St. Andrew's-Wesley United Church

Rev. Gary Paterson

October 18, 2009

In over thirty years of ministry I have preached a lot of Stewardship sermons. It seems that every fall a Finance Committee has given me a meaningful look, and a nudge, saying, “Much depends upon a good sermon.” And I wonder, each time, how to approach the matter.

I have frequently emphasized what I call the “G-word” approach: it all begins with God, who gives so generously; so that we are filled with gratitude, which moves us to our own generosity, and thus, finally, to our own giving. I like it; it’s catchy and even memorable… you might stumble over the specific words, but you remember the movement… God, generosity, gratitude, give. And it’s an “easy preach”… especially on the West Coast, surrounded by ocean and mountain; in a city so often declared as one of the best places in the world to live. This is a “take a walk on the seawall,” “count your blessings” kind of sermon, full of colour, warmth – another version of last week’s stubborn particulars of grace, although the invitation to give back to the Giver brings a different conclusion. Only trouble is…. I preached that last year.

But then there’s the sermon that focuses on our responsibility, almost an obligation to give back. Yes, feel grateful and thus give; but also, you who have been given so much… well, you have a duty to contribute back. There’s a secular version of this theme that I came across a while back, which I was reminded of at the last Men’s Breakfast, when someone exclaimed, “I won the lottery by being born in Canada.” Some folk have picked up on that, and have suggested that everyone who was “born lucky”, who simply by grace, fortune, circumstance, found themselves growing up in a developed-world country, like Canada, the U.S., Western Europe – they should pay a birth tax, which would be given to neighbours in distant countries who face far greater challenges… Ethopia, for instance; Afghanistan; Gautemala – countries where limited resources, colonial histories, dysfunctional government, or drought, earthquake, tsunami, make life short and brutal. Perhaps a one-time tax; maybe a permanent five per cent on all earned income… now wouldn’t that be popular?! Tim assures me that supporting such a tax would guarantee his early retirement from politics. And I suspect that I am enthusiastic about the idea because I know that it won’t ever happen.

In more specific versions of the responsibility sermon, I have spent time on trying to explain the Biblical concept of the tithe, that 10% of our income that is to be returned to God, to the temple, to those in need. A gift that was not dependent on whether or not you were feeling particularly grateful at any given time. It’s your responsibility to give; a moment when you are reminder of the contingency of it all – life… your life, it really is a gift, and a temporary one at that, for all our three score year and ten. The tithe is also a call to consciously and intentionally share in the holy task of caring for and mending the world. I tell you, I’ve been bold enough to get into the detailed questions like – Is a tithe really a “ten per cent-er”, or is five enough or two or….? And is that before or after you deduct the taxes? Are the charities that I give to part of that ten percent? And isn’t it easier for someone with a lot of disposable income to give away ten percent? -- if you’re just making the budget, where do you find the last bit of extra? And I answer, yes, yes, yes, and yes … since it’s what makes sense to each person, in his or her circumstances. …. But I preached this one two years ago.

Sometimes my stewardship sermons have focussed on the budget, and all the practicalities of running a church. Although that’s always a little awkward, given that frequently the biggest item in the budget is the staff salary – it can feel a bit like singing for your own supper. So I’ve often emphasized big ticket items, like the new furnace that is being installed this week… remember how cold we were a couple of weeks ago? Or the need for organ repair, or plaster replacement… see that pillar over there? The one with the plywood buckled around it… oh, I know we’ve painted it white, sort of a disguise …but it’s the plywood that’s keeping the plaster from falling into the pews. Safe enough… but… soon, you know? I’ve even tried to make light bulbs and washroom supplies exciting. As if… but somebody has to pay for that kind of stuff, and there really isn’t anyone else who’s going to do that except us. But hey, you probably remember that you heard me preaching the same thing three years ago.

I must admit that sometimes I have used guilt… I know, I know. I try not to. Guilt and shame – they do work, sort of. I was reading the paper last Thursday … a little article about how to convinced people to wash their hands after using the washroom facilities. Somebody was experimenting with different signs, trying to figure out what ws most effective. You’d think the winner would be something like, “If you don’t wash your hands, the flu bug will kill you!” But guess what turned out to be the most effective deterrent? – “Is the person beside you washing his hands?” Turns out, most people were really concerned that the guy next to them was reading the sign, and would be quick to pass judgment. Who wants to slink out of the washroom with someone thinking you’re engaged in germ warfare? No, guilt and shame work…. but only in the short run; and only with a lot of resentment. I don’t think I’ve ever built a sermon around guilt, though it’s slipped in sometimes, at the edges.

