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Jesus says: "If you decide for God, living a life of God-worship, it follows that you don't fuss about what's on the table at mealtimes or whether the clothes in your closet are in fashion. There is far more to your life than the food you put in your stomach, more to your outer appearance than the clothes you hang on your body.
Look at the birds, free and unfettered, not tied down to a job description, careless in the care of God. And you count far more to him than birds. "Has anyone by fussing in front of the mirror ever gotten taller by so much as an inch? All this time and money wasted on fashion - do you think it makes that much difference?
Instead of looking at the fashions, walk out into the fields and look at the wildflowers. They never primp or shop, but have you ever seen color and design quite like it? The ten best-dressed men and women in the country look shabby alongside them. "If God gives such attention to the appearance of wildflowers - most of which are never even seen - don't you think he'll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you?
What I'm trying to do here is to get you to relax, to not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God's giving. People who don't know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don't worry about missing out. You'll find all your everyday human concerns will be met. "Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don't get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes.
Matthew 6:25-34 The Message Translation
What promise of God do you hear in this passage?
Our giving: Reflect upon one way in which you have steeped your life in God reality, God initiative and God provision this past week.
Does God keep God’s promises? We invite you to read later this week the example of God’s promise fulfilled found on the reverse side and to take the challenge we offer.
When it comes to not being preoccupied with getting so that one can respond to God's giving, Trinity excels. At the start of 2005, our congregation adopted a faith budget to see us through the year. This budget has allowed us to reach out successfully into the Columbia Pike community in a number of ways:
"Community on the Pike" Apartment Ministry, headed by Assistant Rector, Betsy Bagioni, is a premiere initiative. As best as we can tell, Trinity Church is the only Episcopal and perhaps the only church nationwide that has been welcomed into an apartment community to do community building ministry. To date, the ministry has been awarded operational grants of nearly $12,000 by the Arlington Community Foundation. Check out Trinity’s website for a listing of future events, including the heralded “Christmas in Your Jammies” Christmas Day service that takes place in the rooftop garden of Dorchester Towers.
Columbia Pike Community Chorus. With no designated funds but the leadership and energy of our wonderful part-time Minister of Music Barbara Stefan, the Columbia Pike Community Chorus has really taken off since its initial performance of "The World Sings Christmas" in December 2004. The chorus group performed "The World Sings Hope" in May 2005 and is currently rehearsing for its third performance on Sunday, December 18, 2005, "The World Sings Promise." The community has responded in astonishing ways by their membership in the chorus (we have had up to 50 musicians of all backgrounds participating), their financial support and their attendance at events that have drawn up to 200 people to Trinity.
"Katrina's Inn:" The challenge of “giving not getting” focus was fully realized by this community when a disastrous hurricane struck in the Gulf States. A Trinity rental property sat empty with no plans for occupancy given projected renovation estimates of $30,000 and an urgent need for parking. When Trinity elected to make that rental property available to hurricane survivors for temporary transitional housing our decision was met with an outpouring of support. People gave generously of their time, their financial resources, and their energy. We now have a wonderful family of three enjoying their new temporary home, have received financial donations to cover home preparation costs, and are now receiving more income on the property than we would be if it had been left sitting empty during the Vestry decision making process.
In all these ways God has fulfilled God’s promises to Trinity this year. Best of all may be the fact that Trinity has not had to rely on its financial reserves as much as anticipated. We hope you will consider helping Trinity continue its good works while spreading the Good News.
Your Challenge: In the coming week, acknowledge and give thanks for one occasion where God unexpectedly meets your need while you have been otherwise occupied.
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Member of the Worldwide Anglican Communion
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2217 Columbia Pike, Arlington, VA 22204 Phone: 703-920-7077 Fax: 703-920-5560 Office Email: info@tecarl.org |