"Through Christ let us continually offer to God the sacrifice of praise, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his Name. But do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God."   Hebrews 13:15,16
 

Our theme for this year’s financial giving campaign comes from the Letter to the Hebrews. In it, the writer links Jesus’s cross– he is the high priest who offers not an animal sacrifice to God, but instead offers himself– with the shape of our own lives. That somehow, because of Jesus, our own sacrifices find meaning in his own. Now, that can sound a little lofty and abstract, until we think about life at St. Benedict’s. Whether it’s those bags of groceries; or one shaking voice raised in praise joined to others in the congregation or choir; an afternoon reading stories with children at Path to Shine; or a new member of St. Benedict’s asking “How can I help?”; an insight offered in Bible Study; a whispered prayer for a church friend who is struggling; a pledge check in faithfulness, generosity, and hope. Suddenly it seems undeniably true: each of us offers to share what we have–from our time, treasure, and talents– and God transforms those gifts into something more efficacious, powerful, and glorious than we can imagine.

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