If we look around in life, we can certainly find plenty of things to worry about. In today’s world there are many worries with inflation, unemployment, family needs, health and finances to name a few. Many of the issues we worry about are beyond our control. How do we juggle all of these priorities?

The Bible has some insight into how we should deal with worry. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus tells us not to worry about your life, what you’ll eat or what you’ll drink, or about your body, or what you will wear. Isn’t life more than food and the body more than clothes? Jesus is not concerned with material things, but with our hearts. He said: Don’t worry!  
  
When we put our treasure in God all these worries seem to fall into their rightful place beneath God in our allegiance and attention. The root cause of most worry is that we think ultimately, we are in control. But God truly holds time and life. Worry will not add a moment to your life!

Trusting in God has allowed us to embrace the precious time that God has given us on this Earth. We shouldn’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. 

In these challenging times, not worrying about a thing is easier said than done. Many of these troubling events have been beyond our control. To get through these challenges we need to stay connected to God and the body of Christ through our prayers, presence, gifts, service and witness. 

This means approaching each day with gratitude and looking for the face of God in our lives. God’s generosity knows no bounds! Rather than looking for something that might be wrong or to complain about, look for ways to be grateful! How has St. Paul's made a difference in your life, and in your family's lives? This Church has a long tradition of nurturing children and youth and has laid a spiritual foundation for many young adults to establish their own families. The recently renovated spaces for children and youth reflect your commitment to the future of these necessary ministries. We are grateful for these ministries and the future has tremendous potential, but only if we can be generous in our annual giving as needed to provide resources to sustain these ministries.

God has been very generous with me throughout my life. I regularly thank God for these blessings and pray about how I might give back to God, and I encourage you to do the same. A first step is to understand where we are in our annual giving and commit to grow, as we are able, toward the tithe. This can be an incremental step as you grow in generosity. If you are already at a tithing level consider going beyond the tithe if God has blessed you with the capability to do so. By working together as one spirit in God’s name we can continue the tradition of generosity that St. Paul’s is so well known for and continue to change lives into the future.

God is in control. Thanks be to God!
Jim Steggall, August, 2023

If we look around in life, we can certainly find plenty of things to worry about.  In today’s world there are many worries with inflation, unemployment, family needs, health and finances to name a few.  Many of the issues we worry about are beyond our control. How do we juggle all of these priorities?

The Bible has some insight into how we should deal with worry. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus tells us not to worry about your life, what you’ll eat or what you’ll drink, or about your body, or what you will wear. Isn’t life more than food and the body more than clothes? Jesus is not concerned with material things, but with our hearts. He said: Don’t worry!  
  
When we put our treasure in God all these worries seem to fall into their rightful place beneath God in our allegiance and attention. The root cause of most worry is that we think ultimately, we are in control. But God truly holds time and life. Worry will not add a moment to your life!

Trusting in God has allowed us to embrace the precious time that God has given us on this Earth. We shouldn’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. 

In these challenging times, not worrying about a thing is easier said than done. Many of these troubling events have been beyond our control. To get through these challenges we need to stay connected to God and the body of Christ through our prayers, presence, gifts, service and witness. 

This means approaching each day with gratitude and looking for the face of God in our lives. God’s generosity knows no bounds! Rather than looking for something that might be wrong or to complain about, look for ways to be grateful! How has St. Paul's made a difference in your life, and in your family's lives? This Church has a long tradition of nurturing children and youth and has laid a spiritual foundation for many young adults to establish their own families. The recently renovated spaces for children and youth reflect your commitment to the future of these necessary ministries. We are grateful for these ministries and the future has tremendous potential, but only if we can be generous in our annual giving as needed to provide resources to sustain these ministries.

God has been very generous with me throughout my life. I regularly thank God for these blessings and pray about how I might give back to God, and I encourage you to do the same. A first step is to understand where we are in our annual giving and commit to grow, as we are able, toward the tithe. This can be an incremental step as you grow in generosity. If you are already at a tithing level consider going beyond the tithe if God has blessed you with the capability to do so. By working together as one spirit in God’s name we can continue the tradition of generosity that St. Paul’s is so well known for and continue to change lives into the future.

God is in control. Thanks be to God!
Jim Steggall, August, 2023