

With October now here, we've reached a very exciting time of year... Stewardship Month! We've spent the last several months building up to this by trying to show that there is so much more to stewardship than many of us may have thought, and now it is time to act. Stewardship is knocking on our door, Shiloh, but will we answer? Will we realize that there is so much that each of us can do to help bring about Kingdom by acting out God's will? Will we put the focus back on our relationships with God, letting all of our actions in the physical realm be reflections of the grace that we've been given? Or will we continue to shrug it all off and be happy with the path we've been led down by our own humanity?

The time has come, Shiloh, for this new kind of stewardship. Stewardship that focuses more on giving of yourself than of your checkbook. Of making sacrifices that may seem out of the ordinary at first in order to better the lives of others. A stewardship that illustrates our love for others, including those who differ from ourselves, by accepting that we are all brothers and sisters in grace.

The old ways of stewardship may have seemed to work in the past, but we've become so misguided. It is time to take back our stewardship, and regain ownership of our spirituality, because stewardship is about so much more than taking care of our church. It is about fostering our own spiritual development, and bringing about Kingdom by living God's will in the world.

Justin Sierschula

Stewardship Call To Action

2009-08-25T15:27:00.000-04:00

Stewardship Call To Action
Well the stewardship team is back with another installment and thought process in our call to stewardship. Over the past few months we have put out there the thoughts of opportunities for stewardship and also the idea that we take ownership in our stewardship. Where we go from here is to expand on the idea that each and every one of us is not only responsible, but we are called to own our part of this kingdom. In church we have been experiencing the Season of the Kingdom and we have seen many different aspects or characteristics of the kingdom. With each of these words presented, stewardship is at the core of what we do as a church, community, and family in bringing this kingdom. We own everything we do. From our time that we give to others or to projects that provide for those in need we show others that it's our time first that brings about this kingdom. Secondly we share our talents in a way that provides a joy to those who thirst for that feeling of the spirit within them. Or we give of our treasures so that through our giving we can create the kingdom and provide the mission and ministry that we are called to bring. Through it all we have a sense of call as we approach the end of summer and we begin to plan for the fall stewardship drive. This drive isn't all about financial resources. It is however the call to action of our time, talent and treasures. Please join with the stewardship team and truly discern within your own lives and find out how God is working through you to bring this kingdom. As you discern what God is calling you to do, ask yourself this question. How does my time, talent and treasure help those around me? When you find the answer create the action in your life and create the stewardship drive in everything you do. Reach out with your heart, get a little dirty and let's make it happen together. God's kingdom is at the doorstep and we must answer the door and walk through with our faith and make the possibility not the norm but we realize the potential in this kingdom. May God continue to bless all of you in your lives as we answer this call to stewardship.
God Bless
Pastor Jay

Battle Royale: Actions Versus Affiliations

2009-07-21T23:28:00.000-04:00

Hello again, Shiloh!
As you've probably noticed, we've been placing a lot of emphasis on "ownership" in relation to our stewardship and spirituality. I've decided to go ahead and approach that from kind of a different angle this evening here at the Shiloh Stewardship Blog, using an idea of Carl's as a springboard of sorts. At Bible study, and probably at some point on Carl's blog (carlrobinson.blogspot.com), the idea keeps coming up about, "Why are religious people so mean?" This isn't a concept that applies exclusively to Christianity, but across all religions. This week, I've decided to try to take a stab at explaining some of my ideas on this problem.
I think it is fair to say that a good amount of these "mean" religious people can be explained by these individuals being "blinded by faith" if you will... However, this is not their faith in their God or any sort of spiritual faith that is blinding them... It is their faith in the institutional church. It is their faith in this organization that was created and is maintained by man. This institution that assures these individuals that, no matter what religious group the church may represent, the individuals have chosen the one, true path to salvation. Of all of the spiritual avenues that their lives could have taken them down, these individuals have all chosen the one, correct spiritual pathway. And the institution pumps them up as such. The institution tells the individuals that they are superior because they have made this excellent spiritual decision, and thus creates a structured hierarchy in the minds of the individuals in which they are superior to those who believe differently, or those they would even claim believe "wrongly." Thus, it could be said that the institutional church fuels these individuals to be so "mean."
Here at Shiloh, we look at things a bit differently. We see everyone of every faith as brothers and sisters, all working towards Kingdom though they may be working from different angles. It is our actions that define and develop our stewardship and our spirituality, not our religious affiliations. So we have to take back the power and the responsibility of managing our own stewardship away from an institution that tries to make us feel superior to our brothers and sisters, and realize that the responsibility falls on us, not the institutional church, to use our actions through stewardship to bring about Kingdom. We can no longer sit back and allow the church to tell the world what WE are all about. This is OUR stewardship. OUR actions. It is up to us to go out into the world, and bring about change and ultimately Kingdom. No longer can we check our spirituality at the door as we leave church on Sundays and then pick it back up on our way in a week later. It's time for change.
So what do you think Shiloh? Do we want to just sit back and wait for the institutional church to bring about Kingdom (because I'm pretty sure they have concerns higher up on their priority list) or are we going to take the responsibility to go out and live the word by serving the world?
Isn't it about time we took back OUR stewardship and OUR own spiritual development?

