Dear Members of the Church of the Advent,
We are beneficiaries of generations at the Advent who have come before. They lived their faith as they raised our walls and worshiped God. They ministered to one another, our community and beyond. They studied Jesus’ teaching and spread the Good News. And now their mantle has passed to us. We honor them by doing our part as we stand upon their shoulders.
The old Baptist hymn The Solid Rock has become one of my favorites …
On Christ, the solid rock, I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand,
All other ground is sinking sand.
The inspiration is the Parable of the Wise and Foolish Builders: those who listen to Jesus -- and act on what he says -- build upon a firm foundation; and those who do not, build upon sand.
I am inspired by all the ways that our parish continues to heed and act on the teachings of Jesus. We do it through the generosity and devoted effort of so many, honoring Jesus when we do our part, in our day. We have a sure foundation. And as was true in the past, so also for us: there is much that Jesus would have us do.
To me, this is the essence of stewardship: building well on what we have been given.
Faithfully,
Trey Thies
