April Showers Bring May Flowers: A Springtime Lesson in Stewardship

As I look out my office window at the beautiful spring day, with its first promise of crystal blue skies and 70 degrees, I am slightly overwhelmed. Yes, by the beauty and gift of a day like today, but perhaps even more by the piles of work on my desk and in my kitchen at home that stand between me and the blessed sunshine my winter-starved soul is craving.

Spring is a very busy time for all of us! It is a challenge for many of us to find ways to reflect upon our call to be good stewards. Yet, spring offers an amazing and fairly easy way to reflect on all three aspects of your stewardship. All you need to do is plant the seed. Literally!

I encourage you to go take a walk through a local garden store. Take your lunch break or make it a sort of field trip after naptime (this exercise is great for kids). For less than $3 you can select a pack or two of your favorite seeds or pick up a starter carton flower or herb! I am personally a huge fan of seeds because there is such a significant transformation that happens from seed to seedling, but the green of a starter plant as it reaches for the sunlight is unbeatable after a long winter.

The opportunities to reflect daily on your stewardship are the same no matter what you choose. This plant is a gift that has been given to you by God. It is up to you to care for it tenderly and help it to grow. Ultimately, your goal is for it to bear fruit! Here are three ways to think about your stewardship as you care for your plant.

Prayer: As you seek the best place for your plant to live in your home, ask yourself, do I seek the best people, places and things to surround myself with in order to best use the gifts God has given me? Use the time you water your plant each day to ask God to show you where the places are for you to grow your gifts.

Service: As you feed, water, prune, transplant and nurture your plant as it grows, reflect on the ways you feed, prune, and nurture your God-given gifts. How are you strengthening your gifts by using them to serve others?

Sharing: When you begin enjoying the fruits of your plants, (the smell, the sight, or in a favorite recipe), consider taking a flower plant to the local nursing home or dropping off a bunch of herbs with your neighbor. Reflect on the ways you could be sharing your tangible and material God-given gifts with others.

Questions about Divorce and Annulments

Posted by a Member of the Pastoral Staff

Someone who was recently divorced ask me if she could go to communion. It surprises me every time I'm asked that question how many myths are out there about divorce and subsequent annulments. I just wonder if anyone has a question to ask or story to share that might bring light and hope to people who have struggled through a divorce.

I'm happy to help clear up some of the misconceptions or research for you.

For starters, if you are divorced but not remarried you are free to receive Holy Communion and always welcome to come to church and participate in parish functions.

Secondly, an annulment does not cost thousands of dollars. The cost to the petitioner is $350 and even that amount can be adjusted where a need exists.

Other questions? Let's hear from you! You're probably not the only one!

Homemade Theology

I am no theologian.

I am really not trained as a teacher either.

My gift is sharing the teachings of our faith in a way that makes them approachable in our daily lives. Quite frankly, that's because I have to do it in my own life!

That being said, practicality only goes so far. Conversion of heart can start with the practicalities, but as Christians we are called to reach beyond practicalities in order to live as disciples spreading the Good News of Jesus.

It's easy to say, "I just don't have time, but that's okay because I think I live a pretty good life." (I have a one-year-old and another on the way, I understand lack of time.)

It's easy to say, "I'm not a "churchy" person." (Sssshhh...I'm not either. It is much easy for me to approach God and faith from my life than from a book or a pew.)

So, if we face these obstacles, but we know that we are called to a deeper conversion of heart how are we ever supposed to succeed? Aren't we just being setup for failure?

NO.

There are so many opportunities available to each and every person. To believe that you are the exception to the rule that we need to continuously be formed in our faith is an excuse. One can customize a deeper faith experience to nearly any circumstance. Take these examples:

- Contact your parish. Most parishes have faith formation opportunities that extend far beyond the years of Confirmation. Even if they don't, they will be able to refer you to other parish and diocesan resources. These are often great opportunities for growth because they are short, convenient, within a community of others seeking spiritual depth, they are often not materials based for those who don't like to do much reading, and they have a level of accountability built in.

- Contact your pastor or pastoral associate. The role of a pastor is to shepherd, teach and witness. If you indicate a desire to learn more about your faith but are concerned about time, they can customize a schedule to meet your needs.

- Set aside one hour to visit a local Catholic bookstore or your parish library. No, this does not mean go online to Amazon. If you give yourself the gift of time and physical presence to read samples of books about your faith, you are more likely to find something that reads to your level of understanding and interest. An online synopsis is just not the same. Feel free to consult Mr. Google or contact your parish for some initial suggestions.

