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<div class="MsoNormal"><font color="navy" face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy">Part 2:<br>
<br>
Here’s a Stewardship sermon, as if
you are in search of one(!), from one of the nominees for Bishop of the Diocese
of New York:</span></font></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><font color="navy" face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy">Andy’s illustrations for the book by
Jerry Keucher, Remember the Future: Finiancial Leadership and Asset Management,
2006, Church Publishing Company, are here:</span></font></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal"><font color="navy" face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy"><a target="_blank" href="http://www.episcopalmarlboro.org/Uploads/Remember%20the%20Future.pdf">http://www.episcopalmarlboro.org/Uploads/Remember%20the%20Future.pdf</a></span></font></div>
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<br>
<div class="MsoNormal"><font color="navy" face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy">Peace and blessings,</span></font></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><font color="navy" face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy">Joe</span></font></div>
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<br>
</font>Giving is complicated in
a culture of ownership. And we do live in a culture of ownership.
Of</span></font></div>
<div style="TEXT-AUTOSPACE: " class="MsoNormal"><font face="TimesNewRomanPSMT" size="2"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: TimesNewRomanPSMT; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">material accumulation.
Such a culture reduces everything to a zero-sum game. There is only so much.
If</span></font></div>
<div style="TEXT-AUTOSPACE: " class="MsoNormal"><font face="TimesNewRomanPSMT" size="2"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: TimesNewRomanPSMT; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">I have, but give some
away to you, then I have less and you have more. We’ve just traded ownership
of</span></font></div>
<div style="TEXT-AUTOSPACE: " class="MsoNormal"><font face="TimesNewRomanPSMT" size="2"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: TimesNewRomanPSMT; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">the asset. And that is
so counter-intuitive that in order to become givers at all we need to heap
up</span></font></div>
<div style="TEXT-AUTOSPACE: " class="MsoNormal"><font face="TimesNewRomanPSMT" size="2"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: TimesNewRomanPSMT; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">strategies for ourselves
to get us over all those psychological barriers. Every charity and non-profit,
and</span></font></div>
<div style="TEXT-AUTOSPACE: " class="MsoNormal"><font face="TimesNewRomanPSMT" size="2"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: TimesNewRomanPSMT; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">even the church, spends
a lot of time developing just such strategies. So that when we ask, What
is</span></font></div>
<div style="TEXT-AUTOSPACE: " class="MsoNormal"><font face="TimesNewRomanPSMT" size="2"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: TimesNewRomanPSMT; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">required of me? How much
is the right amount? When will I know that I have done all I need to do?
How</span></font></div>
<div style="TEXT-AUTOSPACE: " class="MsoNormal"><font face="TimesNewRomanPSMT" size="2"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: TimesNewRomanPSMT; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">much can I keep?, there
will be ready answers to those questions. Formulas, percentages, equations
that</span></font></div>
<div style="TEXT-AUTOSPACE: " class="MsoNormal"><font face="TimesNewRomanPSMT" size="2"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: TimesNewRomanPSMT; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">define an obligation
satisfied.</span></font></div>
<div style="TEXT-AUTOSPACE: " class="MsoNormal"><font face="TimesNewRomanPSMT" size="2"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: TimesNewRomanPSMT; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">All of that serves
goals, but it does not serve the transformation of the human heart. The
conversion</span></font></div>
<div style="TEXT-AUTOSPACE: " class="MsoNormal"><font face="TimesNewRomanPSMT" size="2"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: TimesNewRomanPSMT; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">of the human soul. So I
would suggest that we will begin to understand the really creative possibilities
of</span></font></div>
<div style="TEXT-AUTOSPACE: " class="MsoNormal"><font face="TimesNewRomanPSMT" size="2"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: TimesNewRomanPSMT; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">Christian stewardship
when we stop talking about giving. The word </span></font><i><font face="TimesNewRomanPS-ItalicMT"><span style="FONT-STYLE: italic; FONT-FAMILY: TimesNewRomanPS-ItalicMT">giving
</span></font></i><font face="TimesNewRomanPSMT"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: TimesNewRomanPSMT">belongs to the culture
of</span></font></div>
<div style="TEXT-AUTOSPACE: " class="MsoNormal"><font face="TimesNewRomanPSMT" size="2"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: TimesNewRomanPSMT; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">ownership -- I give of
what I own. I would suggest that we shift our emphasis to </span></font><i><font face="TimesNewRomanPS-ItalicMT"><span style="FONT-STYLE: italic; FONT-FAMILY: TimesNewRomanPS-ItalicMT">sharing</span></font></i><font face="TimesNewRomanPSMT"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: TimesNewRomanPSMT">. Because
