Stewardship as a Way of Life
Welcome to Stewardship as a Way of Life! This is a new program that
Let us first tell you what Stewardship as a Way of Life is NOT:
· This is not a once a year program
· This is not intended to obtain a product
· This is not a fundraiser
· It is not intended to make a person question every act, at every minute, to make sure they are doing enough, giving enough, being good enough
· It is not intended to make a person feel guilty or inadequate
Now let us tell you what Stewardship as a Way of Life IS:
· It is a process
· Intentional Stewardship is a life of consciousness. Consciousness about who each of us is, the circumstances of our lives, and the blessings we, uniquely and individually, have been given.
· It is the opportunity to look deeply into ourselves and devote a portion of our time, our talents, and the treasure allotted to each of us so that our church might flourish with a new sense of service and ministry.
· It is the opportunity to flood our community with the goodness and good works of the disciples of this community, by God’s grace and by the Holy Spirit working through us.
This program is based on the simple theology of Intentional Stewardship:
1) God has blessed each of us abundantly
2) Out of gratitude our hearts yearn to return a portion
3) In order to make God’s way known in the world, in order to bring Christ’s healing and transforming presence, we as individuals are called to dedicate a portion of our time, the first fruits of our talents, and our treasure.
4) As disciples we want to experience a life of generosity and lead others in living a life of generosity
5) God asks no more of us than we can realistically give
When we are intentional about our stewardship, we will see the enormous good that can be done through the generous stewardship of time, talents, and treasure. As disciples of Jesus Christ, we believe that we are at our best when our hearts are open in generosity, the way that Jesus lived, and just as Jesus taught. When we are open in generosity, we feel better, our lives go better, we walk in the world more at ease, knowing that we are sharing the abundant portion that we have been given generously by God. Most importantly, as we go through this program we realize that we are to give of our time, our talents, and our treasure -- not out of guilt or obligation -- but out of gratitude toward God for all that God has given us.
Below you will find the following links to four forms:
· New Beginnings: Listening to You Survey (Please fill out and return to the church)
· Stewardship of Time: Self-Evaluation & Commitment Form
· Stewardship of Talent: Self-Evaluation & Commitment Form
· Stewardship of Treasure: Self-Evaluation & Commitment Form (Please fill out the anonymous pledge card, and the church information card and return to the office)
As you fill out each Self-Evaluation & Commitment Form, you will be asked to look at time, talent, and treasure in three steps: Observe, Evaluate, Act.
Observe – I take an honest and prayerful look at what I am currently doing with these three gifts that I have been given by God.
Evaluate – I consider where my time, talent, and treasure are needed: my personal needs, my family’s needs, my church’s needs, my community’s needs, and the world’s needs.
Act – I then proceed to act, as my observation and evaluation tell me, in a deliberate and prayerful way. I devote portions of my time, my talents, and my treasure as my newly conscious self leads me to do.
So we now invite you to join us as we look at Stewardship as a Way of Life and as we ponder the question of the psalmist:
What shall I render to the Lord for all his bounty to me?
– Psalm 116:12
Peace and Grace,
Stewardship Team
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