Posts from October 2025

Introduction As we conclude our stewardship series Standing on the Shoulders of Giants, we meet two more unnamed figures—a tax collector who prays for mercy and a woman who anoints Jesus with oil. As unnamed characters, we might expect them to have minimal influence, to be nearly forgettable. Instead, these two leave behind profound teaching. Looking back over this series, anonymous figures have illustrated the nature of complete faith. An unnamed disciple asked for greater faith. An unnamed Samaritan turned…

Introduction This week we continue exploring stewardship, recognizing that we are Standing on the Shoulders of Giants. This takes intentional work, sometimes over months and sometimes across generations. Stewardship can often take the form of ordinary persistence—returning, tending, and trusting that our faithful generosity matters, even if the outcome isn’t completely clear. In Luke, a widow refuses to give up seeking justice. In 1 Corinthians, Paul describes the shared labor of planting and watering—by laborers who may not even see…

Introduction Last week, we began our series Standing on the Shoulders of Giants by hearing Jesus remind his disciples that even a small seed of faith can sustain a legacy. This week, we turn to stories that show how faith becomes whole when it is shared. In the Gospel of Luke, ten people are healed, but only one—a Samaritan—returns to give thanks. In the story of Ruth, loyalty and love weave an outsider into Israel’s story and turn loss into…

Introduction This Sunday begins our series Standing on the Shoulders of Giants, a time to honor the faith of those who carried us here. Their presence—showing up in worship, in service, and in prayer—built a community that continues today. In Sunday’s Gospel reading, the disciples face a crossroads of their own. Unsure if they have what it takes to follow, they plead, “Increase our faith!” Jesus answers that even faith as small as a mustard seed can change their entire…