Worship by Theme

Stewardship in the Lectionary Readings: Year A

Some Sundays, the stewardship message leaps from the pages. In many lectionary passages, however, the stewardship themes may not be readily apparent.

The following lectionary-based sermon starters offer clues to how stewardship can be an integral part of all our preaching and to how it can be incorporated into group worship or Bible study.

Sermon Starters for Epiphany through Transfiguration Sunday were written by a Saskatchewan Conference writers' group: Kim Antosh (Regina), Brenda Curtis (Humboldt), Marvin Mackie (Rose Valley), Holly Schick (Regina), and Deb Walker (Saskatoon).

Use these lectionary-based sermon starters with Offering Invitations and Dedications and Stewardship Seconds for continuity in your worship service.

December

December 4: Second Sunday of Advent

• Isaiah 40:1–11
• Psalm 85:1–2, 8–13
• 2 Peter 3:8–15a
• Mark 1:1–8

In his book A New Earth, Eckhart Tolle talks about "living in the now." Consider what that means for people as we move through this season of Advent.

Part of the Advent tradition in church is to bring to mind John the Baptist and the role he played in proclaiming the Messiah. At this time of year, what other traditions do we mark in the church? In our families? In our communities? How helpful—or not—are these traditions? What do our traditions demonstrate what we believe about this season? It is very likely that John struggled against the tradition of his community as he proclaimed that one greater than he would be coming to baptize people with the Holy Spirit.

Sometimes traditions can become patterns and habits that have outlived their usefulness. Are there traditions that we might want to reconsider at this time of year? For example, giving is one of our Advent/Christmas traditions, but how do we breathe new life into giving and reclaim the good of this tradition, which gets lost in the frenzy of the season? How can we invite people to embrace giving as an act of faith once more? Recreating the faith moments of the Advent/Christmas story might offer a place to start in making old traditions new again.

December 11: Third Sunday of Advent

• Isaiah 61:1–4, 8–11
• Psalm 126
• 1 Thessalonians 5:16–24
• John 1:6–8, 19–28

Read the prayer attributed to Bishop Oscar Romero. What does this prayer say to you about joy, fulfillment, contentment?

When I read the Isaiah 61 passage I get tired just thinking about all of the things we are called by God to do—until I realize that the writer of Isaiah is not talking about one person doing all those things, but rather about a whole community of people working together to bring the good news to others. God has reasonable expectations of us. But do we have reasonable expectations of ourselves at this time of year?

Reading Bishop Romero's prayer reminds me that when we are fully doing what we can do, and when others are doing the same, then we are being the people God is asking us to be. And that when we glimpse that what we are doing is enough, there is a sense of joy and accomplishment in saying: "I can't do more, I can't do less, but I can do this."

December 18: Fourth Sunday of Advent

• 2 Samuel 7:1–11, 16
• Luke 1:46b–55
• Romans 16:25–27
• Luke 1:26–38

Mary's song offers images and a theological reflection of a world turned upside down. The peasant farmers whose theological reflection Ernesto Cardenal captured in The Gospel of Solentiname also offer images of a world turned upside down. As we consider these two liberation perspectives, what would the world today look like if it were turned upside down?

God uses small things for greatness, like a child born to a small clan in Judah. And the paradox is clear. Small is mighty in God's hands; gentle is powerful in God's hands; foolishness is wisdom in God's hands; weakness is strength in God's hands. We know this story: God turns the world upside down. And Advent calls us to keep repeating this story and bringing it to life. When we look at it in the right way, it's not just the story of a tiny baby, but the story of a powerful God.

And so, even though we may be feeling quite overwhelmed by the Christmas season, and even though we may be feeling a little defeated in the face of the materialism that surrounds us, saying "yes" to this powerful God could bring about the birth of something new this year. If we trust in God's paradox, then in this season of getting, what might we do by giving and letting go?

December 24 & 25: Christmas Eve & Day

• Isaiah 9:2–7
• Psalm 96
• Titus 2:11–14
• Luke 2:1–14, (15–20)

The lessons for today point to the kind of gift that Jesus is for the world: a gift given without strings; a gift given out of love; a gift given for the good of the world.

We are great at giving gifts in this season—in fact, sometimes we go overboard—but Jesus calls us to give of ourselves always. We are to give freely without reserve, out of joy, for the good of the world.

The shepherds left the manger in awe and wonderment, recognizing the divine in the simplest of things. The message for us today is to live lives of self-control, simplicity and generosity, seeking the divine in all things, responding to the gift of Jesus.

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January

January 1: First after Christmas Day

• Isaiah 61:10—62:3
• Psalm 148
• Galatians 4:4–7
• Luke 2:22–40

As children and heirs of the Divine, we are called to be stewards of all of life. This is a lifelong task requiring patience and persistence. Our strength and our wisdom come from God's grace. We receive these gifts with the same amazement that Mary and Joseph felt when they took Jesus to present him at the temple and heard what was being said about him.

How is God still amazing us today? How do we respond to that amazement?

