Readings: Job 19:23-27; Ps. 17
Stewardship Sunday
November 11, 2001
The Rev. Karen Siegfriedt
St. Jude the Apostle Episcopal Church, Cupertino,
CA
Two months ago, a friend of mine went to get a haircut. She has been going to the same hairdresser for years. The beauty salon is an upscale enterprise where haircuts go for about $65 and perms for over $100. With scissors in hand, the hairdresser began telling a story about a recent, clever business maneuver. Being blessed with many resources, the hairdresser had contracted to rent out one of her many commercial spaces. A week before the lease was to go into effect, the leasee came to her with sad news. She had just received word that her husband was leaving her, that she had lost her job, and that she would probably have to leave her home. As a result, she did not have the money to start the new business and asked to be excused from the lease.
The hairdresser adamantly refused and told the grieving woman that she would have to pay the monthly rent until she found another client to take over the lease. Fortunately, another client was found. So, the woman then asked the hairdresser if she could have her deposit back. The hairdresser refused, saying: "A deal is a deal." The hairdresser finished the story, bragging that she had collected not only a $2000 deposit from the first client who gave up the lease but also had collected another $2000 from the second client who took over the lease.
When I heard this story, I was filled with great sadness. Imagine losing your spouse, your job, and a large deposit of money within a few days? It is like the story of Job who lost his children, his cattle, and his friends while being afflicted with a terrible skin disease. It's like getting kicked in the face when you are already down on the ground. I began to think about the grieving woman. Did the hairdresser's refusal to return the deposit push this vulnerable woman over the edge? Did she end up in a deep depression, feeling that the whole world was against her? Did she lose faith in humanity?
We will never know the answers to these questions, but I often wonder how different the grieving woman might have faired, if the hairdresser were to have acted from a place of generosity instead of greed. How different it could have been had the hairdresser followed the example of Job who supported the poor and the orphan. who caused the widow's heart to sing with joy.who was a father to the needy, eyes to the blind, and feet to the lame."(Job 29) How different it could have been if the hairdresser were to have responded like today's psalmist who cries out to God: "I give no offense with my mouth as others do; I have heeded the words of your lips. My footsteps hold fast to the ways of your law; in your paths my feet shall not stumble." (Ps. 17) How different it could have been if the hairdresser exclaimed with faith: "I know my Redeemer lives, and that at the last he will stand upon the earth.and I shall see God." (Job 19) How different this world could be if we were to respond to our blessings with gratitude and generosity.
Now I know that the hairdresser was wounded as a child and struggled many years to earn good money. I know that she experienced pain and disappointment during her life. But what a sad commentary it is to allow the past to shut down one's heart. Here is someone who could benefit from the transforming, life-giving spirit of the gospel. For with God, all things are possible- even the release from a painful past.
No matter what our financial condition has been in the past or is in the present, we are all greatly blessed by God. To feel this gratitude is a sign of spiritual maturity. We have been gifted with skills and talents. We have been gifted with 24 hours of life each day. And we have been gifted with financial resources. What do we do with all of these blessings? Do we keep them for ourselves or do we share them? And if we decide to share them, what percentage of our time, talent, and treasure do we return to God for the spread of the gospel and for the transformation of lives?
Today is stewardship Sunday. It is the time of year when we pledge a portion of our time, talent, and treasure to this parish church, an institution committed to the transformation of lives from a gospel perspective. The gospel shows us a way of life where justice, mercy, forgiveness, inclusivity, peace, generosity, and compassion are the operating principles. Thus, the church is a training ground where we learn to become agents of transformation, messengers of healing, bearers of good news, partners in prayer, and icons of hope. What will you pledge for the mission of the Church?
The other day, a parishioner looked over the goals for 2002 and said that they were not very exciting. Repairing the plumbing, paying the mortgage, keeping up the buildings and grounds, and paying salaries does not at first glance seem very exciting. But ask the many partners who grace our campus with their ministries and they will tell you that the greatest outreach that St. Jude's offers to the community is its buildings and grounds. Without the classroom building, the Senior Day Care Center could not operate. They are an important ministry to the elderly and caretakers in this part of Santa Clara County. While paying a small sum of money for maintenance and cleaning, they operate here "rent free." Ask them how important it is for us to repair the plumbing, electricity, and heaters. They will tell you that offering them a space and maintaining our buildings and grounds are a tremendous gift. Ask the Rotating Shelter Program what they need most, and they will tell you that it is our buildings and grounds. We are now in the midst of repairing the sinks and hot water heater that supply the bathrooms so that the homeless will have decent facilities before they come in January. Where will the money come from?
Ask the Santa Clara election board, the special reading program, the professional woman's group, and all those who use our parish hall, and they will tell you that our facility is a very important blessing. Do you know that it cost us over $50,000/year to pay the mortgage and utilities on the parish hall? Your pledge allows us to continue to use these facilities for ministry and to share our campus with the community at large.
It will cost over $1200/day to maintain the current level of service here at St. Jude's in 2002. But your vestry would like to move beyond a maintenance model to a mission model, where we can dream big dreams. But in order to do so, all of us need to increase our pledge for next year. I believe in big dreams. And so as your rector, I have committed to tithing 10% of my gross salary to the church and an additional 2% to other charities. I believe our mission, our vision, and our goals can transform lives. As we move from a place of fear to a place of love and reach out in justice, mercy, forgiveness, inclusivity, peace, generosity, and compassion, we and others will be transformed. Please give generously of your time, talent, and treasure. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
| Updated 11/12/01 |
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