This week’s stewardship reflection is by Steve Daniel.
Thirty years ago I volunteered for the Kenmore Family Shelter Christmas shopping trip for the first time. I was assigned to drive some residents of the shelter on the shopping excursion. I will admit that I had a preconceived notion about the residents of the shelter who were taking advantage of transitional housing. While driving the residents of the shelter we chatted and I became more familiar with them and their stories.
I realized that these were people just like me who had experienced some difficulties that had not affected me—job losses, being in the “wrong place at the wrong time,” and such. I came away thinking “but for the grace of God there to I.” All people are the same, but affected by the environment differently. The differences could be in how the economy affects you, where you live, what ethnicity you belong to, family factors; the list is endless. My experience during the event changed me personally, professionally, and spiritually.
I came to realize that being fortunate, lucky, or blessed means to me that what we have we got from God. We that get more from God need to share what we have. Stewardship means (to me) being stewards of the world and stewards of the church—give to both what we can.
Church of the Redeemer
Church of the Redeemer: Worshiping God, living in community, and reaching out to the world. We are an Episcopal Church serving north King County and south Snohomish County, Washington. As you travel your road, go with friends walking the way of Jesus at Redeemer.
Church of the Redeemer is at 6220 Northeast 181st Street in Kenmore, Washington. The campus is a short distance north of Bothell Way, near the Burke-Gilman Trail. The entrance looks like a gravel driveway. The campus is larger on the inside than it is on the outside. And we managed to hide a large building on the side of a hill that is not easily seen from the street.
The Episcopal Church welcomes you.