Pastor Laura

President's Ponderings
Confessions of a "Pay as I show"

As summer winds down, and with the realization that offerings have again dropped off at St. Andrew’s during this vacation season, I am forced to reflect on my own “stewardship” habits of the not-too-distant past. And I use quotes around the word stewardship very intentionally. Because what I was doing could hardly be called stewardship. In fact, until I came to St. Andrew’s almost eight years ago, I do not think I really understood the concept of stewardship.
What I did was what I would call, “Pay as I show.” If I went to church, I would certainly put my envelope in
the plate, but my thought was more like I was paying for a service. I gave little thought to what that offering
meant to God, to the Church, or to the missions and ministries my offering may have helped enable. First
fruits was not a concept I was familiar with… the freely, and consistently, giving back a portion of what God’s blessings had provided for me. And certainly, if I didn’t go to church a particular week or weeks, I would not give a second thought about the offerings I missed. If I showed up, I paid. If I skipped a Sunday, I did not, and would throw away that week’s envelope. “Pay as I show” was my philosophy.
It was not until I got to St. Andrew’s, and learned about stewardship from people I truly respect (like Pastor Laura, Todd Brown, and Guy Ehler, just to name a few), that I feel like I really started to “get it.”
Offering is not paying for a service. Stewardship is not “Pay as you show.” Committing to provide my
offering on a consistent basis, recognizing that I give back to God through the Church, for His purpose, in
thanksgiving for what he has provided me in my life – that is part of Stewardship to me. (The other part is
giving of time and talents for His work, but we’ll save that for future Ponderings).
I do not claim to be a perfect Steward of God’s gifts. Far from it. Just as we are all sinners, I do not believe there is such a thing as a perfect steward. But just as I strive to be less of a sinner, I also strive to be a better steward.
I invite you to reflect on your concept and practice of Stewardship. Are you a “Pay as you show” like I was?
Where do your heart and prayers take you regarding freely giving of first fruits, time and talents for His work?
“Blessed are you, O God, maker of all things. Through your goodness you have blessed us with these gifts: our selves, our time, and our possessions. Use us, and what we have gathered, in feeding the world with your love, through the one who gave himself for us, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.
Amen.” – Offering Prayer, Setting Two, ELW

Ken Agren, Council President