Welcome, Lenten sojourners.
Faith is like a Mustard Seed.
The mustard seed becomes a great shrub that shelters the birds, recalling ancient images of the tree of life. We’d expect a cedar or a sequoia, but Jesus finds the power of God better imaged in a tiny, no-account seed. It’s not the way we expect divine activity to look. Yet the tree of life is here, in the cross around which we gather, the tree into which we are grafted through baptism, the true vine that nourishes us with its fruit in the cup we share. It may not appear all that impressive, but while nobody's looking it grows with a power beyond our understanding.
During Jesus’ ministry on earth, He lamented often that His disciples had so little faith. And yet, He said that if they had “faith like a grain of mustard seed,” nothing would be impossible. In fact, Jesus used seeds in a lot of His teaching. He talked of seeds scattered on different types of soil; mustard seeds growing into large plants; seeds in good soil yielding exponentially large harvests. There is something about seeds that can teach us about the nature of faith. And, according to Jesus Himself, we need to learn about and practice faith in greater measure!
Come let us gather around the Table as we worship together.
To the glory of God,
Pastor Clarissa
Celebrating Women’s History month: The 2024 National Women’s History Theme -
“Women Who Advocate for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion”
Gratitude is Key to Living a Spirituality of Stewardship
Over the past weeks, I have invited our members and friends to give to our annual stewardship ministry. The main criterion for these invitations is that they live their lives as Christian stewards. These are folks who are “all in” at the church and who have been generous in sharing their gifts, time, talents, and tithes through the missions and ministry of Fifth Ave. United Methodist Church. Your commitment of financial support, no matter how small or how large, will be a great help to our church as we seek to balance our budget and live into to the plans God has for the life and purpose of our church. Each of you have been instrumental in helping the church grow and become the vibrant beloved community of faith that we are today.
The common thread that has run through all your committed and various giving: GRATITUDE! Without exception, persons who live Christian stewardship are also people who are grateful for what God has given them. STEWARDSHIP and GRATITUDE go hand in hand.
Open our hearts and minds to your abundance grace so that we might be good stewards of Your gifts!
As faithful stewards teach us to receive Your gifts gratefully, nurture them responsibly, share them selflessly, and return them to You with increase, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.