The Rector Writes – September 2008
Dear Friends
A Baptist minister in Cardiff recently told a story about some children from the Sunday School at his church who would occasionally call at his house. He was often busy and would have to tell them that, however pleased he was to see them, he had things to get on with. Once they called with flowers for his wife. He happened to know where they had got them from because he had seen them pick the last of them – from his own garden! His wife was still glad to receive them even if the children were only giving her what was her own.
Centuries before, King David gave generously towards the materials for the first temple in Jerusalem, and he encouraged his people to do so as well. He had been told that the construction and fitting-out of the building would be his son Solomon’s privilege rather than his own, but he made provision for this gladly. 1 Chronicles chapter 29 records his prayer of dedication for these gifts. Part of it has been included in versions of the Communion service: ‘Yours, Lord, is the greatness, the power, the glory, the splendour and the majesty; foreverything in heaven and on earth is yours. All things come from you, and of your own do we give you.’
King David may have been far wealthier and more powerful than those children in Cardiff, but by acknowledging the source of his gift, he was in the same position to God as they were to the minister’s wife.
Christian stewardship is principally about recognising that ‘all things are from God and from his own do we give him’. This profoundly affects our understanding of ownership. What we call ‘ours’ is what God has given us to hold on trust as his stewards. We are to look after it, to save it, spend it, invest it or give it away, as God would direct through prayer, common-sense, compassion, experience and advice.
One problem with possessions is that what we think we possess may actually possess us! Many Christians find that a good wayof breaking the power of their possessions over them is to give a away a certain proportion to charity, relief agencies and Christian missions including the Church. Many havebeen able to prove the truth of the saying that ‘God is no man’s debtor’.
I am intending that this will be the first of a series of articles about Christian Stewardship. You will be aware that this is a time when individuals, families and churches are facing increasing demands on their finances. The diocese of St Asaph has prepared some material to help us address these challenges and I would like to share a selection of this over the coming months, in this column and during church services.
Last September our Deanery, which consists of the parishes of Bistre, Buckley, Hawarden, Hope and Shotton, invited members of the churches within it to attend a Quiet Day at St Beuno’s retreat centre in Tremierchion. Several people enjoyed the opportunity to spend time in prayer and contemplation in these beautiful surroundings. Some of these had not beento such an event before.
This September the Deanery has organised a day’s pilgrimage. It is on the same scale and does not involve travelling to Canterbury, Rome orJerusalem! It will take place on Saturday 13th September and will begin at 11am with being shown round Llandyrnog parish church, to the south of Bodfari on the Mold-Denbighroad. There will then be an hour’s walk along quiet roads to Llanynys church where we will again be shown round, will eat our lunch and take part in a short act of worship on the theme of ‘travelling with God’. This theme came to mind through the huge wall-painting of St Christopher, who is the patron saint of travellers. The walks there and back are suitable for prams, buggies and wheel-chairs. We will return to our starting point before 4pm. Do let me know if you are interested in coming because our hosts at Llandyrnog would like to offer us coffee on arrival but need to know numbers. I may be able to help with lifts .
I am aware that this date clashes with the September Activity Afternoon and I wouldn’t like to detract from that event. When I attended the Afternoon in August I was struck by the friendly and welcoming atmosphere with visitors well absorbed in whatever they were doing in different parts of the parish church. I commend the enterprise of those who identified this opportunity to receive visitors and who get the church ready and offer hospitality.
Yours sincerely
Martin Snellgrove