Letter from Amy: June 10, 2026
- Amy Rowe
- Jun 10
- 3 min read
Dear Incarnation,
As my tears on Sunday showed, it is often tender to talk about money. At our core, we are all wondering whether there really is a God who has our best in mind, who will actually take care of our needs, whose kingdom is actually one of abundance rather than scarcity. And we often feel those questions most acutely in our money.
As you continue to reflect on these tender matters, I have three simple suggestions:
Pray. This was the focus of Sunday's sermon: our inner life with God. Prayer is the soil in which our generosity can grow, and there are so many ways to pray about our money. Thank God for every good gift; gratitude has a way of enlarging our vision for God’s abundant care. Ask God for what you want and need; ask honestly and persistently, like a child. Talk to God about your hopes, worries, and disappointments, about all the small and ordinary acts of buying, saving, giving, even wasting money that make up your days. In all of your economic dealings, ask God to illumine your desires, guide your actions, provide for your needs, forgive your greed, and heighten your awareness of his gifts.
Talk to people. Our cultural norm is to be private about the money we make, spend, and give. But this privacy can also keep us in bondage. It is enormously helpful to find a safe person or two with whom you can commit to mutual transparency around issues of money; this is a different way of having “all things in common” with those in our community. Transparency breaks the power of shame and secrecy in our money management. And it opens us up to receive God’s light, grace, and wisdom for our finances through our community.
Give money away. I often think about a sermon by David Griffin in which he said that all of scripture’s teaching on money could be summed up in three simple words: “give it away.” Giving our money away meets the needs of our neighbors. It demonstrates the generosity of God. It frees us from the bondage of money and our inordinate desires for more. It gives God space in which to show us his generous provision and fatherly care. It opens our eyes to a world of abundance, not scarcity. And like all spiritual habits, giving becomes easier, freer, and more joyful as we practice it over time. Give it away!
A few years ago, we turned the four "we are" statements of our Ordinary Church sermon series into reflection stations for our fall retreat. Below are the resources from the "We Are Generous" station. If you'd like to take another step reflection, consider doing one of these with a trusted friend and then sharing what you learn:
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After Sunday's service, I heard stories from several of you about amazing acts of God’s provision — wow! I’ve also prayed with some of you through times of financial strain, insecurity, and loss. I’ve watched you give generously and courageously in response to needs. And I’m painfully aware of the heavy financial burdens and economic injustices faced by those in our church and our broader community.
These are such tender matters. And my deepest prayer for each of us is that these would also become places that we discover God’s tender care for us. Please reach out if there’s anything you’d like to talk or pray about.
Warmly,
Amy
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