The ELCA writes that, “We are a church that shares a living, daring confidence in God’s grace — our congregations are evangelical mission centers where courageous and wise stewards are grown. Congregational stewardship begins with a healthy understanding of gratitude and generosity. We have first received and therefore we give.”
How do we respond to
God’s call to serve and love our neighbors? We faithfully steward the gifts God
has so abundantly given to us. Stewardship is more than a financial response to
God’s love. Stewardship encompasses how
we use all that God has entrusted to our care — our time, our talents and our
treasures — to love God and our neighbors, both inside and outside of the
church walls and our homes.
Stewardship calls for a blending of
our faith and the way that we live our lives — we are a church that is
energized by lively engagement in our faith and life. Stewardship is a mindset,
a culture and a discipline that can never be contained in an annual campaign.
According to Clarence Stoughton, former president of Wittenberg University,
stewardship is everything we do after we say “I believe.” It is the way in
which we use all of the resources that God has entrusted to our care so that we
can love God and our neighbor. Stewardship is about love.
The spiritual practice of Stewardship forms
the way we see the world and ourselves within it as people of faith. We are called to steward every part of who we
are for love’s sake. A holistic practice of stewardship is
the inseparable pairing of giving and serving.
Holding these practices together help us emphasize a life of
self-giving.
Stewardship is as much an individual spiritual practice as it is shared in community. When we strengthen the bonds of love among each other, we strengthen our community. When stewardship is rooted in love it embodies joys and a shared table.
Like I mentioned in my sermon on Sunday, November 9th, 2025. I am extremely grateful for how generous you all are. When there is a need, you all step up. You are a gift to me, the church, and our community. St. Mark could not do what we do without each and every one of you. You are a gift to St. Mark and I am so glad you are here.
Yours in Christ,
Pastor Katrina Steingraeber