that</span></font></div>
<div style="TEXT-AUTOSPACE: " class="MsoNormal"><font face="TimesNewRomanPSMT" size="2"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: TimesNewRomanPSMT; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">word comes from the
culture of giftedness. If all that we have is a gift, then we can be freed from
talking</span></font></div>
<div style="TEXT-AUTOSPACE: " class="MsoNormal"><font face="TimesNewRomanPSMT" size="2"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: TimesNewRomanPSMT; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">of what is mine and what
is yours and what is his and what is hers, and see instead that each of us, and
all</span></font></div>
<div style="TEXT-AUTOSPACE: " class="MsoNormal"><font face="TimesNewRomanPSMT" size="2"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: TimesNewRomanPSMT; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">of us together, are just
managers of different pieces of what is God’s. And if all is God’s, then all is
</span></font><i><font face="TimesNewRomanPS-ItalicMT"><span style="FONT-STYLE: italic; FONT-FAMILY: TimesNewRomanPS-ItalicMT">ours</span></font></i><font face="TimesNewRomanPSMT"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: TimesNewRomanPSMT">.</span></font></div>
<div style="TEXT-AUTOSPACE: " class="MsoNormal"><font face="TimesNewRomanPSMT" size="2"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: TimesNewRomanPSMT; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">And
</span></font><i><font face="TimesNewRomanPS-ItalicMT"><span style="FONT-STYLE: italic; FONT-FAMILY: TimesNewRomanPS-ItalicMT">ours
</span></font></i><font face="TimesNewRomanPSMT"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: TimesNewRomanPSMT">is a better word than
</span></font><i><font face="TimesNewRomanPS-ItalicMT"><span style="FONT-STYLE: italic; FONT-FAMILY: TimesNewRomanPS-ItalicMT">mine</span></font></i><font face="TimesNewRomanPSMT"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: TimesNewRomanPSMT">.</span></font></div>
<div style="TEXT-AUTOSPACE: " class="MsoNormal"><font face="TimesNewRomanPSMT" size="2"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: TimesNewRomanPSMT; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">A culture of sharing
comes from the belief that what it means to be a community is that everyone
is</span></font></div>
<div style="TEXT-AUTOSPACE: " class="MsoNormal"><font face="TimesNewRomanPSMT" size="2"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: TimesNewRomanPSMT; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">in this together, all
being one. Sharing describes how we participate in every way, including
materially, in</span></font></div>
<div style="TEXT-AUTOSPACE: " class="MsoNormal"><font face="TimesNewRomanPSMT" size="2"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: TimesNewRomanPSMT; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">a body of which we are
already a part. The challenges of the whole community are our challenges.
The</span></font></div>
<div style="TEXT-AUTOSPACE: " class="MsoNormal"><font face="TimesNewRomanPSMT" size="2"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: TimesNewRomanPSMT; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">blessings of the whole
community are our blessings. The community comes to us in our need, and
we</span></font></div>
<div style="TEXT-AUTOSPACE: " class="MsoNormal"><font face="TimesNewRomanPSMT" size="2"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: TimesNewRomanPSMT; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">rise up to help when
there is hurt elsewhere in the body. Sharing says that all we are, and all we
have, are</span></font></div>
<div style="TEXT-AUTOSPACE: " class="MsoNormal"><font face="TimesNewRomanPSMT" size="2"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: TimesNewRomanPSMT; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">at the service of this
-- our own family. Sharing is driven by character and thanksgiving and courage
and</span></font></div>
<div style="TEXT-AUTOSPACE: " class="MsoNormal"><font face="TimesNewRomanPSMT" size="2"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: TimesNewRomanPSMT; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">fidelity and mutual
accountability and a whole lot of trust and joy and more than anything else,
love.</span></font></div>
<div style="TEXT-AUTOSPACE: " class="MsoNormal"><font face="TimesNewRomanPSMT" size="2"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: TimesNewRomanPSMT; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">Sharing is the offering
of our whole selves without condition. And for that, there can be no
law.</span></font></div>
<div style="TEXT-AUTOSPACE: " class="MsoNormal"><font face="TimesNewRomanPSMT" size="2"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: TimesNewRomanPSMT; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">We are going to take a
moment of reflection before you are asked to come forward, as in years
past,</span></font></div>
<div style="TEXT-AUTOSPACE: " class="MsoNormal"><font face="TimesNewRomanPSMT" size="2"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: TimesNewRomanPSMT; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">to offer your pledge for
the coming year to this church -- to your brothers and sisters. While you
are</span></font></div>
<div style="TEXT-AUTOSPACE: " class="MsoNormal"><font face="TimesNewRomanPSMT" size="2"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: TimesNewRomanPSMT; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">thinking about that
pledge, I will offer you two things to think about.</span></font></div>
<div style="TEXT-AUTOSPACE: " class="MsoNormal"><font face="TimesNewRomanPSMT" size="2"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: TimesNewRomanPSMT; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">If it is helpful to you
