Consecration Sunday Is Coming
Congregations that approach financial stewardship from a biblical perspective do not view the money Christians give to their church merely as a way to pay its bills. Rather, such congregations see financial contributions as a way to help people grow spiritually in their relationship with God by supporting their church’s mission and ministry with a percentage of their incomes.
Our congregation’s finance committee has selected the New Consecration Sunday Stewardship Program as a way to teach the biblical and spiritual principles of generous giving in our stewardship education emphasis this year.
New Consecration Sunday is based on the biblical philosophy of the need of the giver to give for his or her own spiritual development, rather than on the need of the church to receive. Instead of treating people like members of a social club who should pay dues, we will treat people like followers of Jesus Christ who want to give unselfishly as an act of discipleship. New Consecration Sunday encourages people toward proportionate and systematic giving in response to the question, “What percentage of my income is God calling me to give?”
During morning worship on Consecration Sunday, November 16, 2008, we are asking our attendees and members to make their financial commitments to our church’s missionary, benevolent, and educational ministries in this community and around the world.
Every attendee and member who completes an Estimate of Giving Card does so voluntarily by attending morning worship on Consecration Sunday. We urge people to attend who feel strongly opposed to completing a card. The procedure is done in such a way that no one feels personal embarrassment if he or she chooses not to fill out a card.
We will do no home solicitation to ask people to complete cards. During morning worship our guest leader will conduct a brief period of instruction and inspiration, climaxed by members making their commitments as a confidential act of worship.
We will encourage participation in Consecration Sunday events through the Consecration Sunday team and governing board members. Since we will make no follow-up visits to ask people to complete their cards, we will make every effort to inform, inspire, and commit everyone to attend Consecration Sunday worship.
Thanks in advance for your enthusiastic participation in Consecration Sunday events.
Bobby Byrd
Senior Warden, Vestry
"We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by
what we give." Winston Churchill
Like prayer or Bible study, stewardship is a fundamental spiritual
discipline. Stewardship is more than giving to support the Church, it
is a commitment to follow Jesus in all areas of our lives. To be a good
steward is to acknowledge that who we are and what we have all comes
from God. We have been entrusted with our lives and so many blessings.
The challenge for us is to use these gifts to honor God and to care
for others.
Stewardship begins with prayer. We thank God for all of our blessings
and ask God’s guidance on how to use our time, talents and treasures
to the glory of God and for the work of God in the world. It then involves
reaching out beyond ourselves to share our talents and gifts with others.
Good stewardship incorporates a respect and care for our environment.
We have been entrusted with this fragile planet, our island home, and
called to leave it a better place for those who shall follow us. Stewardship
enables us to see the long view, to assess our actions in light of what
is best for others, not just for ourselves.
What we do personally as Christians we also do corporately as a parish.
This past year we have been blessed with many new people and babies.
We now have close to a 100 children enrolled in our nursery and church
school classes. Our youth group went to Lynchburg and helped repair
close to 50 homes for the needy. Our soup kitchen continues to grow
as we feed more and more of the working poor in the Park Place neighborhood.
We are helping children to read at Tidewater Park School and having
a book give-away there this month to encourage reading at home. Members
of our parish are tutoring adults in literacy. We are blessed with the
talents of our many parishioners. St. Paul’s has a wonderful tradition
of welcoming others and extending hospitality to the community.
With the guidance of the Holy Spirit, I hope that we all can grow into
being better stewards of the gifts God has given us and that we each
will follow the way of Jesus Christ who shows us best how to love God
and each other.
In His Name,
Scott
