September 19, 2011
"Faithful to all Generations"
Dear People of Saint John's Parish:
"Faithful to all Generations" is the theme of both our parish's centennial celebration, which commences this November and runs through next May, and also of this year's Every Member Canvass. You will hear more about our centennial celebration in the months ahead. For now, however, let me say a word about the relationship between that theme and our relationship to our own money and other financial resources.
The theme is taken from Psalm 100, verse 5: "For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations." It is not, the Psalmist states, a matter of God's enduring love or God's faithfulness to us; those are assured. As always, however, it is a matter of how we respond to that love and faithfulness. Are we faithful in return?
Not a one of the founding members of this parish is still alive. They have gone on to their great reward, but not, I don't think, before answering to God the question that I believe God will ask of all of us when we first stand before him in heaven: "What," God will ask, "did you do with all that I gave to you?"
The faithfulness of the founders of this parish one hundred years ago is now evident to all of us in bricks and mortar, in individual families, and in an abiding parish community. These are their legacy. Whatever else they might have said to God as they entered their new life above, at the very least they could say, "I began a good work in your Name, dear God."
It is now our task to continue that good work in God's Name. Those who founded this parish gave extraordinarily of themselves—in time, in work, and in money—in order to build this place. We must do the same in order to maintain it: indeed, not even to maintain it—but to grow it and celebrate it!
Theirs was a costly undertaking, and so is ours. When you hear from Leslie Jennewein and Bill Sansone, our Every Member Canvass co-chairmen, in a few weeks, I hope you will respond generously to their appeal and respond with a commitment every bit as costly as the commitments made by those who have gone on before us. Our founders have answered God's question. Someday, we must, too: "What did you do with all that I gave you?" Pray that we may answer, "I continued a good work in your Name, dear God."
Ever faithfully,
The Reverend Douglas E. Remer
Rector
September 19, 2011
“Faithful to all Generations”
Dear People of Saint John’s Parish:
“Faithful to all Generations” is the theme of both our parish’s centennial celebration, which commences this November and runs through next May, and also of this year’s Every Member Canvass. You will hear more about our centennial celebration in the months ahead. For now, however, let me say a word about the relationship between that theme and our relationship to our own money and other financial resources.
The theme is taken from Psalm 100, verse 5: “For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.” It is not, the Psalmist states, a matter of God’s enduring love or God’s faithfulness to us; those are assured. As always, however, it is a matter of how we respond to that love and faithfulness. Are we faithful in return?
Not a one of the founding members of this parish is still alive. They have gone on to their great reward, but not, I don’t think, before answering to God the question that I believe God will ask of all of us when we first stand before him in heaven: “What,” God will ask, “did you do with all that I gave to you?”
The faithfulness of the founders of this parish one hundred years ago is now evident to all of us in bricks and mortar, in individual families, and in an abiding parish community. These are their legacy. Whatever else they might have said to God as they entered their new life above, at the very least they could say, “I began a good work in your Name, dear God.”
It is now our task to continue that good work in God’s Name. Those who founded this parish gave extraordinarily of themselves—in time, in work, and in money—in order to build this place. We must do the same in order to maintain it: indeed, not even to maintain it—but to grow it and celebrate it!
Theirs was a costly undertaking, and so is ours. When you hear from Leslie Jennewein and Bill Sansone, our Every Member Canvass co-chairmen, in a few weeks, I hope you will respond generously to their appeal and respond with a commitment every bit as costly as the commitments made by those who have gone on before us. Our founders have answered God’s question. Someday, we must, too: “What did you do with all that I gave you?” Pray that we may answer, “I continued a good work in your Name, dear God.”
Ever faithfully,
The Reverend Douglas E. Remer
Rector
