Today we reach the end of our sermon series about the covenant - or undertaking - that we make when we respond to God's call on our lives.  Over the past four weeks we have reflected on what we value about our church and which parts of our lives our faith engages with; we have thought about the extent to which we do - or don't - take part in the many facets of the life of our church, and we considered how our habits and the pattern and rhythm of our lives can be made to connect more effectively with the life of our church;  last week we challenged ourselves to understand the gifts which God has given to each one of us, and how those gifts can be discerned and developed and offered back to the church as part of the journey towards the person God calls us to become.

Today we approach the biggest challenge: we look at how we might respond to everything we've heard - about God, about the church, and about ourselves.  This is the point where we turn to face the light which our faith brings into our lives and we see what that light reflects back to us about our personal journey and our commitment to the faith community where we have been placed.

And I say this is a challenge because it can sometimes show us some things about ourselves that we're not comfortable with.   For some of us, the process of examining our commitment to our church raises only doubts and shortcomings; it shows us how much we don't know; we might confront how helpless we feel and how conspired against by circumstance; we may perceive how much we cannot connect with; perhaps become aware of how many of the wounds from our past experiences are diverting our trust into negative places in our minds.  

For others of us, the challenge of the covenant can serve to galvanize us into action; it can inspire us to explore new opportunities; to accept new responsibilities as part of our maturing as Christian disciples; to give more of ourselves and more of our resources to the work of the church.

In both cases, whether we feel caught in the headlights, or whether we are inspired and straining at the leash, our church is committed to moving people forward towards the abundant life which Jesus promised would be ours.  But that process of moving forward does require us actually to move and ideally to keep moving so that our faith gains its own energy and momentum.  And none of us can move forwards unless we commit some of our own resources to that process.

Metropolitan Community Churches have traditionally defined that commitment of resources under three headings: time, tithe and talent.

When John spoke to us a couple of weeks ago, he focused on our time.  He spoke about regularity of attendance and how the simple rhythm of it nourishes our spiritual life; and he mentioned the unique gift that each of us brings to our community just by being here and by spending time among our people.  Committing the time to be here, to talk to people, to share concerns, to pass on news, to be a friend, is a tremendously powerful resource that each of us brings to our discipleship.

But the energy and momentum of our discipleship also calls us to develop our talents.  When Dan spoke to us last week he focused on a whole range of spiritual gifts which God gives to the church to enable us to move forwards.  Over the past week many of us have taken part in a survey to start us thinking about our own spiritual gifts and how these might be used for the benefit of our church.  God has plans for our church, and the range of gifts to be found among the people here are essential for those plans to be achieved.  These talents are resources which each of us can give, alongside our time, as we follow our own journey towards abundant life, and as this church moves towards the dream that God has for us.

But this church is an organisation which exists within a social structure based around money.  The reality of our world is that money is the lifeblood of any organisation, and this church needs to manage its income and its expenditure in line with the best stewardship principles in order to continue as a community of faith.  Another harsh reality is that this church only continues to exist because the people who come through its doors enable to do so by the giving of their resources.  We receive no money from the state; we receive no money from the wider denomination of MCC.  Apart from occasional charitable grants where money is tied to specific projects, everything this church does is funded by its members, friends and attenders.

So this is the challenge of our 'tithe'.  Our money is one of the resources which each of us can give, alongside our time and our talents, as this church moves forwards towards the dream that God has for us.  But with all three resources - our time, our tithe and our talents - there is a need to plan how we will share those resources so that we make the best use of what we offer.  Each of us needs to exercise good stewardship of our resources so that we can give as much of ourselves as possible without breaking the bank or burning out with exhaustion and disillusionment.  And we need to work in harmony with the needs and priorities of our church community so that our resources are placed and exercised when and where they will do the most good.

In today's newsletter there are details of another questionnaire which we hope you will complete.  An email will also be coming out with the appropriate link.  This is part of the process of reflection that we hope, as covenant-keepers, you will engage with and give serious thought to.  

Across this whole series we have been challenged to think about what we value in this church, to discern where our own spiritual gifts may lie, and now to consider and review the whole range of resources that we are able to give to our faith and to our church.  Only we can decide whether there is energy and momentum in that process for us.  If there is, there is an open invitation to take things forward by talking to Andy about our time, our tithe and our talents.

Amen.