The phrase I say most often at St. Alban’s is “Thank you.” Thank you for being you. Thank you for bringing all of who you are to this community, your passions, your gifts, your questions, and all your perfect imperfections (to borrow a line from the great John Legend).

Our stewardship theme this year is Rooted in Abundance. Just as trees share nutrients with each other and keep each other safe from threats to their wellbeing, so too are we connected at St. Alban’s. We work together, we feed each other, we come to experience God together in the Eucharist on Sundays.

But God’s presence, manifested in our St. Alban’s community, holds us gently and securely in God’s love. We draw together every Sunday and in every event and ministry in a physical expression of our ultimate interconnectedness to each other. Looking up at our beautiful church and grounds, like gazing at the majestic canopy of a mature tree, gives me a powerful sense of purpose in my life.

Think of all the marvelous programs that our loving children & youth ministers have provided, the beautiful music that our music director has provided and the loving care & direction Reverend Peggy has given us all. I cannot tell you how many times during our services that I’m overcome with all the Love I feel radiating not only from the people surrounding me but also from God’s love, too.

Dean W. Chapman says, “Our money is not only who we have been, but who we will be. Everything our money will be converted into in the future - shelter, sustenance, education, entertainment - is a true expression of our bodies, ourselves.” It is when we put that money - our past and our future - Into the plate each Sunday that we present our bodies as a living sacrifice to God.

Dr. Robert J. McCracken once said, “Get to know two things about a man — how he earns his money and how he spend it - and you have the clue to his character. You will know all you need to know about his standards, his motives, his driving desires, and his real religion.”