Each week, our worship together ends with the same benediction. We are reminded to go forth in peace and in courage, to hold to what is good, to help the afflicted, to honor all people, and to love and serve the Lord with joy.

This blessing is formally called a catena. A catena is a chain of related phrases from a larger work; in our case, this benediction strings together advice from across the Bible for living a faithful, fruitful life. Each phrase is stirring by itself, but together, they create a powerful picture of what faith on display could do in the world.

We too, at Lakeside, are a kind of catena. Individually, each of us has a powerful faith. But linked together, we are more courageous, more joyful, more able to pursue good and support our neighbors. Our blessings are multiplied when we join them together; so too, is our ability to bless. Whether its worship that quiets frazzled hearts, a youth group that strengthens young faith, or a Giving Barrel filled with warm gloves for cold hands, Lakeside seeks to offer something good each and every day.

Over the next few weeks at Lakeside, we’ll be considering what it means to put our faith into action. We’ll look back to the Reformers and saints who showed us what a courageous Christian life looks like. We’ll look around to find this congregation actively blessing the world every day in ways big and small. We’ll look forward to how the commitments of money, time, and prayer that you make this year will inspire our continued ministry in the next.

During these weeks, we encourage you to prayerfully consider what you expect to be able to give financially to the church in 2027. We fully understand that financial promises are best guesses, and you are always free to adjust your pledge at any time if you find your circumstances change. However, having an estimate of what we expect our financial resources to be allows us to create a responsible and reasonable budget and an action plan for our ministries in 2027. On Sunday, November 15, we will celebrate our commitments, including our pledges of financial support, in worship.

At Lakeside Presbyterian, we are more than the sum of our parts. We link together, spirit to spirit, and we link to God, who blesses us with every good thing. Will you share your blessings with us this year?

The Lakeside Stewardship Committee

Pledge Sunday: November 15th

Save the date for Pledge Sunday, when we will collect commitments for the 2027 year. Be on the lookout for a mailing of physical pledge cards in early November or pledge online any time!

Our blessing isn’t just for Stewardship season – rock your Lakeside pride with these new shirts and mugs, encouraging everyone with our blessing to “Be brave, Hold to good, Lift up, Honor all, and Serve Love!”

Plus, the proceeds go to LPC!

Our first round of orders will be due on November 1st, so order now!