Gratitude is a fashionable ‘life orientation’ that improves well-being. In child development, it marks the emotional maturity to value others. Deeply embedded within the Judeo-Christian tradition, gratitude, for me, is these things and more. It feels like the appropriate response to God’s generosity and an expression of the bond between us.
Gratitude acknowledges that God’s goodness is never transactional and beyond my control. God never ceases giving, however disengaged or uncooperative I am.
As a ‘recovering evangelical,’ I have trouble getting my head around this. However, under St Martin’s gentle influence, I’m learning to view God’s generosity as an extension of the Trinity’s loving relationships into my life.
My question this Giving Month is, ‘How do I respond to this overwhelming generosity when asked to increase my financial contribution to the church?’
I am exploring the idea that giving financially is a community-building activity. I love St Martin’s and its contribution locally, nationally, and internationally. As the new treasurer, I see firsthand how our giving impacts our church and mission. Post-covid, the church is buzzing with new life, such as the launch of the Noon Service, but more resources are needed for such initiatives to flourish.
Any community is more than the sum of its parts, and because we are a thriving community, our pooled resources have a far-reaching impact. A good example is the £10,000 gift from St Martin’s on its way to Palestine; collectively, we have expressed our solidarity with those suffering unbelievable violence.
So perhaps that is my answer. It is a way of community building, like stewarding, serving in the International Group or singing in the choir. Increasing my contribution allows St Martin’s voice to be heard louder and more clearly at a time when it is direly needed.
Jane Templeman
