This week’s reflection comes from my daughter Natty Kaoma’s stewardship message presented this Sunday. She invites us to reflect on the true meaning of stewardship—the offering of the gifts and talents that God has sacredly placed within us. As a Church, we are so blessed; God has already given us everything we need to participate in God’s mission in the world. What remains is for us to open our hearts to the movement of the Holy Spirit, allowing God to act in us and through us.
We cannot place boundaries around God’s generosity—God’s grace is always flowing. Kindness, generosity, and self-offering lie at the very heart of stewardship. God calls us not simply to give, but to give ourselves after the pattern of Christ.
Natty encourages us to reflect on what matters in our daily lives. As we offer our time, our treasure, and our God-given talents, we participate in the unfolding of God’s dream for our beloved community. Stewardship then becomes a holy balancing of our lives and blessings so that God’s kindness may take root and shine forth in the world.
Friends, everything we need is already within us. May we nurture these gifts, that they may grow and bear fruit—fruit that will last.
Here is the shorter version of Natty’s reflection. You may watch it here.
https://youtu.be/UQsWFAVb_xk?si=YS4cyM7DJysIF-ap
As a college student, I’m trying to balance an engineering degree with a few very different jobs. This balancing act has forced me to think deeply about where I actually invest my time and what it means to be a steward of the gifts God has given me. So as a part of my commitment to God and the church, my stewardship, I’ve vowed to be a helpful hand in all communities. Whether it is those that reflect me directly and those that do not. By day, I work as a Unit Coordinator at a mental wellness facility. That is stewardship of compassion and of empathy for those who are struggling. I also get to be a STEM program instructor for underprivileged youth. This question took on a new, profound meaning recently when I lost a very dear friend last week, Trinitee. What I remember most about Trinitee was her unwavering kindness and dedication to being a positive energy to those around her. She would walk a mile in your shoes to understand a second of your pain, so that when she could finally understand you, you wouldn’t feel so alone. She may not have been an acolyte, or a vestry member, or a youth director. But Trinitee was, without question, the greatest testament to kindness. Her stewardship was the daily, generous giving of her spirit. She stewarded her compassion, her encouragement, and her ability to make others feel truly seen. She was the neighbor who would love you more than she loved herself. Stewardship is about recognizing that every gift we have is a gift from God. And we are called to be representatives of those gifts. So ask yourself. How can you be an ambassador of God’s love and light this week, right where you are? Your answer is the highest form of stewardship.
Please join us for Sunday service at 8.30 am and 10 am.
Read the Rector’s Stewardship letter below and scan the QR code to pledge!
Bearing Fruit: Restoration and Renewal
Dear Friends,
When the Stewardship Committee asked me to write this year’s letter, my thoughts turned immediately to our sunflower garden. At first, it looked uncertain — a few fragile stems struggling to take root. But with patient care and steady attention, the garden came to life and burst into radiant bloom.
That is what growth and renewal look like– nurturing what already exists and helping it flourish once more. Scripture reminds us, “Those who wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength.” As a parish, we too are called to renew our strength — our energy, our purpose, and our shared commitment to spreading Christ’s love in the world.
Over the past five years, we have faced many challenges. Yet through your faithfulness, we have turned those challenges into opportunities for transformation. We hosted our second International Dinner, installed a beautiful new sign, welcomed new families, and launched new ministries. Our church has become a home not only for our own congregation but for others as well—Spirit Life Chapel, the Missionary Church, and our sister church, St. Peter’s. We open our doors to recovery groups such as AA, Al-Anon, and Narcotics Anonymous, and we serve our neighbors through the Bristol Lodge Soup Kitchen, Food Pantry, Diaper Depot, and Grandma’s Pantry.
This is what it means to be a church that matters — a church alive and at work in its community. Through your Sacred Generosity, we have supported missions near and far, bringing light and hope where it is most needed. Truly, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”
And yet, renewal never ends. Like a growing plant, our parish must keep reaching upward and outward. This year’s Stewardship theme — Bearing Fruit: Restoration and Renewal — invites us to do exactly that.
The journey has not been easy, but already we can see the fruits of our labor. To keep that growth alive, we must all take part. Are you in?
I need you in. Nearly one-third of our income comes from those who rent space in our church, another third from our endowment, and only one-third from parish pledges. For our future to be sustainable, we need renewed commitment to stewardship. Christ Church is our shared home — and like any home, it depends on our care, commitment, and love to thrive.
I invite each of us to step forward and become one of the pillars on which this parish will stand. Your generosity ensures that those who are hurting or alone continue to find hope here. Your gifts — of time, talent, and treasure — are the seeds God uses to bless others. Together, we can build a stronger foundation for our children, our neighbors, and all who seek God’s presence among us.
Our story is one of faith renewed, year after year. Now it is our turn to nurture what has been entrusted to us — and to bear new fruit for the future.
Your pledge — in time, talent, and treasure — sustains our shared mission: to love God, serve our neighbors, and shape a vibrant future for generations to come. When we give together, we grow together. Christ Church exists because you have chosen to be Christ’s hands and heart in Waltham.
So get involved — God is counting on you, and so am I.
With gratitude and joy,
Rev. Kapya Kaoma
Rector, Christ Church
Stewardship Presentation from John McLaughlin
https://youtu.be/OODXFmQ7wA4?si=gP89uVEO_oeXgui0
Please fully fill out your pledge Card and return it by December 7, 2025. We encourage even young ones to pledge even if it means time or talent only.
Sunday
From the E-Crier of December 4, 2025. Subscribe to the weekly newsletter.