God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change
The courage to change the things I can
And the wisdom to know the difference
Reinhold Niebuhr

I’ve been praying the serenity prayer more than usual these days.  Just when we think the worst is over, we learn that the economy may get worse before it gets better.  And with no clear solutions and no clear way out, it is easy to fall into despair.

It’s impossible to be immune from the fear that is ever present, but it is possible to seek out God’s invitation and discern a faithful response in the firm knowledge that God’s steadfast love, God’s faithfulness in and through Christ can be trusted. 

God is in the midst of this crisis and calling us to more deeply integrate our spiritual lives with our financial lives. During this time of great uncertainty, we remain certain that we are called and led by the Holy Spirit to be stewards of God’s gifts and God’s grace to one another.  We pray that the Holy Spirit leads us to change the things we can. 

The attached downloadable file titled: Finding Hope in Hard Times, Seven Spiritual Practices: A Faithful Steward’s Guide offers practical steps and prayerful reflections in how we can individually and as a faith community adapt to the troubling reality of our fragile and weakened economy.  Ideal for a Lenten study, adult forum or small group venues, the seven practices offer a way to ground us in the deepest reality of God’s abundant grace—despite trying times.

This brochure can also be ordered free of charge at www.episcopalbookstore.org or by calling (800) 903-5544, beginning on February 9th.

The Office of Stewardship is tracking and sharing responses to this crisis throughout the wider Church.  We want to hear from you. How are you or how is your congregation seeking out God’s invitation in the midst of the economic crisis?  Please send your comments to ljohnston@episcopalchurch.org

Faithfully,

Laurel Johnston
Program Officer for Stewardship