What's in your envelope?

Stewardship Sunday has never been my favorite. With a mother who regularly reminded us that money and politics have no place in the pulpit, a Sunday in which members are asked to support the church financially is always a hard one for me to embrace.  I have long known and practiced the spiritual art of giving, much of which I learned from that same mother, but focusing on money is always “awkward,” as our children now say to describe everything.

The church we attend, however, does a better job asking for money than any I have known. It draws the spiritual connection of giving vividly, and this morning was no exception. After the sermon on stewardship, each member of the congregation was asked to come forward and put his or her (or the family's) envelope (containing their pledge card) in the offertory plate while the choir and congregation sang some of the great hymns of the Christian faith.

Watching each member of the choir, clergy, and members sitting in the pews come forward, the sense of solidarity was palpable. I looked at the individuals, the envelopes in their hands, and was moved by the corporate generosity. Of course, I had no idea what was in each envelope, but I am sure there was a vivid collage of giving, known only to God:

• ·               There was the family feeling particularly blessed who gave more generously this year, and the one who gave despite a lost job.
• ·               There was the pillar of the church, who always gives generously, and the one who gives to be seen as a pillar.
• ·               There was the person who pledged an amount he would hardly feel, and another who didn’t know if he would be able to reach his pledge.
• ·               There was the widow who gave her mite, and the one who protected hers.
• There was the person who does not give, claiming the church does not need it and that she gives elsewhere. 
• ·               There was the couple who tithed for the first time, and the couple still stinging from the argument about giving the night before.
• ·               There was the one who did not pledge because she gives so much of his time to the church, and another who simply does not believe in pledging.
• ·               There was the member who placed his envelope in the plate with a flare, and another who placed it in the plate before the service.
• ·               There was also . . .

The stories are endless, but today remains a day to reflect on our own. What do we offer of our time, talent, and treasure to this world because of our faith? What do we do, say, and give when no one is watching or listening?

To paraphrase a popular commercial, today is a day we need to ask: “What’s in your [envelope]?”