to be given a guideline for how to do this -- something concrete -- fair
enough.</span></font></div>
<div style="TEXT-AUTOSPACE: " class="MsoNormal"><font face="TimesNewRomanPSMT" size="2"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: TimesNewRomanPSMT; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">May I humbly suggest
that you increase your existing pledge by no less than ten percent. For
almost</span></font></div>
<div style="TEXT-AUTOSPACE: " class="MsoNormal"><font face="TimesNewRomanPSMT" size="2"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: TimesNewRomanPSMT; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">everyone that is easily
doable. Two years ago Christ Church increased its giving by five
percent. Last</span></font></div>
<div style="TEXT-AUTOSPACE: " class="MsoNormal"><font face="TimesNewRomanPSMT" size="2"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: TimesNewRomanPSMT; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">year by thirteen. God
knows that the parish has not run out of challenges, so we need to keep
that</span></font></div>
<div style="TEXT-AUTOSPACE: " class="MsoNormal"><font face="TimesNewRomanPSMT" size="2"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: TimesNewRomanPSMT; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">forward movement
going.</span></font></div>
<div style="TEXT-AUTOSPACE: " class="MsoNormal"><font face="TimesNewRomanPSMT" size="2"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: TimesNewRomanPSMT; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">But if you would like to
take a step out into a different kind of stewardship, then I would ask you
in</span></font></div>
<div style="TEXT-AUTOSPACE: " class="MsoNormal"><font face="TimesNewRomanPSMT" size="2"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: TimesNewRomanPSMT; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">these moments to think
about what a culture of sharing would look like, feel like. Don’t worry
about</span></font></div>
<div style="TEXT-AUTOSPACE: " class="MsoNormal"><font face="TimesNewRomanPSMT" size="2"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: TimesNewRomanPSMT; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">what you think I expect
you to do, or Father Blake expects you to do, or your vestry expects you to
do.</span></font></div>
<div style="TEXT-AUTOSPACE: " class="MsoNormal"><font face="TimesNewRomanPSMT" size="2"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: TimesNewRomanPSMT; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">Pray instead about what
God sees when he looks upon you, the kind of person you want to be, and
what</span></font></div>
<div style="TEXT-AUTOSPACE: " class="MsoNormal"><font face="TimesNewRomanPSMT" size="2"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: TimesNewRomanPSMT; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">God wants
</span></font><i><font face="TimesNewRomanPS-ItalicMT"><span style="FONT-STYLE: italic; FONT-FAMILY: TimesNewRomanPS-ItalicMT">for
</span></font></i><font face="TimesNewRomanPSMT"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: TimesNewRomanPSMT">you, not just </span></font><i><font face="TimesNewRomanPS-ItalicMT"><span style="FONT-STYLE: italic; FONT-FAMILY: TimesNewRomanPS-ItalicMT">from
</span></font></i><font face="TimesNewRomanPSMT"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: TimesNewRomanPSMT">you. Pray instead about the heights to
which God is calling you, and the</span></font></div>
<div style="TEXT-AUTOSPACE: " class="MsoNormal"><font face="TimesNewRomanPSMT" size="2"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: TimesNewRomanPSMT; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">blessing that he has
placed you in this community: all together, all being one. Pray instead about
what it</span></font></div>
<div style="TEXT-AUTOSPACE: " class="MsoNormal"><font face="TimesNewRomanPSMT" size="2"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: TimesNewRomanPSMT; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">means to really and
truly count on one another, carrying one another’s burdens, no one being alone.
Take</span></font></div>
<div style="TEXT-AUTOSPACE: " class="MsoNormal"><font face="TimesNewRomanPSMT" size="2"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: TimesNewRomanPSMT; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">at least some of the
time to pray for the people sitting around you who love you and will be praying
for</span></font></div>
<div style="TEXT-AUTOSPACE: " class="MsoNormal"><font face="TimesNewRomanPSMT" size="2"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: TimesNewRomanPSMT; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">you at the same time.
And when you come forward, offer a pledge that signifies, even if to no one
else</span></font></div>
<div style="TEXT-AUTOSPACE: " class="MsoNormal"><font face="TimesNewRomanPSMT" size="2"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: TimesNewRomanPSMT; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">but you and your God,
the kind of person you want to be, the kind of life you want to live,
and</span></font></div>
<div style="TEXT-AUTOSPACE: " class="MsoNormal"><font face="TimesNewRomanPSMT" size="2"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: TimesNewRomanPSMT; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">demonstrates that the
people who love you can really, truly count on you. Now, and all the way to the
end</span></font></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><font face="TimesNewRomanPSMT" size="2"><span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT; font-size: 11pt;">of the road.
Amen.<font face="Times New Roman, Times, serif"><br>
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