Believe in Tomorrow Our annual stewardship program officially kicks off on Sunday November 6th and culminates November 20th on Stewardship Sunday.
Last month, we shared with you that we have reflected on the message conveyed (intentionally or not) to the congregation as to how it is we support our church family, ministries, functions and structure. It is through Christian Stewardship that we should sustain our congregation. We have “muddied the waters” with too many fund raisers. However, our Fund Raisers have allowed us to do so much more…which way should we go?
In cooperation with the Covenant Keepers, it was determined that we will limit the number Fund Raisers as follows:
• Annual Night of Music
• Annual St. Patty’s Dinner
• Annual Golf Tournament
• Annual Harvest Fair and Dinner
The intention is to hold events that are open to the public and their success will not fall exclusively on the wallets of the congregation.
Believe in Tomorrow will focus on our need and obligation to commit back to the Lord a portion of what he has given us – our time, talent and treasure. Secondly, we will prayerfully consider what our commitments will be for St. Paul’s in 2012. This will help us shape our Ministries for the next year and beyond.
We hope as we journey into November and our Stewardship Campaign; you will give deep consideration and reflection as to your personal stewardship. Marcia Shetler, on the Stewardship Ecumenical Center website, put it much more eloquently, “I encourage any of you who may be afraid or feel inadequate about being a worship leader or being a part of other areas of service in the church to go ahead and be a part of glorifying and honoring God in whatever way you can. God doesn’t judge our capabilities, he just wants us to use them and do the best we can. And in the same way, he doesn’t judge our financial capabilities—he just wants us to do the best we can. Our giving, our generous living, is not a comparative or competitive activity. It is an expression of our faith. While there is much of us in our giving, our giving is about God.”
Stewardship Committee
Believe in Tomorrow - October 2011
Fall has ascended upon us. Traditionally, this is the time that we reflect upon our Christian stewardship. What have we given back in time, talent and treasure for all that God has bestowed on us? What can we do in the future to continue show gratitude for his unwavering? This reflection has started early for the leaders of the congregation. We have asked … “Have we focused all our efforts in completing the building?” “Are we relying on fund raising to support our church vs. stewardship contributions?” “Do we truly understand what stewardship is?” These may be the same questions many of you are asking.
We will look at some of these questions and explore others over the next few weeks through the weekly bulletin and culminate in November with our Believe in Tomorrow campaign.
The following paragraphs from the Stewardship Technology website do a good job of explaining the basic idea of stewardship…..
If you ask people what stewardship is, most will be able to tell you the definition. We all think we know what it means, but knowing what it means, and truly understanding the Biblical principles behind it are two different things. Sometimes we all need to be reminded to step back and reacquaint ourselves with the basic principles, so that we might be inspired to examine our practices and reorder our priorities.
It is important to understand that we do not “own” anything in the traditional, Earthly sense. We are not ultimately in control of even our own bodies and lives. God gives us gifts to use and enjoy during our time on Earth, but He is the owner of all things, and he has put us in charge of managing these resources for Him. In Matthew 6:19-21, Jesus reminds us, “Do not store up riches yourselves here on earth, where moths and rust destroy, and robbers break in and steal. Instead store up riches for yourselves in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and robbers cannot break in and steal. For your heart will always be where your riches are.”
We look forward to exploring and prayerfully considering our stewardship as individuals and congregation for not just this season, but all year long.
As Laura and Donna had shared with us on Sunday, God is on the loose…how will we respond?
Stewardship Committee