However, I have built many-a stewardship sermon around vision, dreams coming true, with lots of hope, saying in different ways, that what is happening within this congregation is so exciting, so full of possibilities, and so worth supporting. You’re invited to join in, and be part of a happening thing. Reminds of an old chestnut of a story… A pastor… yes, not originally a United Church story…. a pastor started preaching, and started to get fired up. He looked out over the congregation, and said, “Friends, with God’s help, this church can go from crawling to walking!” And the folk of the congregation responded with equal enthusiasm, “Let the church walk, Pastor, let the church walk.” Encouraged, the pastor continued on, “Indeed, I know that God’s working with us, and we can go from walking to running. Yes indeed, from walking to running.!” And the congregation, starting to get pretty excited themselves, cried out, “Let the church run, Pastor, let the church run.” Well, there was no stopping now, and the Pastor’s full vision was launched, “We can do it! I know it! With the help of the Spirit, friends, we can go from running to flying. It’ll take a lot of money, but we can do it… we can go from running to flying.” …. There was dead silence in the congregation. For a long, long moment; and then someone mumbled from the back, “Let the church crawl, pastor, let the church crawl.” … Remember that joke from four years ago?

Who knew there were so many different stewardship sermons; but you know how it is… every year, and you need something different. But when I looked back over many of those sermons, I know there was an underlying discomfort; hidden… or maybe not so hidden. I find it difficult to talk about money; I’m good on prayer, grief, vocation… but money? Especially yours! I don’t know if it’s my upbringing, my culture… but in my circle, nobody talks about what they earn, how big their monthly VISA bills are, how much they really do give away. I always imagine money conversations happening in very discrete Swiss Banks, even if on a small scale.

I came across a poem the other day, that’s worth sharing if only for the title – “Words That Make My Stomach Plummet.” Wrap your tongue around that… can’t you just hear it… “stomach plummet.” The poet Mira McEwan offers some fine suggestions:

Committee Meeting.     Burden of Proof.

      The Simple Truth.     Trying To Be Nice.

Honestly. I Could have Died.     I Almost Cried.

     It’s Only A Cold Sore.

It’s My Night.     Trust Me.     Dead Serious

I Have Everything All Under Control.

     I’m Famous For My Honesty.

I’m Simply Beside Myself.      We’re On the Same Page.

     Let’s Not Reinvent The Wheel.

For The Time Being.     There is That.

     I’m Not Just Saying That.

I Just Couldn’t Help Myself.     I Mean It.

Think about it for a moment – what are some of the words that make your stomach plummet? For me… well, yes, the list would include phrases like, “We’re Way Over Budget.” “The Trust Funds Are Disappearing.” “Every Person Visitation.” “It’s Up To You.”

But I know that we need to talk about money. Not just know… I believe it, even if I’m not always that good at it. Because anything you don’t talk about gains power, and not in a healthy way. Pretending the money questions aren’t there never works. I came across an article the other day, a financial advice column in The Province – okay, it was a slow morning. Anyhow, this fellow had written in,

My girlfriend and I have been living together for two years. Everything is in both of our names, except our bank accounts, but we rarely ever talk about money without fighting. What can we do so that our relationship doesn’t become a financial casualty?

And Scott Hannah. the columnist, replies,

Money is one of those topics that can create tremendous stress and tension in a relationship… our attitudes toward money affect the choices we make… Conversations about money… force us to discuss our values, goals, habits, and even our mistakes. Since everyone’s experiences are different, there’s a good chance your attitudes about money will different from your partner’s…

And I thought, if he thinks it’s difficult in a relationship, well, try getting a whole family to agree, a church family that is. A couple of hundred people all with different experiences and attitudes. No wonder there’s stress and tension.

Scott Hannah offers some suggestions… “No blame, no shame, no going through six months’ worth of financial records to prove a point. … You don’t have to agree on everything…” And then he offers some questions worth discussing: “How did your family talk about money? How have your attitudes changed over the years? What does having money mean to you (e.g. freedom, security)?” Good questions, no? Although it may not always be easy to talk frankly and honestly about money, about goal-setting, paying bills, dealing with debt, saving, spending money, giving it away, planning for retirement – but it can be very worthwhile.

Last year, someone withdrew from the congregation because of last year’s Stewardship Campaign; well, actually, after the first stewardship sermon. He was hurt, offended, put off. He told me that he felt a little bushwhacked … for months he had been hearing an invitation to come to the gospel party; everyone welcome, no ticket required. This was a congregation of openness, acceptance, love, welcome… a community of grace. And then, all of sudden it felt like he was being hit by the “big ask;” there was an admission price; he just hadn’t read the fine print; you really did have to pay. And all of a sudden it felt like the party lights had been turned off.