Justin

2009-07-09T10:38:00.000-04:00

Does Ownership have its PRIVILEGES?????

Catchy title to our next installment into our quest for understanding Stewardship. Ownership is all about stewardship in so many ways. Many of us have owned different items in our lives, from a house to maybe a vehicle. And with our ownership we work hard each day trying to get the most out of our ownership. We try to get the most out of our house, or as much mileage out of a vehicle. But, when it comes to our faith and stewardship, where does our ownership stand. Let me give you another analogy. I have been building a fence lately and I've come to the realization that the fence will be strong with a good foundation. Otherwise the fence will look good for awhile and then will start to crumble. Our stewardship, our faith, our ownership is all about building a strong foundation of love and support for the kingdom in which God calls us to bring. Yes we all own a piece of this kingdom, but what are we doing to sustain its strong foundation. Do we realize that with every light turned on ministry happens? Or how about when someone is in need and we reach out to them, ministry happens? Or when a door is opened in this church, ministry happens? Or when we shake hands in worship, or at a meeting, or a mission activity, ministry happens? The ownership of God's ministry happens each and every day. When we wake up and say with one voice that I own a piece of this kingdom and I need to do my part will the foundation on what we're building grow and prosper. Take a few moments after reading this and ask yourself the question, what can I do more? How can I share my talents more with the kingdom? How can I give my time to what God has called me to do? How can my treasure be shared in the world to benefit others in ministry and service? That my friends is the stewardship model of ownership. We must forge ahead as one and continue to build upon the principles of our faith. The love of Christ is the perfect example for us to live. Let us now take the ownership of our faith and stewardship and move it in ways that brings about the opportunities of kingdom.

God Bless
Pastor Jay

Stewardship: It's Not Just Paying For The Lights

2009-06-22T01:15:00.000-04:00

*Disclaimer* A bit of this material is recycled from a comment I made in response to an earlier blog here on the Shiloh Stewardship Blog, but at the time I was writing that, I didn't know I would be writing this which covers the same basic topic.

For whatever reasons we may have, the word "Stewardship" seems to strike a negative chord within many of us. This negative energy associated with the word seems to steer us away from actually practicing what would be considered "good" stewardship, or possibly even from understanding what "good" stewardship for us could be. There was a time, as recently as a few years ago, when the word "Stewardship" would send me running. My personal experiences (and those of my family) with what I will call "misguided" stewardship had piled on top of what has become the socially "normal" version of stewardship ($$$) to paint a very dark portrait of "stewardship" in my mind. "Stewardship" to me, appeared to be a "Cookie Monster"-like creature, arms flailing wildly around its plastic eyes, screaming, "Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!" Stewardship was not at all about one's spiritual development, but instead all about the nickels and dimes. Until a few years ago, that is.

At the occasional morning service I would attend, I began to hear stewardship talked about using these "Three T's" (time, talent, and treasures). And as over time I processed what was being said, and began to understand this change in perception of the word "Stewardship" that the folks here at Shiloh were trying to make, I thought to myself, "Finally. Someone is getting it right." To break it down to pretty much it's most basic components, stewardship is discerning what you've been blessed with, and finding out how to share those blessings with others. It's living your life in a way that will help to bring about this Kingdom idea we keep talking about. It's finding and seizing opportunities to develop your spiritual relationship. It is, as our motto so perfectly states, "Living the word by serving the world."

And yet, this idea of "Stewardship" that spoke so well to me seems to still be lost upon so many others. When I was approached to join up with the Stewardship Ministry Team, I had no idea what the team would actually be doing, so I asked around a little bit. Tried to do my homework. The response I was getting seemed to be, "They try to get people to give money." So again, I found myself disheartened. The "Cookie Monster" seemed to rear his ugly head once again. Luckily, those early responses I got held little truth, and now, here I am.

