This Week at St. Paul's
Mother Michelle Walker
Dear St. Paul's Family,
This Sunday, with our hearts full of the blessings in our lives even amidst these peculiar days, we will offer the financial commitment of our pledges, at the altar with a Litany of Stewardship. Directly after the offertory and before we begin the Eucharistic Prayers, our Stewardship Chair will bring forward a big, beautiful basket with our pledge cards securely stored in a sealed envelope. We will pray the the following litany:
A Stewardship Litany
God of life and love: We are quick to accept the bounteous gifts from you, but slow to give thanks and express our gratitude.
We hold too tightly the things of this life,
giving them the allegiance we owe only to you.
Take my life and let it be consecrated,
Lord to thee.
Take my moments and my days;
let them flow in ceaseless praise,
let them flow in ceaseless praise.
Gracious God, we admit that our lives are too often out of balance; we are more willing to receive than to share, more ready to take than to give.
Create in us grateful and generous hearts,
we pray, and restore us the joy of our salvation.
Take my hands and let them move
at the impulse thy love.
Take my feet, and let them be swift and
beautiful to thee, swift and beautiful to thee.
Merciful God, from whom comes every good and perfect gift, we praise you for your mercies:
Your goodness that has created us,
your grace that has sustained us.
Your discipline that has corrected us, your patience that has borne with us,
and your love that has redeemed us.
Take my will, and make it thine;
it shall be no longer mine.
Take my heart, it is thine own; it shall be
thy royal throne, it shall be thy royal throne.
Help us to love you, and to be thankful for all your gifts by serving you and delighting to do your will.
Accept now, Gracious God, our offerings,
these our pledges of resources and talents for
your service, and the commitments of our lives,
through Jesus Christ, who gave his all for us.
Take my silver and my gold,
not a mite would I withhold;
take my intellect, and use every power
as thou shalt choose, every power
as thou shalt choose.
Take my love; my lord,
I pour at thy feet its treasure store,
Take myself, and I will be ever, only,
all for thee, ever, only, all for thee. Amen.
"A Stewardship Litany" by W. Alfred Tisdale, Jr., hymn stanzas by Frances Ridley Havergal from The Wilderness of God's Mercy: Litanies to Enlarge Our Prayer edited by Jeffery W. Rowthorn
My prayer for all of us is an experience of the Holy in that moment, accompanied with a reminder that we truly are blessed both individually and as a faith community. We are especially blessed in our ability to meet, both in-person and virtually, amidst this pandemic. Our health is reasonably good. We have the love of Christ. And even though our days, especially our Thanksgiving Day, may look different we know we are connected in faith and hope to a God that loves us so.
Friends, whether you will be safe at home or traveling to be with family this coming week, please know you are in my prayers with thankfulness and gratitude. Be blessed. Stay safe. Wear your masks. And remember God is ALWAYS in charge!
Blessings!
Mother Michelle
priest@stpaulslaporte.org | 219-575-0226