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Loving Our City

“… and the greatest of these is love.” - 1 Corinthians 13:13

The 2025 Stewardship Campaign for St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Farmers Branch will run from October 27 to November 17, and the theme of this year’s stewardship campaign is - “Loving Our City.” The stewardship campaign plays a pivotal role in shaping the budget for the upcoming year. We are invited to faithfully review what we currently give and prayerfully discern how much God is calling us to pledge in the new year. A stewardship campaign unfolds in the context of God’s generosity and is not merely an appeal for money. Our committment to celebrating grace compels us to give of our time, talent and treasure as we carry out the mission of the church in “Loving Our City”.

The Bible teaches us that God is love (1 John 4:8). It is through love that God created us, redeemed us, and continues to sustain us. In 1 Corinthians 13, the Apostle Paul states that love is the greatest of all virtues, and that love never fails. Mahatma Gandhi once said, “Where there is love, there is life, and where there is love, there is light.” Love gives life, and it illuminates the darkness. Without love, a city crumbles; with love, a city thrives. Love is the driving force behind all that is good and pure in the world.

Love compelled Christ to leave the comforts of heaven, suffer among us, and die for us. The love of Christ is the light of the Church, and this light must not remain hidden in the church building. That is why Jesus declared, “You are the light of the world” (Matthew 5:14). Baptism and confirmation are the channels through which the light of Christ goes forth from the altar to all the world. We are baptized into Christ and into His death so that just as Christ was raised from the dead, so we too might walk in newness of life (Romans 6:3-4). We are confirmed through the Holy Spirit so that we might receive strength to serve God’s people. The light of Christ’s love inspires us to exit our comfort zone and sacrifice our life for the life of the other in hopes of leading others from darkness to light. This greater love (John 15:13) is the beacon of light that draws the human race to Christ's table of grace.

Imagine a world where we truly love our neighobr (Mark 12:31) and genuinely love our enemies (Matthew 5:44); a world where we are patient, kind, and selfless; where we forgive quickly, speak truth with grace, and stand up for what is right. Love changes everything, breaks down barriers, softens hardened hearts, and opens the door for God to work in miraculous ways. But living a life of love is not easy. Love requires sacrifice and demands that we give up our right to be "right” - seeking reconciliation instead of revenge, and being generous even when it's inconvenient. This is the love Christ has shown us, this love delivers us from temporal struggles (Daniel 12:1), and it is the love He calls us to share with the world.

During the 2025 Stewardship Campaign, please ask yourself: How can I grow in love? How can I better reflect Christ’s love to those around me? The world desperately needs the light of Christ’s love. Do not be discouraged by the brokenness we see in society. Instead, believe that love empowers us to do whatever it takes to heal, restore, and transform this world. Remember - we commit to “Loving Our City” because God first loved us.

To God be the glory now and forever. Amen.