Emerging Spirit @ The United Church of Canada Emerging Spirit @ The United Church of Canada

"Is there anyone among you who, if your child asks for bread, will give a stone?" -Matthew 7.9

Okay, I have a need to offer confession before proceeding! First of all, I am looking at that crazy calendar that is a life in Accountable Ministry and realise I have two similar tasks that are pending. Both are sitting in my Outlook calendar and require me to write something that is reflective and, hopefully, also useful and meaningful. One is text-based, the other digital ... and I think they are similar enough that I have decided to put them together! Now, as for the second confession, it is that this ruminating piece is heavily influenced by an article from the Alban Institute that has taken hold of me with its clarity and import.[1] I hope, therefore, that the following is inspired and not plagiarised ...

We are, at UCiM, currently in our Annual Stewardship Campaign. It is a rich time - a time to review where we have been and continue to imagine where we might go. Such a time, in the church year, can be an intentional opportunity to hold up needs and realities in a way, which hopefully, highlights the year long work of discussing what Stewardship means. One of the ways we have been framing Stewardship is to think of it as ‘caring for someone else's stuff' or ‘caring for someone else's child' (yes someone = God). Part of my reflection with the Finance & Stewardship Group has been the reality that no matter how much money comes in, if we do not have clarity as to why we need it, there is no way that we will be able to inspire people to offer their time. And, without commitment, one's mission cannot be lived out. Without the people, Discipleship is simply expressed by a bank account number - not so bad as a metaphor, not so good as a gauge of living out our call.

Items of interest on the World Wide Web: 

- From the Empire Remixed blog: "Barack Obama: A Post-Imperial Presidency?" Brian Walsh ponders the direction of America under a new president. Can the US philosophy of "empire" of the past eight years be changed? Can Barack Obama be a "post-imperial" president?

- "Obama's Harmony of Intellect and Intuition." Bono, lead singer of the rock group U2, writes a short open letter to the president-elect.

- As American denominations look to maintain a centralized model of connecting individuals with local churches, they face problems ranging from finances to what stances to take on hot-button issues. Several denominations are turning to advertising campaigns.

- Martin E. Marty, long-time and recently departed editor of Christian Century, examines the theology of generosity. Just what part does "generosity" have to play in a Christian culture dominated by thoughts of "stewardship"?

- From the "It's a little too early for Christmas, but still..." department: Adventconspiracy.org - What if, this year, instead of participating in the orgy of spending and stress that typifies our consumerist Christmases in the West, we spent less money, more time with each other, and gave more that money saved to others? (The site includes a must-see embedded video)

- Mental Floss Lunchtime Quiz: The Bible or the Bard? Can you tell the difference between Shakespeare and Scripture?