I’ve read and re-read that stewardship sermon, let me tell you. I don’t think it said what he heard, but then again, words have a way of doing their own thing, and our ways of speaking and hearing are open to many interpretations. And there was – there is -- a profound question in what he was saying. How do you find the balance between grace and works? At the core of the faith there is love, welcome, forgiveness –“Nothing can separate us from the love of God;” that’s the heart of the gospel; no strings or requirements, beyond simply accepting it. And yet, intertwined with this, is a holy demand to do justice and love kindness; to respond; to join with God in hallowing the world; to … give. It’s easy to get it wrong -- you can end up with “cheap grace” that asks nothing of you; or you can create another list of do’s and don’ts to determine who’s in, who’s out; who belongs.

Do you remember the story of Zaccheus? -- A tax-collector, rich and despised, the little short guy – now there’s complex for you – the one who climbed the sycamore tree to see Jesus pass through town.. And Jesus saw him and said, despite every social and religious rule, “Zaccheus, hurry and come down; for I must stay at your house today.” Which is to say… the party’s happening at your place; you are that welcome, that important, that loved. No strings; all grace … as Jesus said, “the son of Man came to seek out and to save the lost.” Amazing grace! And then, bingo… Zaccheus –“lost in wonder, love and praise; Zaccheus responded, “Look, half of my possessions, Lord, I will give to the poor, and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I will pay back four times as much.” There it is, the response—gratitude, generosity and gift. And that’s when Jesus says, “Today salvation has come to this house, because he too is a son of Abraham.” Which makes it sound as if the salvation moment comes precisely when grace is offered, accepted and experienced, and when, almost simultaneously, there is expressed and enacted a deep gratitude and a giving back in the spirit of praise and justice. Yes, a party; and yes, give.

You never know where a stewardship sermon is going to take you. Deep, I’m discovering. Because I suspect that at the heart of my and maybe your discomfort about stewardship programmes and open money talk is that we are being invited to take a look at our core values. Nothing like checking out the after-tax income and figuring out just how much I’ve given away, and maybe how much I should give away. I wonder if I am coming face to face with one of God’s great rivals, the god Mammon. You know, the worship of money, comfort, wealth, luxury, indulgence… all that kind of stuff.

I think Jesus was real clear about this. He knew real danger when he saw it, as he saw people selling their souls for the kingdoms of this world; selling out for pleasure, fun, and missing out on being rich with God. Jesus was real clear when he talked about money and possessions… a lot; probably his favourite topic. Sixteen out of thirty-eight parables involve money and possessions and how we use them; two hundred and eighty-eight verses about it in the Gospels. That’s ten percent; ten percent of what Jesus talked about concerned money and possessions. Oh, Jesus was real clear… “No one can serve two masters…. You cannot serve God and Mammon.” (Mt. 6:24) and, “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”(Lk.12:34)

Mammon has such appeal… a sleek, stylish God, don’t you think? Though maybe a bit overweight. Hangs out a lot in the Mall… which some have suggested is Mammon’s temple, where you can fulfill all your secret wishes. Mammon is quite happy to accept Visa. It’s hard not to be seduced by Mammon when you hit the birth lottery jackpot, and end up in Canada, so that you find yourself hobnobbing with the richest people in the world, if you start thinking globally, and historically. And if you don’t bow down to Mammon, well there are consequences; disobey this god and you might find yourself poor; or at least with a lower standard of living and a few nightmares about what will happen at retirement.

I think we’ve all had a spin or two with Mammon. I recognize my idolatry when I take a look a my three theological levels. Oh, you didn’t know that we all have three levels of theology; but it’s true, you can’t get away with anything simple these days; you’re all three-level theologians. First there’s public theology… that’s what you say you believe; what others assume you believe. Then there’s your personal theology – what you think you believe; the moments when you cross your fingers saying the creed; when you shape your own interpretation of faith; when you highlight your own “Bible within the Bible.” And then, finally, there’s your active theology – it’s based on what you do. Your actions most truly reveal what you believe. Your calendar and date book; your Visa or MasterCard and your debit card statement; your record of what you gave away – this is where you discover what your really value, where you make your offering; which god has drawn your loyalty. You’ve heard it before, “Where your treasure is, where your time and your money are… there your heart will be also.” The challenge is to bring these three levels closer together –the public, the personal and the active, so that there is congruence between what we say, what we believe, and what we do.

And that’s what a Stewardship Programme is all about, I think; inviting us into a bit of self-examination, taking a look at what’s important to us --what are our core values? We are invited to pause and take stock, to name blessings and give thanks; to decide how we are going to respond, to participate in mending the world, giving time and money, offering compassion and generosity. No wonder it’s sometimes uncomfortable; no wonder it’s sometimes difficult to talk about it. But what an invitation into a new kind of living! And what an opportunity to say Yes!