A Word from the Rector: Making A Good Home

One day her mother-in-law Naomi said to Ruth, “My dear daughter, isn’t it about time I arranged a good home for you so you can have a happy life? Ruth 3:1 (according to the message)

Friends,

Isn't it about time I arranged a good home for you? A strange way to start our conversation this morning. Arranging a good home, taking care of our necessities, is a beautiful way of saying “how can I be faithful to the love that you have given me in life?”

How can I be faithful to the love that you have given me in your life, which for the Ruth of Hebrew scriptures is about faithfulness and loyalty to what matters most in life- which are relationships. Relationships which are about growing with God and our neighbor. Faithfulness in  relationships which is why we are here too. We are here too because God has been faithful to us throughout our lives, and being faithful to God I think is about sharing that relationship with everyone we meet.

Which is one of the reasons I give to St. Francis. I give to St. Francis because I love St. Francis and all that we do together here. From our concerts, sales and gala’s, to our worship, our boisterous coffee hour and radical hospitality, together we make a good home here together for all who seek a deeper relationship with God.

This Sunday we start our annual Stewardship Campaign called “Every Good Gift.” I think it's fitting that we move into this season together thinking about not just all the goodness we create here, but the gifts we receive too. We are blessed beyond our wildest imaginations here at St. Francis with deep friendships, abiding love, and a strong commitment to ministry with those outside our walls and more. 

And here’s the kicker, stewardship is not about paying our bills, it's about funding our ministry. A ministry we share which is about seeing God in all things, because all things belong to God. Our ministry accomplishes this by building relationships with everyone we meet through music, worship, prayer, study, and community. 

So, my friends, as we think about the beauty and joy we share here together, how might every small gift of your life help us grow and widen our home together so those who come after us can enjoy the happy life we share together here?

Blessings,

Alex+