- Commit to only one area at a time. To think that you will process a lifetime of spiritual growth in a year is unrealistic. Take the pillars of the Catholic faith (belief, prayer, sacraments, and morality) and select one to learn about for a period of time. Take prayer for example. If you can deepen your spiritual life by way of regular conversation with God, think of how much God can share with you?

My point is, daily living of faith is great! Practical ideas that help us maintain our relationship with God in the midst of our busy lives are important. Just as important, however, is making time for a deeper exploration of God in our world and our lives. Learning about God must be more than a convenience. It must be a priority.

Financial Resolutions for the New Year

Excerpt from January E-Letter from Phil Lenahan, Author of "7 Steps to Becoming Financially Free"

In a 7 Steps small group I recently led, we were discussing how applying Catholic principles to finances helps us reach two important goals in life: growing in love of the Lord, and achieving Godly financial objectives. One of the participants noted how important the word applying was. He said it's easy to dream about goals, talk about them, and even write the down. But, he noted, those aren't the same as doing them. What did the blessed mother say to the stewards at the wedding feast at Cana? "Do whatever he tells you" (Jn. 2:5).

With the New Year upon us, it's a great time to update financial goals and map out a strategy for reaching those goals. The 7 Steps to Becoming Financially Free are built around a few basic principles that, when consistently lived out, lead to success with your finances, and success with life. Let's review these core principles:

Be a Steward of Providence

It all starts here. Money plays a part in all of our lives, but life's about a lot more than money. The most important resolution you can make to become truly financially free is to grow more deeply in your relationship with the Lord. Why? As you learn to better imitate Christ, your priorities will change, including the way you view your finances. You'll recognize that the Lord has a plan for your finances that is balanced and good for you, and it includes:

- Being grateful to the Lord for the many gifts he has bestowed on you. All we have ultimately comes from him.
- Growing in generosity.
- Being cautious when borrowing. When debt is used, it is to be used prudently and productively.
- Saving with a purpose.
- Spending on things that matter in the long run.
- Having a plan that assists you in living out the above priorities.

How are you doing in your daily spiritual life? Deepening your relationship with Christ doesn't just happen. Your love of the Lord should prompt you to know him better, and that is best done through the gifts he has given us through his Church. Frequent reception of the Eucharist and attendance at Mass, daily prayer and reading of Scripture and other spiritual writing, and regular confession are all ways that deepen our union with the Lord and guide us to being a more effective steward of Providence.

Prepare Your Plan

It's hard to reach your destination without knowing where you are starting from and where you want to go. Take a snapshot of your finances as of December 31, 2009. Prepare a balance sheet that summarizes your assets and liabilities. Do you see any weak areas? These may include unproductive debt and a lack of savings for future obligations. Estimate the income that will be available to you in 2010 and develop a spending plan that addresses your weak spots. Use the free tools we provide at VeritasFinancialMinistries.com to help develop your plan.

Laser-like Focus on Debt Reduction and Savings

For those dealing with unproductive debt and a lack of savings, setting achievable goals in these two areas is a simple but powerful step on the journey to financial freedom. Once you develop the savings habit by building your emergency fund, it becomes even easier to save for longer term needs like college and retirement. And with your emergency fund in place, you'll be in a position to start tackling your debt.

Unproductive debt sucks the lifeblood out of your finances. Get aggressive today about eliminating it. This requires changing spending habits, and creating additional income opportunities during the repayment period. There will be some pain today, but the reward of being debt free is worth it. Take this opportunity at the start of 2010 to learn and apply the seven steps in your life. True financial freedom awaits.

Discussion Point:
Re-read the story of the wedding feast at Cana in John chapter 2. Far too often, New Year's resolutions fail by the end of January. Don't let that happen with your finances. List your three most important financial goals for 2010, along with the greatest obstacles to reaching those goals. Develop a plan to eliminate those obstacles.

Your 2010 Stewardship of Prayer Card

Did you receive your stewardship of prayer card in the mail this week? If so, you might be thinking about what kind of commitment you’d like to make in your life to grow in prayer.

This time before Lent is a great time to think about how you’d like to grow in your prayer life this year. Experts say that it takes at least 21 repetitions of an action or message to make it a habit. The same goes for a practice of prayer whether it is a commitment to dinnertime prayer or Sunday Mass. At Resurrection, we offer many special opportunities during the season of Lent to help you get into a good habit. We invite you to take this opportunity to make a new commitment and then let us help you put it into regular practice! If you’re still unsure, feel free to Amberly at the parish office for suggestions!