January 6: Epiphany of the Lord

• Isaiah 60:1–6
• Psalm 72:1–7, 10–14
• Ephesians 3:1–12
• Matthew 2:1–12

The magi visited the manger and were overwhelmed with joy. Out of that joy, they opened their treasure chests and gave him gifts (Mt. 2:10–11).

What is in our treasure chests, and what would motivate us to open them? For the magi, it was joy. What gifts do we have that we can joyfully offer?

January 8: Baptism of the Lord

• Genesis 1:1–5
• Psalm 29
• Acts 19:1–7
• Mark 1:4–11

Many people today are seeking some form of spiritual nurture in their lives. They seek to engage the presence of the holy that is in all creation, whatever their faith background.

Jesus' baptism is a sign of his making a commitment in response to that holy presence. Baptism is one of the symbols of our commitment and our "yes" to that gift. We are amazed at the gift of life we have received—the gift of our own lives and the lives of our children and others who are so important to us. Part of our response to this amazing generosity is sharing our faith story, our gifts, and our resources generously with others.

January 15: Second after Epiphany

• 1 Samuel 3:1–10, (11–20)
• Psalm 139:1–6, 13–18
• 1 Corinthians 6:12–20
• John 1:43–51

We believe we are called to respond to the presence of the Divine in our lives and our world. Part of our response is to care for ourselves, our bodies, our minds, and our spirits.

This doesn't mean selfishness, but self-caring. We are fearfully and wonderfully made. If we don't care for ourselves, we won't be able to care for others and for our world. If we don't care for ourselves, we become resentful, envious, and frustrated. We become self-focused and begin to obsess about what we don't have and what others do have. When we do care for ourselves, we can truly believe that we and others are fearfully and wonderfully made. We can respect and care for ourselves, others, and all of creation. We see ourselves and others as the blessings we are intended to be.

January 22: Third after Epiphany

• Jonah 3:1–5, 10
• Psalm 62:5–12
• 1 Corinthians 7:29–31
• Mark 1:14–20

Having a meaningful work experience can change the way we live the rest of our lives. In the scriptures, we know that the disciples' experiences of the meaningful work they were called to do transformed their lives. Jonah's experiences didn't bring the results he had anticipated, but they certainly made a dramatic difference, especially for the people of Nineveh. We don't know if Jonah ever really understood how meaningful his actions were and how much difference they made.

Too often in our world we seem to be going through the motions, running on a treadmill, going faster and faster, and getting frustrated with the world around us. How do we find meaning in the work we do and the lives we lead? Work is meaningful when we are doing something that gives back to the world and others. We don't always recognize the impact our lives have on others and the world around us. Paid or unpaid, exciting or mundane, we are called to make our work an appropriate expression of faithfulness.

January 29: Fourth after Epiphany

• Deuteronomy 18:15–20
• Psalm 111
• 1 Corinthians 8:1–13
• Mark 1:21–28

In The Message of the Psalms, Walter Brueggemann says that thanking someone is not just an expression of gratitude but also a statement of commitment to the other person.

The scriptures are full of stories of the various responses of those who have experienced God's gifts. What are the ways our lives reflect the commitment we make when we say "thank you" for the awesome gifts we have received?

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February

February 5: Fifth after Epiphany

• Isaiah 40:21–31
• Psalm 147:1–11, 20c
• 1 Corinthians 9:16–23
• Mark 1:29–39

Could Jesus be the answer to sustainable health care? God's desire is for wellness and wholeness for all. Our spiritual well-being is a key part of total wellness. Part of our spiritual well-being is the joy we experience in giving generously of time, talent, and treasure as we are called to do.

Those who give know that stewardship is a recipe for good health.

February 12: Sixth after Epiphany

• 2 Kings 5:1–14
• Psalm 30
• 1 Corinthians 9:24–27
• Mark 1:40–45

Who are the lepers in our society? Who are the ones who suffer? Some people in our world have tremendous riches and great abundance but still suffer because they are unhappy and living unfulfilling lives. This is true for many people right here in our own communities.

Can we hear the message that finding joy in our lives can really be through doing very simple acts? Just reach out to another, as Jesus demonstrates in the gospel reading.

In 2 Kings, Naaman is challenged by his servants, who say, "If the prophet had commanded you to do something difficult, would you not have done it?" (5:13). It is often in the simplest acts of sharing and caring that we have the greatest impact. What does it cost us to have compassion? Nothing. Yet it costs everything when we truly commit our lives to it.

February 19: Transfiguration Sunday

• 2 Kings 2:1–12
• Psalm 50:1–6
• 2 Corinthians 4:3–6
• Mark 9:2–9

Perhaps you've heard the story of Larry Walters? He's the Los Angeles man who tied 45 helium-filled weather balloons to a lawn chair in 1982 and flew up to an altitude of 4,875 m or 16,000 feet. When he finally returned to earth safely, he was arrested. When asked why he had done it, Walters is reported to have said, "A man can't just sit around."

In the transfiguration story, the disciples appear to want to remain on the mountain, building dwellings and "just sitting around," but Jesus takes them down the mountain and hints that there will be important jobs for them after he is gone.

We too have an important job: to support God's work through our gifts of personal and financial resources. Let's not "just sit around."