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Stewardship

 

 
 

 

Stewardship

Gracious God, giver of all we have and hold as stewards; grant the people of this church a deep and abiding awareness that all things come from you – our health, our incomes, our jobs, our talents and our generous impulse. Send your Holy Spirit to help us as we swim against the rising tides of materialism, envy, individualism and greed in our culture. When we are tempted to think of money as a private matter, remind us that you have asked for part of what we are given, to be returned to you as a symbol of our awareness that you give all we have. And further, help us to help each other in this grace of giving, for you are the lover of our souls and call us to nothing less than transformation in Jesus Christ our Lord.

- A Collect for Stewardship (from September 2007 Voice)

 

Contents

The Stewardship Committee

The 2010 Pledge Drive

Downloads

The Heritage Society

Some Stewardship Resources

 

 

 

The Stewardship Committee

 

 
 

 

The Stewardship Committee works on projects to increase gifts of time, talent, and treasure. It organizes the annual fall fund drive and nurtures year-round stewardship awareness within our parish community.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The 2010 Pledge Drive

 

 
 

 

Fall is upon us, and all of us are becoming keenly aware of the “C” word: “Commitment.” Children are returning to school. Parents & families have activities & sports events. Even adults are re-focusing their lives following a wonderful summer season. The word “Commitment” is being applied to many facets of our lives. The New Webster Dictionary defines commitment as, “A pledge- something undertaken.” Some of us shy away from this word, feeling it holds a negative connotation: something I have to do. Most of us, however, view a commitment as a positive thing, a promise to fulfill and affirm a covenant.

Members of our parish, clergy & staff, have made a significant commitment to God: our Time, Talent, & Treasure. As a program-based church, we support a wide range of ministries for all ages, interests & needs. St. John’s is widely recognized locally, throughout the diocese, & even nationally, for our youth programming, community outreach, senior activities, & healing ministries. Many parishioners have contributed greatly of their Time & Talents to serve these ministries, acting as true Stewards of the Faith. We all benefit from their commitment and are truly grateful for their works.

Time, Talent, & Treasure are the “3 legs of the stool.” Each leg is a critical commitment component for a successful program-based church. Treasure is of equal importance in the success of our ministry. Monies pledged to our church by parishioners as part of our Stewardship commitment are applied to a variety of important areas, including church facility expenses, staff salaries & ministry program funding including outreach. The Vestry & ministry leaders are committed to being good stewards of our Treasure, ensuring efficiency & effectiveness in all budgetary funds.

Planning for the current & future budget cycles depends greatly on the ability to accurately predict funding sources & amounts. Pledging monetary gifts to the church provides the best mechanism to do so. In 2009, 202 families or individuals pledged funds to the church, a decrease from the nearly 240 pledgers in 2008. This decrease in pledging has had a significant financial impact on the ministries of our church.

Stewardship is a spiritual reality that is just as much a part of our spiritual lives as Bible reading, prayer, & witnessing. It also brings to life our own church motto, “Gathering in Love to Serve.” The 2010 Stewardship Campaign’s goal is to recover the funding loss that occurred in 2009 by increasing participation in the pledging program. Approximately 300 families or individuals are members of our parish. We truly thank all who have shared God’s abundant blessings by pledging. We encourage all parishioners to prayerfully consider participating in the Stewardship Campaign to fully fund the ministries & services of which we are blessed. Giving must be a matter of commitment. Stewardship is not just a financial decision, it is rather a commitment to the service of God, a promise to fulfill and an affirmation of a covenant we share as God’s children.

Martin Luther said, “I have had many things in my hands and I have lost them all, but whatever I have placed in God’s hand I still possess.”

Please join with me and all who are committed to the mission of St. John in the Wilderness. You will soon be asked to make a financial as well as personal commitment in support of the future of St. John’s. Now is the time to step forward in faith toward that future.

 

In Christ, Randy Johnson, Stewardship Chair

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Downloads

 

 
 

 

Download the 2010 Stewardship Drive Letter

Please click on the PDF icon below to download a copy of the 2010 Stewardship Drive Letter as a PDF file.

(120 KB)

 

Download a 2010 Pledge Card

Please click on the PDF icon below to download a 2010 Pledge Card as a PDF file.

(360 KB)

 

Download a 2010 Electronic Giving Authorization Form

Please click on the PDF icon below to download the 2010 Electronic Giving Authorization Form as a PDF file.

(113 KB)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Heritage Society

 

 
 

 

Over 40 households have St. John’s in their wills for planned giving out of their estates. Please remember St. John’s in your will and become a member of our Heritage SocietyContact Jean Tews to learn more.