In this time of economic uncertainty it is easy to behave from a place of scarcity. We may have concerns about our job security, our day to day bills, funding our children’s education, our retirement. Certainly the coming holiday season, while normally a time of joy and celebration, can feel like a time of tension and stress. Fear of the unknown, fear of the uncontrollable, fear of not having enough can overwhelm us. As Christians, however, we have a very powerful tool for combating this fear, for feeling secure in a challenging world. We have the knowledge of God’s unconditional love. We have the gift of Jesus Christ. We can be at ease knowing that God’s love flows through us at all times and in all circumstances. His abundant love is plentiful. Can we orient our perspective to live and behave from a place of plenty? Can we do this even in the face of uncertainty and challenge?

In many ways, as the community of St. Paul's, we do. We support each other in times of sadness and stress, thinking more of the other than of ourselves. We give of our time and resources to organizations such as Habitat for Humanity and the Food Pantry. We spend hours singing, worshipping and praying together. We have supported this faith community through our generosity for many, many years. Our gifts and our work together create the “plenty” that we experience here at St. Paul’s. We are truly a generous and loving community.

As this pledge season approaches - a season in which many of us face uncertainty and challenge - we ask that you take the following questions into your hearts and prayers: Can we have faith that God will provide us with all that we truly need? Can we give without fear that there won’t be enough? Can we give from a place of plenty?