Stewardship Articles -- 2005 St. Bartholomew's

You may remember me as Mr. Enthusiastic about stewardship from last fall. I'm following Herb Grabau as the 2005 Stewardship Chairman. This is probably not a surprise to anyone but me. As I believe stewardship is year round fun, I intend to write a regular column about various topics surrounding stewardship. So if there is something you'd like to hear my take on, please drop me a line.

In the meantime, I've done my taxes which makes my rich uncle happy. Besides being a chance to get my files in order, I get to see how I did on my giving goals. Every year there are various organizations and causes I like to support to build God's Kingdom. Some years I do good; other years I do less good.

Financial advisors tell me having a goal and systematic plan is the key to big returns. Systematic and deliberate saving is the way to build up a BIG nest egg! It's the same principle with Jesus and his Church. I find deliberate and systematic giving to be the best way to have a big impact for God. That's the beauty of those little envelopes. It's so easy to keep track. Each check may not seem like a lot, but by the end of the year it really adds up and you have made a difference. We have drawn closer to the Lord and participated in his Kingdom. See Schedule A is not so bad -

Last month with taxes looming large, I discussed financial giving as a means for us to participate in God's master plan and his kingdom. Now with baseball season truly underway, I ask you is it more fun to pay someone to play baseball for you or play baseball yourself? Substitute golf or gardening or NASCAR as you like. The point is there is more for us to gain and do in God's kingdom than just fund it. The Lord desires us to serve him, to love him with all that we are. Part of our response is to be actively involved in his kingdom and in his Church.

I have to tell you this is massively inconvenient. I have my own life to live; my own chores to do. But wait, I'm a Christian. I live for Jesus Christ. It is for my, and your, betterment that we truly follow Jesus, putting aside our yoke of iron for his custom made easy yoke. When we load the last truck at parish workday; hear the choir anthems; or chat with the ladies at Sophia house, then we can really experience his kingdom first hand. Some things are priceless; you have to be there to get them.

This past year I've had the pleasure of having a high school student work with me as an intern on my projects. As part of this, we've discussed his plans for the future. What does he REALLY want to do with his life? I didn't have any great advice. Still these questions are valid for us at all stages of life. What do I want to do with the life God has given me? More importantly, what does God want me to do with the life He's given me? Difficult questions to answer at 17 and now.

At any age, we can be sure the Lord has a part for us to play; a mission to carry out; a ministry to participate in. Our heavenly Father has equipped and prepared us with abilities and spiritual gifts for just that purpose. For starters, the Apostle Paul lists some spiritual gifts in 1 Corinthians chapter 12. Your spiritual talent could be something you're already good at and enjoy. Interestingly, it could be something you're not so skilled at as God is glorified most in our weakness. Whatever your special talent is rest assured you have at least one. The Lord is not stingy!

Another point I like in first Corinthians chapter 12, is that there are no small, unimportant, unnecessary parts, roles, tasks in God's plan. Everyone's contribution is equally valuable and needed in God's kingdom Saint Bartholomew's division.

As the graduation season winds down, let us joyfully serve our Lord with what He has provided in the manner He has assigned, knowing the Lord gives wisdom and courage to all who ask. For the record, my intern will be studying physics at the University of Michigan, my alma mater. Coincidence?

You may be wondering who is actually involved in Stewardship at St. Bartholomew's. Certainly myself, Tim Smith, and Herb Grabau, as our previous leader, and then there's all of you. Maybe not as Committee members, but certainly as stewards of the gifts God has given us.

What makes Stewardship hard to pin down is that it jumps and spreads across organizational lines. Serving dinners to the ladies at Sophia House is outreach, but also involves the giving of my time, talents of organizing and cooking. Singing in the choir certainly involves some talent and a large time commitment. Teaching and leading Sunday School, young and old, is a definite ministry which also involves giving of time and abilities. Serving on Vestry or the Rector Search committee takes energy, time, and lots of interpersonal and problem solving skills. Supporting the Mirembe girls home requires some follow up and coordination with Father Demo and funding. The Christmas Bazaar and Azalea Sale both are the result a huge amount of time, coordination, and effort. This is just the tip of the iceberg.

