“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. Indeed, by faith our ancestors received approval. By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was made from things that are not visible.” Hebrews 11:1-3 NRSV
Greetings, Fremont Family:
Have you ever wondered what faith is? I know I have. I often think to myself, now what exactly is faith, and how do I have it? In the letter to the Hebrews, we find one of the most familiar and most compelling definitions of faith. Faith is assurance (certainty) of things hoped for but not seen (not realized). That is, faith is believing in the present for a future that is not yet. Wow. That’s huge. AND, according to Hebrews, we often have faith because others have had it before us. Namely, we are the future they couldn’t see. Amazing.
This Sunday, we begin our Annual Stewardship Campaign, and the theme for this year’s campaign is “Moving Forward in Faith.” In March, when life came to a standstill because of COVID-19, we had no idea that we would still be separated from one another so many months later. Even now, there are impacts from this global pandemic that will change the way we live for years to come. Now more than ever, we need to understand the depth and breadth of the power of our faith. Indeed, the decisions we make today as Fremont will impact our future as a faith community in ways that we cannot see nor predict.
This understanding of faith is hopeful to me. What about you? It reminds me of so many other metaphors for life. Seeds planted but not yet grown. Darkness that waits for morning light. Gestation in pregnancy that prepares for new birth. In our Stewardship Campaign, we will ask you to make a financial commitment to the 2021 Budget. Please fill out your Pledge Cards! But, really, we are asking you for so much more. We are asking you to invest in something you may or may not experience in your lifetime. We are asking you to create a future you may not see. I am humbled by the magnitude but also the beauty of such responsibility. What a privilege, really. Because I trust and believe, I get to contribute to a marvelous future of faith. Praise God! Thank you in advance for your generosity, and I look forward to these wonderful weeks of worship with you.
Grace and peace, Pastor Erin