From the Pastor

October 2008

Faith is a gift from God. That’s what you might call a Lutheran truism. By ‘faith’ I’m not talking about some Christian doctrine that we choose to accept or reject. Rather, I’m talking about the spiritual air that we breathe, the family into which we were born, the traditions handed down to us from generation to generation, the community in which we find ourselves where God, Prayer, Worship, The Meaning or Purpose of Life, A Response to Evil and Injustice, etc. are reflected upon, discussed, debated, and lived out.

This faith gets manifested in many ways – some we hold dear as valuable and non-negotiable; others we thought we had forgotten, but they bring a smile to our lips when they surface in unexpected places.

These are examples of some of the ways our faith is expressed in words. But it gets expressed in other ways, too: the way we worship, the music we use, space that becomes sacred to us, visual art, symbols, sometimes even smells and sounds. It could be the feelings evoked when walking into Grandma’s church, or when the old family Bible is pulled from the shelf. Maybe it’s a book we stumble upon, or a poem long remembered from our youth. Whatever it is, it helps us to be the children of God we are today – it shapes our choices; it comforts and consoles us; it moves us to acts of compassion; it stirs us to righteous anger or creative pursuits.

Faith as so expressed is a gift – a wonderful, valuable, life-giving gift. And like other things that we consider gifts of God – time, talents, financial resources and the resources of nature – faith needs to be nurtured and used in ways that are consistent with who we understand God to be and what God’s dream for ourselves and the rest of creation is.

Is there such a thing as a Stewardship of Faith, and what would such a practice look like?

Each year, St. Ansgar sponsors the Stewardship Dinner where the community joyfully comes together for fellowship, a wonderful meal, and to be challenged in their call to Stewardship. This year’s dinner is scheduled for Friday, November 21. Our speaker, former chaplain at the University of Toronto and former member of St. Ansgar, Pastor Bob Shantz, will address the theme: A Stewardship of Faith. I hope you will set this date in your calendar.

In the meantime, begin to think about and ask yourself questions like this: Of what use is my faith to me or to others? Is the practice of my faith consistent with my values? Are my values consistent with my faith? How do I nurture my faith? How do I grow in my faith? What strengthens my faith? What cheapens or weakens it?

At its best, faith isn’t dormant but alive and active, pushing and cajoling us towards God’s kingdom. May your faith be such a force in your life.

Peace,
Pastor Brian