September 2026
Dear Trinity Wilmette Friends,
Bonnie Barber believes that stewardship is not an exact science. It is our ongoing response to everything God has entrusted to us: our time, talent, and treasure. Bonnie says she’s inspired by Scripture, John Wesley, and people in her church to give with a grateful and generous heart. Your gifts support the mission and ministry of Trinity Wilmette.
So take a moment to read Bonnie’s reflection and then use your generosity to transform lives.
Grace and peace,
Rev. Dr. Brian C. Smith
Bonnie Barber’s Reflection
I somehow managed to fulfill the requirements for a second major during my undergraduate years at Northwestern University. It was in Linguistics. Although I did not pursue a career in this field, I remain interested in language. Words fascinate me – their origin, their meaning(s), and the way in which they are used in both written and oral communication.
Stewardship \ stü-ərd-ship \ noun
1: the office, duties, and obligations of a steward 2: the careful and responsible management of something entrusted to one’s care Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary – Tenth Edition
Taking these definitions into consideration, it seems that Stewardship is an ongoing practice of responding to a need that results in a benefit to someone or something. How, then, do I fulfill my role as a Christian steward? How do I “do” Stewardship?
My first thought was to look for guidance in the Bible. And what does the Bible have to say about Stewardship? A lot! From Genesis to Revelation, there are Scriptural passages that tell of the ways God wants us to care for God’s creation. Far too many words for me to share with you in this message.
Since we are United Methodists, I turned to John Wesley for inspiration. In his sermon “On the Danger of Increasing Riches”, John Wesley warns that while riches themselves are not inherently evil, the increase of them carries significant spiritual risk. His exact words are, “Do you not know that God entrusted you with that money (all above what buys necessities for your families) to feed the hungry, to clothe the naked, to help the stranger, the widow, the fatherless: and, indeed, as far as it will go, to relieve the wants of all humankind? How can you, how dare you defraud the Lord, by applying it to any other purpose?”
According to Wesley, it seems I am entitled to purchase necessities, defined as the things I must have to survive. Looking around my home as I compose this narrative — I have more things than I need to survive! However, I’m not ready to become as primitive as John the Baptist, who wore clothing made of camel’s hair and ate locusts and wild honey (Matthew 3:4). What is it about religious men named John and their frugal lifestyles?
Then there is the tithe, a custom dating back to the Old Testament and adopted by the Christian church, whereby laypeople contribute a tenth of their income for religious purposes. What is my tithing income? Is it my adjusted gross income on Line 11a of IRS Form 1040? Or is it my taxable income on Line 15, reduced by my Itemized Deductions from Schedule A? My Itemized Deductions include Gifts to Charity, some of which are for religious purposes. What about taxes? They have to be paid. Can I deduct them, too? This is getting complicated! I thought religious math was supposed to be simple. Something Jesus’s followers could understand. 8 Beatitudes. 10 Commandments. 12 Apostles. I may need a miracle like one of the many performed by Jesus to calculate my tithe!
Maybe a joke will help. Why is money called dough? Because we all knead it!
And so does Trinity Wilmette. Which brings me back to my earlier question. How do I “do” Stewardship? For me, I am guided by the words of Paul in his Second Letter to the Corinthians. “Each of you must give as you have made up your mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:7). I give what I feel is an appropriate amount of my income to Trinity through my pledge and special offerings. I also support many of our church’s ministries with my time and my talents, as well as donations of non-monetary gifts.
What is left of my income is more than I need to survive. And my monetary gifts to the church may be more, or less, than a tithe. Stewardship is not an exact science. It comes from within, inspired by the words of the Bible, the words of Pastor Brian’s sermons, and the words of the friends and members of Trinity Wilmette. What words inspire you?