Don’t forget to save and return your commitment card on February 6th and 7th! Our goal is 100% returned! It is the perfect size to pop in your wallet or purse today! Stewardship is OUR way of life! We CAN do it!

The “To-do” List

Did you know that the tasks on your “to-do” list are acts of stewardship? Not only are they great acts of service, but the acts of tending to your needs and the needs of others are an important piece of tending your garden of relationships. Let’s look at a few items from my “honey-do” list.

Item and Impact
Laundry - An easier morning for my family members picking out clothing
Taxes - A mommy who isn’t in tears at 11:59p.m. on April 14th, 2010
Wedding Favors - A sister/auntie who can focus on her nursing boards instead of what color ribbon to tie around her chocolate-dipped biscotti
Swiffer - No mice, no slips, and a pleasant and peaceful smell to welcome all who enter our home Write Bulletin Article - An honest look into life from one Resurrection parishioner to another.
We CAN do this!

It is important that we look upon our to-do lists, honey or otherwise, with eyes of stewardship. These tasks are important to our well-being and the well-being of others. By completing these tasks we make our lives on the journey less cluttered and allow more room to fill ourselves with God’s joy and more peace to seek God’s will.

A Brighter 2010!

It's January 6th. Christmas has come and gone. Feast of the Holy Family has come and gone. The New Year has come and gone. Epiphany has come and gone. Unless you are a die hard and celebrate all the way to the Lord's Baptism, it can feel like the season of feasts and celebrations has come to a crashing halt. All you are left with is a pile of boxes and an assortment of dry evergreen needles.

I'm sitting in my office this morning feeling much the same way as I watch yet another round of winter weather blow outside the window. So the question is: How do we get out of this funk?

As Catholics, the liturgical year is somewhat designed to bring us through the different seasons of the year and of life. Advent is meant to be a quiet, but joyful building to a grand celebration. The weeks between Christmas and Lent are an opportunity to reflect on the great joy of the season and re-adjust our expectations of life and society.

So, in our family, every January my husband and I take a few hours away and reflect on the past year. We try hard to reflect mostly on the blessings of the year, but we also try to discuss some of our shortcomings. Once we have had a nice long conversation about the results of the past year, we use those items to identify our goals for the coming year.

These goals are what get me through the valley-lows of January and February. Organizing, planning, and reflecting on these goals get me through to Lent where I am reminded to actually work on those goals. In this way, the dark, quiet, short days of January give me the time I need to talk to God and listen for His plan. In this way, it can be seen as a blessing instead of a burden.

A dear friend of mine recently mentioned that in certain times in her life she feels the need to hit the "pause" button. In her case, she "pauses" until particular medical events have passed because she knows they have the potential to disrupt any other plans she might make. I feel like January is kind of a natural "pause" button in nature and our spiritual lives. It can be a chance to regroup, rebalance, and reprioritize.

Now, I'm a planner so I kind of take the planning as it comes...first family planning, then budget planning, then abstract goals. The prospect excites me. If you are thinking I'm crazy and sitting down to rework your budget or plan our your year of family events doesn't naturally get your motor running, here a few other suggestions for making January a time for "pausing", reflecting and planning.

- Turn off the TV and pick up a classic novel. Reading can often get your mind running about things you'd like to do in your life.

- Move your "spring" cleaning back. Clear out some of the clutter in your living space (or car) and allow a bit more room for your soul to breathe!

- Get some exercise, but not with the goal of weight-loss! Go sledding, snow-shoeing or for an old-fashioned walk. Try to refrain from making this walk a "mall walk". It may be warm, but the marketing messages from the windows will keep you from listening to your soul.

- Head out to a local coffee shop, order a $1.50 black coffee (cream and sugar are optional), and organize your purse, wallet, or coat pockets! You can do this at home, but sometimes a change of scenery is good for focus.

- Make a pot of chili and call a few friends for an impromptu dinner and card party! If you have children at home, have a family game night and serve dinner in the living room! Try to refrain from a movie night as it doesn't allow the same opportunities for conversation!

All of these ideas are great ways to lighten and brighten your January. They are also great ways to get in touch with the needs of your soul and allow some room for God to speak.

And then, before you know it Lent will arrive. Think of it as your "state of the soul" or your "six-week check"...