I get asked frequently why most nonprofits, but especially churches, run stewardship appeals in autumn. The agrarian cycle of our ancestors lives on in many ways in this world, and this pattern is no exception. In autumn, farmers would know the gifts that they would have on hand for the coming year, both monetary and otherwise, and so it was at this time of year they’d be able to make their pledge for God’s mission in their local parish.

Like so many things in our world, this tradition remains strong, and in many ways remains logical. After all, it was not so many weeks ago that Sunday Schools kicked off in most parishes in the United States. It was not so many weeks ago that yellow T-shirts and “God’s Work. Our Hands.” logos filled social media as congregations reaffirmed their commitment to loving God and their neighbor through acts of love, service and kindness. Schools start again. The holiday/holy-day rush begins again.

In many ways autumn remains a time of beginnings in the lives of humanity, even as the Earth in this part of the hemisphere begins to go out in the blaze of glory. It remains a good time to talk about stewardship. But instead of “campaigns” or even “appeals,” I think, the community of Christ should call them “invitations to renewed generosity.” After all, our agrarian ancestors were really deciding how to use God’s generous harvest to multiply that generosity through their faith communities. The same remains true for us.

My ancestors, the ancient Christian Celts, would do this cool thing at this time of year. As their last fields were gathered, they’d all come together to raise up the final sheaf and they’d process it back into town, giving thanks to God that God was generous again that year. They’d celebrate the generosity of the Divine, both in the harvest and through the gift of Christ for the world. They’d do as that old hymn in so many hymnals sing, “come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves.”

I wonder if every stewardship appeal, every “invitation to renewed generosity” could be a scene of rejoicing as you, as a community, gathered around the generous, crucified and risen One, brings in the collective sheaves to continue changing lives in this world. Come rejoicing, Beloved, bringing in the generous sheaves God has given you!

Pax,

Tim Brown, ELCA Director of Congregational Stewardship Support

P.S. Congregational Stewardship has a Vimeo page! If you ever miss one of our livestreaming presentations or webinars, check to see if it’s posted on the new Vimeo page for ELCA Congregational Stewardship. These programs are perfect for stewardship teams in need of continuing education or councils curious about what’s happening in the realm of stewardship.