Maintenance to Mission

Isaiah 54:2  Enlarge the site of your tent, and let the curtains of your habitations be stretched out; do not hold back.

Summary: Sunday’s Agape Meal reminded us that stewardship is not simply about maintaining the church we have. It is about becoming the church God is calling us to be.

Dear St. Augustine’s friends,

Sunday’s Agape Meal was a beautiful experience of what church can be when we gather around a table.

Instead of sitting in rows, we worshiped around tables. We ate together, prayed together, shared Communion with one another, and talked about what St. Augustine means to us. We asked, “What is one word you use to describe St. Augustine?” and “What do you hope God will make possible through St. Augustine in the coming year?” Then, as part of our worship, we were invited to consider our financial commitment for the coming year, not from guilt or obligation, but from gratitude for what God has given us and hope for what God might do through us.

It was stewardship embodied around a table.

Six years ago, I shared my first vision for St. Augustine. I dreamed that we would become a church built on community, grounded in Christian spirituality, welcoming to newcomers, and helping people discover their purpose. I ended with the words, “We will be a safe place for people seeking God.”

I believe we have become that church. I hear it when people tell me, “I felt welcomed here.” “I could ask questions here.” “I didn’t feel judged.” “I felt like I belonged.”

Now I believe God is asking us to take the next step.

For six years, we have been learning to become a safe place for people seeking God. Now I believe we are being called to become a people sent to share God’s welcome.

What if our parish is Placer County? What if the children, teenagers, seniors, struggling families, seekers, doubters, and lonely people around us are somehow our people too?

That is why we are investing in children and families, beautiful worship, Journey to Wholeness, outreach into our neighborhood, and new ways for our building to serve the community.

Our goal is not simply more programs.

Our goal is more room.

That is the stewardship invitation before us. We are not simply maintaining what previous generations built. We are investing in what God might build next.

We are making room at the table for people we have not even met yet.

May we have the courage to make room,

Pastor Anny+

Prayer for the Week

Gracious God, thank you for everything you have entrusted to us. Teach us to use what we have for the good of our neighbors, and prepare our hearts to welcome those who will one day call this place home. Amen.