As I write this, the seasons of the year have just officially changed. I say officially because while the calendar says it is fall, it sure doesn't feel like it! The temperature is still very warm. It may say it is fall, but I am having a hard time believing it.

It is hard to believe, but fall has arrived. With the arrival of all there are many things that need to be done. For fall and winter need to be prepared for. Your lawn needs to be winterized, your summer items need to be cleaned up and put away and there are many other things we need to do. We may not like them, but we need to do it.

One of these fall things that needs to be done is the fall stewardship drive. The letter announcing this has gone out. You should already have received it. I pray that many of you have already returned it. This is a necessary thing for us as we prepare to establish a budget for 2006.

Now, I understand that there are many of you who don't know what you are going to have over the next year. Who knows if your are going to have a major medical expense in the next year? Who knows if the kids will need braces this year or a new roof or that car you have tried to stretch one more year out of won't make it?

This makes turning in your pledge a challenge. But it is only a challenge when you look at it from an earthly perspective. If you truly believe that your money, your home and your possesions really belong to you, then you will struggle with stewardship. If you compare what you have or what you give with others, then you will have trouble with stewardship. If you don't trust those who have been charged with leadership in the congregation, you will have trouble with stewardship.

However, if you look at stewardship from a Biblical perspective, stewardship isn't all that hard. When you look at it this way, all you have belongs to God. You are just holding and managing it for him. When you see that stewardship is giving back to God from HIS own things, stewardship becomes much less of a challenge. When you see that your stewardhip of time, talent and treasure are first-fruit offerings not to pay the bills but to say thank you to the Lord who has so blessed you, you will not have too much difficulty with stewardhp.

This year, more than many, we need to make and keep faithful pledges. This summer has been more financially difficult than most. With the pleas from Lutheran World Relief, Red Cross and a many others combined with the price of gas getting crazy, what we have received in offerings has dipped a bit. This has been a bit of a challenge. We have received a blessing form the Growing in Chirst center that has helped us catch up, but that does not change the fact that finances are tough.

However, now is the season when we are preparing for the future ministry. You may not feel like it, but we need to. You may be uncertain, but in order to be faithful with ministry that the Lord of the Church has called us to do, we need to. Won't you please help us? Please promptly return your pledge card card for 2006. Please prayerfully examine your pledge from 2005 and see how you are doing in the promise you made to the Lord. When we do this, we will be ready. Ready for the new year. Ready for the ministry that the Lord Jesus has given us to do now and in the year to come!