I'm not here to tell you what YOU should do. I'm not here to tell you what "good" stewardship is, because only YOU know what YOU are capable of. Don't underestimate yourself. It's YOUR stewardship, Shiloh. It's YOUR spiritual relationship's growth and evolution. Like our quote at the top of the page from Francis of Assisi says, "It is everything I do after I say I believe." It is whatever YOU choose to do to express YOUR relationship with God. So think about what YOU have to offer. What YOU have been blessed with. And think about the opportunities that YOU have to share those blessings with others.

It feels like there are too many people who feel that their spiritual relationship with God is fully explored in around an hour every Sunday morning. What may be surprising is that your spiritual growth doesn't have to stop when you get in your car to leave the church parking lot! So take some time to think about what stewardship means to you. How would you describe YOUR stewardship? How do YOU express the development of YOUR spiritual relationship with God? This is, after all, YOUR spirituality we are talking about. This is YOUR church. YOUR stewardship. Now's as good of a time as any to take the control back from tradition, and wash some of that negative energy away from the word "Stewardship."

Justin Sierschula

2009-06-14T17:32:00.000-04:00

Opportunities For Stewardship

Yes hopefully by now with our second post and a mention in the worship service today everyone will now have their opportunity to share their thoughts about stewardship. That's right we all have the OPPORTUNITY. I myself will take this opportunity to share my thoughts on what stewardship means to me. I feel that we have the task of sharing our time, talent and treasure in ways that brings the kingdom to this church, community, nation, world. Now before you stop reading and think that what I stated is too much, let me reassure you and give you the opportunity to see stewardship in a different light. How many times in a week do you give your time with someone else? How do you share your talents with others? I can't think of a day that goes by where my time, and talents isn't used in some way or another. Or when there isn't an opportunity for me to give some treasure to someone in need. Stewardship is everything we do in every way. I am grateful each and every day the opportunities that are before me to practice my stewardship. Now let us look at ways that we all can practice our stewardship and take the opportunities of your time, talent and treasure to new levels.
Just because we have approached the summer months doesn't mean that the opportunities take a break. This time of year is a time for us all to recharge and renew our stewardship drive in the world. Have you ever thought to yourself what more can I do for my church, my community, the youth, a mission project, a neighbor, or just someone who happens to pass by. These are the opportunities before us all. The church will be hard at work in the next few months creating ministry that you can plug into. We have several ministry teams where you can lend your time and talent to. Here is a listing of those: Stewardship, Media, Hospitality, Health and Wellness, Library, Safety and Security, Neighborhood Ministry, or if you see a need to create one let's git r done. The opportunity is ours for the taking, we are empowered by God, to bring the kingdom and lend our time, talent and treasure in the world. Join with the Stewardship Ministry Team if you would like to be a part of something that will be empowering and will provide for you the opportunity to bring about God's kingdom. May God continue to bless you all in your opportunities, and may your time, talent and treasure be a light into this world.

God Bless
Pastor Jay

2009-06-02T11:53:00.000-04:00

Kickoff to STEWARDSHIP

Yes that's right folks, here at Shiloh Church we are involved in a whole new ballgame. The stadium is filling up with anticipation and excitement for what is about to happen. The Shiloh Stewardship Ministry Team would like for you to be a part of this team and to help share with the community of how the OPPORTUNITIES for STEWARDSHIP are upon us all. Yes Shiloh, the word opportunity and Stewardship are being used together, oh what a rush! Now before you think this is all about just money, let me put your mind at ease and say that it's more than just money that we will talk about. The Opportunities for Stewardship are on the field of play for us and we need to discern and create the excitement of what God provides for us, so that we may share those blessings with others. How do we spend your time in service to others? What talents do we lend to the community and to Shiloh? How has our treasures been shared in the mission and ministry that we all have been called? These are just a few questions to ask ourselves in preparation for bringing Stewardship from the dugout to the playing field. And it's time for us to get involved in the game. The tools needed have already been given to us, and with God's strength and power we will win the game because Stewardship Happens! Blog to the Shiloh Stewardship Ministry Team and share with us your ideas on what Stewardship means to you and how you share your time, talent and treasures. The game has just started and we are ready, as a team led by God, to have Stewardship become the focal point in bringing God's kingdom and Good News to all those in this world.

God Bless,
Shiloh Stewardship Ministry Team