Stewardship: Week 20 of Ordinary Time
Look: Treasure (print), Nikki McClure - Source
Listen: Take My Life and Let It Be, Paul Zach - Spotify | YouTube w/ lyrics
I made us a new playlist! - Work & Rest: Ordinary Time, pt. 3
Read: Amos 5:6-15; Psalm 90:1-12; Psalm 90:13-17; Hebrews 3:1-6; Mark 10:17-31
Readings for the rest of the week*: Psalm 115; Ezekiel 34:1-16; Matthew 25:14-30; Luke 12:35-48; 1 Peter 4:7-11
Pray: Book of Common Prayer, Collect for the Twentieth Week After Pentecost
O God, our refuge and strength, true source of all godliness: Graciously hear the devout prayers of your Church, and grant that those things which we ask faithfully, we may obtain effectually; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Do: For the final seven weeks of Ordinary Time, we’ll consider God’s gifts of work and rest - both spiritual acts of worship.
Bobby Gross introduces this week’s chapter: “One way to fruitfully understand our work is through the lens of stewardship. A steward exercises responsibility for something that belongs to another. An owner delegates someone to take care of or manage her property or affairs or personnel. Whether a parent secures a babysitter or a restaurateur hires a manager or an investor relies on a financial adviser, something valuable is being entrusted to the other person. Rightfully, the steward is held accountable for his or her diligence and effectiveness. Ultimately, of course, God is owner of all things and assigns responsibilities to us to care for (his) creation, to look after (his) people, to make good use of abilities and resources (given by him) and to exercise spiritual capacities (empowered by his Spirit) In these ways, we join him in his work and share in his joy.
Find a pleasant location to prayerfully consider all of the various ways in which you are a steward on behalf of God. Begin your time by noticing your surroundings, what’s above you, behind you and beneath? Pay attention to your senses. What do you hear, smell, see, feel, and taste? Give thanks for the goodness around you. From this place of restful gratitude, make an inventory of your resources, opportunities, influence, family, leadership roles, talents, spiritual gifts, home and environment. Do you need to renew a sense of responsbility and accountability before God in any of these areas?
Related: Register for the third (and final) virtual retreat in the Rhythms of Grace Retreat Series for Ordinary Time: Enjoy Work & Rest.
When: October 14, 11:30am - 1:30 pm (includes 40 minutes offline for personal reflection)
Who: Anyone who longs to live in the unforced rhythms of grace Jesus offers us to enjoy work and rest.
How: Read all of the details and register at this link.
We’ll meet 40 minutes for guided prayer, silence, and scripture reading, 40 minutes for individual reflection (offline) with the help of simple prompts included in the downloadable retreat guide, and 40 minutes for group spiritual direction with space for guided response and Q & A. Register for one, two, or all three retreats.
OCTOBER 14: Enjoy Work & Rest
11:30 am - 1:30 pm (Eastern)
Tending to fruitful work and refreshing rest: vocation, stewardship, sabbath, beauty, and thanksgiving.
WHAT’S INCLUDED
retreat series guidebook (pdf) with simple practices and prompts
guidance for spiritual practices that you’ll continue to cultivate as the retreat series unfolds
instructions for making your own Neighborhood prayer walk to align your intercession with your outer landscape
a virtual contemplative retreat led by a trained spiritual director and experienced facilitator
one free month of membership to Daybook Meditations for additional Scripture, prayer, playlists and practices for Ordinary Time
ideas to help you to continue to integrate the themes of World & Church, Neighbor & Self, and Work & Rest into your everyday life
access to recorded livestream so you can revisit or use as a self-guided retreat
Let’s take Jesus up on his invitation to watch, and walk, and work with him in unforced rhythms of grace.
Click here if you’d prefer to purchase all three retreats with one transaction.