Newsletter June

LCMS Stewardship Ministry

The heartland is now awash in various hues of green. The doldrums of winter give way to the colors of spring. Now, the promise of spring gives way to the growth of summer. Fields are planted and sprouted. Gardens are planted. Flowers adorn the beds of neighborhood homes and roadside ditches. Green is the shade of life!

To consider this, let us look at the hymn, “Fruitful Trees, the Spirits Sowing” (LSB 691). It is very much a stewardship hymn!

Fruitful trees, the Spirit’s sowing, May we ripen and increase, Fruit to life eternal growing, rich in love and joy and peace.
     • The tree of faith is not planted in us by us. It is the Spirit’s work! We do not claim the title “steward.” Rather, we are created for it (Genesis 1:26-28).
     • He is the One who makes it grow in us. The fruits of the Spirit are borne out because we, by grace through faith, are connected to the vine that is Jesus (John 15).

Laden branches freely bearing Gifts the Giver loves to bless; Here is fruit that grows by sharing, Patience, kindness, gentleness.
     • Our stewardship is NOT about what we do. It is about what the Holy Spirit does in and through us. That is the fruit that we bear. His fruit for His purposes.
     • But that fruit is lived out through us. The world sees the fruit of our stewardship of the Gospel in lives lived connected to Word and Sacrament.

Rooted deep in Christ our Master, Christ our pattern and our goal, Teach us, as the years fly faster, Goodness, faith, and self-control.
     • Stewards have been created and redeemed to reflect the image of Jesus in the world. He is the pattern. We reflect to others around us the Light of the Gospel He has shone on us.
     • This reflection comes when Christ’s goodness flows from us to others.

Fruitful trees, the Spirit’s tending, May we grow till harvests cease; Till we taste, in life unending, Heaven’s love and joy and peace.
     • Just as the Spirit has created us for stewardship of the Gospel, so also does He cause our faithfulness! He calls, gathers, enlightens, sanctifies and KEEPS us in this faithful stewardship of the Gospel.
     • The ultimate goal of our faithful stewardship is eternity. For us. For our neighbor. All worked out by the Spirit.

Green is the color of the world right now. It is also the color of our stewardship and it is growing in us as we are connected to the vine, Jesus! God grant our growth in Him!