Each one of us, as we participate in the life of St. Bartholomew's, are making choices, decisions on how we use the resources available to us. As Christian stewards, our choices reflect God's priorities and build His Kingdom. Whatever the area of our involvement, we practice stewardship. So stewardship is not the ministry in and of itself, but the process by which we do ministry. Have an fun July, fellow Steward!

The last few months this column talked about the "what" and "where" of stewardship. The columns tried to answer the questions: What are we stewards of? Where do we practice stewardship? Next few columns will talk about "why" we should act as stewards or in priest-speak "live into our baptismal covenant."

The most popular reason in my informal survey is giving in thanksgiving to God for what He has given them. People understand how much God has provided for them; how He has blessed them; and taken care of them. In response to this love, they return a portion of what the Lord has given them to Him for His purposes through St Bartholomew's.

This sounds very theoretical, but it reminds me of the Christmas when my father gave me a compound miter saw. I was blown away. It was so much more than our standard, agreed upon budget. I know my Dad loved me. I loved him. That wasn't the issue. The gift was just so extravagant. When the time came to install windows at my parents place, you can bet I was there to help. Not because I'd been bribed with a saw, but as an expression of my love for him. The same way the saw was an expression of my Dad's love for me.

Our heavenly Father has given us all much, much more than a compound miter saw. The list starts with Jesus Christ and goes on from there. His gifts to us are an expression of the love He has for us. What else could our response be, but thankful giving? Tim Smith

Let me pick up where I left off last newsletter with things to be thankful for as the new program year kicks off. Certainly the successful conclusion of vacation Bible school - the Circle G Ranch - is a reason to be thankful. We can be thankful for the upcoming Sunday School and Adult Education program. Besides being fun, it's always good to know more about our Lord and His promises to us.

Worshiping our Lord at St. Bartholomew's is a cause for thanksgiving. The combination of our liturgy and music makes us special. It's also important that we get to serve God and His Church by participating in worship as acolytes, chalice bearers, lay readers, choir members, altar guild members, ushers as well as faithful, enthusiastic communicants.

We can be thankful the Search Committee and Vestry continued to meet over the summer to keep things moving. We're thankful the Ladies Guild is helping with some much needed repairs. Plus the Christmas Bazaar is getting into full swing with lots of fellowship fun there. Though I'm sure it's never much less than full swing..

Having the opportunity to serve others in our community and overseas in Jesus' name is fantastic. The Local Outreach committee is lining up slots at Sophia House and Krahnke women's center this autumn. Helping the young ladies at Mirembe Children's Home is a once in a life time chance to see their lives changed by the power of Jesus.

It's easy to see there's a lot going on at Saint Bartholomew's for which we can thank the Lord. Most importantly, God has provided us these opportunities, these people, and this place where we can serve Him with the resources He lavishes on us.

The month of October is the annual Pledge Campaign, where we the parishioners of St. Bartholomew's indicate the expected level of financial support for 2006. We do this by praying and considering our own lives at St Bartholomew's; determining the financial giving we expect to make in 2006; indicating it on a pledge card; and returning the pledge card to church.

The campaign will start October 2nd and continue until October 23rd - a short three weeks. The Pledge Packets will be mailed out the first week of October. This year there will be Stewardship Minutes the first three Sundays in October during the announcements at both services. This will be a chance for us to hear the wide range of answers to the questions: What does Stewardship mean to me? What I like about St. Bartholomew's? Why I'm still here at St. Bartholomew's? I trust you'll find them enjoyable and enlightening.

The Pledge Campaign will conclude on October 23rd with a combined service at 10:00 followed by a celebration brunch, so we can home in time for the Redskins. All the pledges received to date will be blessed at that service. Pledges can be put in the plate or mailed to the office as soon as you've filled them out. I'm looking forward to an exciting Pledge Campaign; I hope you are too.

