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12 For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For in the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and we were all made to drink of one Spirit. 14 Indeed, the body does not consist of one member but of many. (1 Cor 12:12-14, NRSVue)

I'll admit that I rather like the proverb, "many hands make for light work". Maybe it's because it's not a particularly judgy ("give someone the cold shoulder") or violent ("she bit my head off!") idiom. It also frequently proves to be correct--unless of course it's in the kitchen, in which case there are "too many cooks in the kitchen".

I do genuinely believe that we all know that it takes all of us to make this *gestures broadly* work. That it takes many people sharing their time, their talents, and their treasures to ensure that St. Andrew's IS a place where all are welcomed, fed, and nourished in the name of Jesus Christ. This congregation is home to wonderful, kind, and loving people.

However, like most organizations and communities, St. Andrew's continues to struggle to have broader support from within our congregation. Leadership and ministry teams frequently attempt to solve the challenge of the same people doing the majority of the work. 

Now, if you're reading this and feeling guilty, I want to encourage you to take that guilt and look at it. What exactly are you feeling guilty about? I mean, truly pull it apart. Be fully transparent with yourself, and hopefully your family, about what that guilt is.

Because God isn't inviting us to feel guilty. Rather, God is inviting us to draw closer to the One whose burden is easy to bear, and whose yoke is light. God is inviting us into the practice of the holy "no" so that we can say the holy "yes" to God. 

Good stewardship looks like saying "no" to some things so we can say "yes" to God's things. 

Good stewardship of time, talents, and treasures is measured by trust in and faithfulness to God, rather than being driven by guilt and manipulation. It's why I will always accept your "no", but continue to make new requests when the opportunities present themselves. 

"But pastor," you might be saying, "all of THIS is making me feel bad! So aren't you using guilt and manipulation?" 

Go back to why you're feeling guilty, and ask yourself: is Pastor naming something I'm struggling with already, but she's just forcing it out into the open? Or is my discomfort coming from a genuine lack of compassion and care on her part for my family's well-being? 

Right now there are some gaps that your church home needs filled in, and it is my prayer that you are actively discerning where God is calling you to say "no" so you can say "yes". Your church family needs more volunteer support for VBS, active participation on the ministry teams, and increased giving to ensure that all these wonderful things STAY here! 

And there ARE so many amazing things happening at St. Andrew's right now! Our weekly worship welcomes between 60-80 people every week. We've had 4 new visitors in the last month. We're preparing to welcome 9 new members in the next couple of months. Sunday school, bible study, men's fellowship, the quilting ministry, and more are regularly meeting to spend time in God's word and fellowship. Our new bees have moved in, the garden is thriving (in spite of the rabbits eating everything), and we're planning a VBS for 35+ kids.

God is at work at St. Andrew's. You can feel it in every thing we do. And we need you to help keep it moving forward. Every member of the body of Christ makes all this happen, and you, dear one, are a beloved member of this particular body. 

Where is God inviting you to say "yes" at St. Andrew's?

Image credit: Tim Marshall, unsplash.com