Here at St. David’s we believe that Stewardship is a three-fold ministry. Not just our pledge, our financial giving, but equally importantly, the giving of our time and our talents. What we have belongs not to us but to God – our time (our life), our talents (our unique gifts), and our treasure (our money). Christian Stewardship is all that we do with all that we have after we say “I believe.” Stewardship is the intentional use of all of the resources and gifts that God has given us to restore all people to unity with God and each other.
TIME – TALENT – TREASURE
Here at St. David’s we believe that Stewardship is a three-fold ministry. Not just our pledge, our financial giving, but equally importantly, the giving of our time and our talents. What we have belongs not to us but to God – our time (our life), our talents (our unique gifts), and our treasure (our money). Christian Stewardship is all that we do with all that we have after we say “I believe.” Stewardship is the intentional use of all of the resources and gifts that God has given us to restore all people to unity with God and each other.
Stewardship is:
- Good News – God has given us creative power and we are trusted to manage this power to re-create the world in the image and likeness of God.
- Thanksgiving – We give thanks to God for all that we have been given and respond by sharing what we have with others.
- Commitment – Our beliefs are reflected in our commitments. How we spend our time, talents and treasures is a telling sign of our spiritual life and our stewardship.
- Joy – Through stewardship and sharing we discover our true worth. It brings us closer to God. We feel more grounded and experience deep joy.
Stewardship is more than church support. It is the use of gifts God has given us for God’s work in the world.
OUR STEWARDSHIP…
- Deepens knowledge and faith among us.
- Fosters spiritual growth of children and young people through Church School/Kids’ Time, Youth Ministry, Joyful Noise Praise Band
- Gives to needs outside of the parish: Habitat for Humanity, St. Paul’s Men’s Shelter, Willing Hands, Kinnelon Food Pantry, North Porch, Merry Heart
- Keeps God’s house in order: Management and Maintenance of our Property, Memorial Garden, Finances, Administration, Communications.
- Responds to the needs of the congregation: Pastoral Care, Healing Services, Hospitality, Fellowship Events, Newcomers, Greeters, T’ai Chi Chih, Book Group
- Creates worship and songs of praise to God: Worship Services, Acolytes, Altar Guild, Eucharistic Ministers, Eucharistic Visitors, Healing Ministers, Lectors, Music Program, Special Services, Greeters
WHAT IS STEWARDSHIP TO ME?
Your stewardship, how you give of your time, talents and treasures, is a personal decision. As you consider your stewardship of God’s creation:
- Pray – Ask God to give you a clear vision of the prudent management of the resources you control.
- Listen – Communication with God in prayer goes both ways if we let it.
- Observe – Evaluate what you have compared to the needs of the people in the world.
- Decide – Determine what proportion of your resources should be returned to God for the benefit of others.
- Remember – Your commitment is based on your situation now. If your situation changes, it may be appropriate to change your pledge.
- Offer – Present your commitment card to God at the altar on Commitment Sunday
HOW MUCH SHOULD I GIVE?
Reflect on the message of Scriptures and the Gospels
We are encouraged to practice the tithe or to have a plan over a few years of attaining a tithe (1/10th of our income). Remember that at St. David’s a significant portion of our annual costs are paid from our pledges. The ministries at St. David’s are dependent upon our pledges. Here are five reasons to tithe.1
- Ancient Model – Tithing is our most ancient model for giving
- “And of all that you give me I will surely give one tenth to you.” Genesis 28.22
- Trust in God – Tithing helps us worship God more in our lives. It encourages spiritual growth and trust in God.
- Financial Wisdom – Tithing brings God’s wisdom to our finances, exercising a healthy spiritual discipline over them.
- Ministry Support – Tithing provides the means to keep all of us in service to God.
- Congregational Strength – Tithing strengthens the ministry, outreach and health of the congregations, molding us into trust Christian communities of faith, love and grace.
1Stewardship Office of the Episcopal Church in the USA.
WHAT IS STEWARDSHIP AT ST. DAVID’S?
Our stewardship, our giving of time, talents and treasures enables the work of Christian Ministry.
Our stewardship is expressed individually and as a community in the many and varied ministries of St. David’s. The ministries of St. David’s invite each of us to apply our time and our talents and our money to enable their continuing growth. Consider all of the ministries at St. David’s and see how your stewardship can be expressed through them.
WHAT ARE OUR STEWARDSHIP GOALS?
• Supporting fully our programs and staff
• Expanding our budget for gifts to outreach ministries
• Keeping pace with inflation of current expenses
• Expanding programs to include our share of our diocesan grant for youth and family ministry ($4,000 in 2008)
• To encourage all parishioners to have a personal plan of tithing or moving towards a tithe.
OUR STEWARDSHIP PRAYER
Loving God, we thank you for the rich abundance in our lives.
Open our eyes to see that, in being so blessed, we can in turn abundantly bless others.
Open our hearts to feel the powerful generosity of your Spirit and let go of our fear and judgment.
Open our ears to hear the needs of this church and community.
Open our minds so that, whenever called, we offer the world our measureless love, our generous time, our unique talents and treasures.
Quicken our hands to your service and breathe your Spirit into us.
Touch us with the life of Christ.
Amen.