For the past seven months, I've been expounding on what I think stewardship is in my newsletter column. To summarize here, I believe stewardship is a way of life; a basic understanding that everything we have comes from the hand of God and everything we have been able to accomplish is through His grace. It is life changing to look at the world this way. We realize God has entrusted us with a sacred privilege to be His agents here on earth.With that being said, how do we approach this Annual Pledge Campaign? A necessary evil? Paying dues? Buying favors? No big deal?

Pledging is certainly not evil. No one is barred from attending if they don't pledge. No one receives special treatment if they do pledge. In this respect it's much different than other giving. What I hope is that you'll find pledging an enriching spiritual exercise.

I view pledging itself as a budgeting task. I get an idea of what I expect my charitable giving to be for the upcoming year. This helps my financial planning for savings, big purchases, and taxes. By filling out a pledge card and sharing that information with the church, I help St. Bartholomew's budgeting process. The Vestry can better plan ministries and capital improvements.

Pledging does require some thought, some reflection, and some faith. This is the enriching spiritual exercise part. Our regular offering is a surrendering of our will to God's will, exchanging our plans for his plans. It's a way that we open our hearts to the Lord to act on us and change us for the better. It's a means to overcome greed and pride.

Still the question is how much should I give? What's the number to fill in the blank? Definitely, there should be some prayer and discussion surrounding this number. Every family needs to decide what is right for them by looking at their situation and where they want to be.

Let me start that discussion and encourage you with one of my favorite verses from 2nd Corinthians, chapter 8, starting in verse 6:

"Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. As it is written:

'He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.

'Now He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God." (2Cor 8:6-11 NIV)

The rest of the chapter continues along the same theme, which you can easily verify. These verses cover our attitude, the purpose for our giving, and remind us who our Provider is. It's a great place to start and to finish. I pray that this Pledge campaign is a real time of blessing for you.

The 2005 Pledge Campaign has officially come to a close. Stewardship Sunday, Oct 23, was commemorated with a combined worship service followed by very tasty brunch. This year 24 people were involved with the campaign either as note writers, stewardship minutes, and/or helping with the brunch. Fifteen of them were not Vestry members. I thank them all for their effort and participation. They are: Kathy Cousins, Les Cannon, Jeff Bergsten, Karen Parker, Rand Golletz, Al & Anne Wasson, Irene Spurge, Lonnie Pera, George Leigh, Nelson Torres, Judy O'Niel, Harry Bennett, Sonja & Art Elgin, Anne & Bill Fitts, Deborah Turton, Frank Dall, Frank McMurtray, Judy Docca, Jeff Taylor, Jim Lynch, and Herb Grabau. I also had excellent support from Judith Schneider, Harry Bennett and Father Stonesifer. The pledge totals announced at the brunch were $77,456 with 34 pledges.

Last year we had a total $120,156 with 68 pledges, with half of the pledges coming in after the end of the campaign. If you have not pledged yet, it is not too late. Please send your pledge to the office or put it in the plate on Sunday. They will be received with great rejoicing. There are extra pledge cards in the entrance to the nave. If you have already pledged, I thank you for your contribution and involvement. God bless --

The Liturgical year has started, but the calendar year still has another month to go. This gives us a chance to reflect on the previous church year and make plans for the next year. It's a chance for us to see if we are where we want to be and still have to time to get there.

So here are my thoughts for December. First, I am assuming that I will continue as head of Stewardship, at least until the annual meeting. The annual Pledge Campaign was a major part the Stewardship effort, despite my showing Stewardship as result of a Christian lifestyle, and not just money. There are some aspects that could have worked better and will change for next year. If you have any feedback on this year's campaign, I would like to hear it now. Next year, I'll be set in my ways and unable to change.

I'm planning on continuing my Saint Bartholomew's Beacon column discussing Stewardship as I understand it. Hopefully, they will provide some tasty food for thought. I'm thinking about some other activities throughout the year, probably during Lent and beginning of summer. They will be fun, different than Six Flags fun, but still fun.

Those are my thoughts and plans as I gear up for the Christmas Festival, an Advent Adult Education class, and some fantastic Christmas church services. I pray that God richly bless you in everyway through His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

St. Bartholomew's Episcopal Church Laytonsville, Maryland

St. Bartholomew's Episcopal Church
Laytonsville, Maryland