The words
"sty warden" come from "Sty Waerden," or "styg-waerden," that is the
medieval Anglo-Saxon root for the word we know today as "steward." The
term "sty warden" had its earliest linguistic origin in the character
this musical portrays, a person whose daily work was to ensure a good
supply of meat for the table of nobility. Likely a former serf or
someone still bound in the presumption of "lower class," the sty
warden was a keeper of the sty -- The place where animals were fed,
fattened, and kept safe.
"Sty Warden" in the earliest written language in this part of the
works, referred to the warden of the hall and thus denoted a person of
emerging middle class responsible for most details of the daily
functioning of a castle, its personnel and its environs.
As sty warden evolved into "steward," the role was elevated to one of
major importance in various institutions of society. The steward was
now responsible for a wide variety of goods and services that ensured
the smooth functioning of elements of society, including government.
The final, almost ironic, evolution of "sty warden" resulted in a
hereditary line of Stewards … now become Stewarts … who led Scotland
and England.
As you see this musical unfold, you come to understand both the
historical development of the role of the steward, and the truth that
loving a gracious servant hood toward God's people is well within
God's own nature. In other words, God is the first and primary
steward.
Stewardship begins with God's actions, and moves into the lives of
God's people as they undertake a variety of Spirit-gifted actions to
gel God's work done. As we assemble in congregations, stewards equip
each other to fulfill God's will in the world. They generously fund
and staff the parts of God's work that can best be done together. They
give of their lives, in their congregations, families and daily work.
"To The Castle" complements the idea that stewardship extends from
money and passions into a rich variety of life's most basic activities
- friendships, care of creation, family, time, and vocation. The
self-image of the characters in the musical - each a "giver" in his or
her own way - also includes life-related realities.
Each of the near-stewards in the musical is actually a generous giver.
Look at each of the characters in the musical. In their
sometimes-flawed ways, they depict a different view of how "service"
plays out in their lives.
The Town Crier … Proclamation
The Serf … Loyal service in ordinary tasks
The Knights … Defending and protecting others and institutions
The Bookkeeper … Careful management of precious resources
The Nobel … Increasing assets and philanthropy
The Sty Warden … Humble, even invisible, care for individual people
and animals. |
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