Stewardship and discipleship: Turning gifts into joy

By Bishop Todd Townshend

GOD PROVIDES. 

“God provides" is a core concept for us. God is the source of all necessary resources, sustenance, and gifts for us and for all creatures. We are encouraged to have faith in this divine provision. 

The primary gift and resource given, of course, is God’s very self. God, in Christ especially, makes available to us the gifts of the Holy Spirit—each of us in a unique way.

Therefore, we have everything that we need. Our eyes may be attuned to the lack of those things we’d want. We may see times in our lives or in the lives of those around us when clearly people do not have everything that they need. But those things are distortions of the truth of God’s providence—brought about by human disobedience and greed.

When Jesus says, “the kingdom of God has come near” he points to the incredible reality that God reaches out to us, comes near to us, draws us into God’s reign of peace and glory. We may turn away, preferring other kingdoms, but that “kingdom” of God always comes near again, in the person and presence of the Risen One, Jesus. Thanks be to God.

At Synod this year we will be remembering and recognizing the closeness of the Holy One in all that we do. We will focus on how and what God has provided to us in this time and place. And we will be considering how our discipleship and stewardship of these gifts can be our joy and our return-gift to those in need and to those who will come after us.

Please pray for all the delegates/members of Synod, especially on October 24 and 25. I look forward to this gathering in our Cathedral.

If you are able, please join in the worship celebration on Friday evening at 7:30 pm (Oct. 24) when we will gather around the Word and Spirit of God as we celebrate Eucharist, commission our four new Territorial Archdeacons, and honour Pam Fulton of Walpole Island and Dorothy Patterson of Six Nations with the Order of Huron. It will be a wonderful celebration in the providence of God! (livestream at diohuron.org)

Peace to all, 

+ Todd