October 10th, 2025 | Rev. Rachel Williams

Dear Friends,

               As we were preparing for the start of our stewardship series, Pastor Charlie and I kept coming back to the same premise: embodying a spirit of generosity requires a wholehearted commitment to God. Now, this is no secret. In fact, we talk about all the ways in which we can be stewards each year. We steward our time, talents, gifts, and resources and offer ourselves in prayer and thanksgiving. But those are elements of stewardship, which, when taken together, demonstrates a way of living and giving that is wholly for the Lord.

               I am excited that we are looking at this series through the lens of the life of saints paired with stories from the Early Church. These are experiences of people separated by centuries, yet the desire of the people within these stories is the same-to live lives wholly devoted to God.

Though we are not Catholic, almost all of the saints we will use in this series are recognizable and acknowledged within our protestant tradition as well. We celebrate holidays in their names! We read books about them and follow their examples. Saints who lived lives of virtue while experiencing every day concerns allow us to be inspired and to listen to the ways in which God is calling us to follow and serve God.

This week, we’ll move to a saint known for her work among the poorest of the poor. She served as a missionary for most of her life and spent her time with the people deemed “unlovable” by the surrounding society. She loved wholeheartedly. She also offered us a simple reminder: “Not all of us can do great things, but we can do small things with great love.” Have you figured out who we’re talking about? Join us this Sunday as we hear about this saint to the poor and the ways we can give of ourselves wholeheartedly.

With love and peace,

Pastor Rachel