During the month of September, we focus on and evaluate how we use our time and our talents. On Parish Ministry Sunday (September 7, 2008) and throughout the month of September, each of us will have the opportunity to consider how we use our gifts for the up-building of the Body of Christ that is St. Francis.
Bishop Daniel gives the following comments on the importance of Stewardship:
IT IS GOD’S NATURE TO GIVE / TO CARE FOR HIS CREATION – HE HAS GIVEN HIS CREATION TO US TO BE STEWARDS OF THAT CREATION (GENESIS 1 AND 2). “We are … stewards of the environment, stewards of our time, stewards of our relationships with others, stewards of god’s justice. Everything is created by god, everything belongs to god. Anything that comes into our custody is only temporarily ours. But how we exercise our stewardship of what and who occupies our life is a matter of eternal consequence for our soul. … (The Rt. Rev. Clifton Daniel, 3rd, Episcopal Bishop, Eastern NC Conference). We are stewards and caretakers of god’s creation
Christian stewardship is rooted in the belief that everything is created by God. No matter how hard we have worked or how talented we are, once we start to unwrap where it all comes from, we end up at god’s front door. Ultimately, we are caretakers, not owners. (cf. jesus’ words in the sermon on the mount about the lilies of the field which neither toil nor spin, matthew 5-8).
Christian stewardship is rooted in the belief that everything we are and everything we have is a gift. The universe and the pattern of our lives are created and structured by God in such an interrelated way that nothing exists independently of the whole of creation. … all our lives are dependent on the toil of others and on the bounty of god expressed in creation. None of us is independent.
Christian stewardship is rooted in the biblical witness and our own experience that god is a giver; therefore giving more closely expresses the image of god than taking or hoarding or withholding. It is god’s very nature to give. And god gives generously and unstintingly and without limit: love and forgiveness, healing and strength, hope and gratitude.
Christian stewardship is rooted in gratitude. Gratitude is the only soul-strengthening response to all that god has given giving in response to god’s generosity is one of the most powerful positive forces in the world. That being true, then not giving is a negative force and spiritually draining and damaging. (compare the many psalms of thanksgiving in the old testament psalter)
Christian stewardship is rooted in abundance, not scarcity. We live in a market-driven culture that needs to create a sense of scarcity within us so that it can fill our needs. Too often, and too sadly, we measure self-worth by net worth. How many times in the bible do we find the words “fear not!” we have nothing to fear. God loves abundantly, gives abundantly, fills abundantly and cares for us abundantly. To be afraid that if I don’t keep getting more and more and stashing it safely away just for me is a trick of the deceiver. Christian giving is one way of giving voice to our belief that god provides for all our needs, and provides abundantly . ultimately, even giving life in return for death. Now that’s abundant giving! (from cross currents, September/October, 2004)
Our Mission Statement
As a Christian community, we seek to share the Gospel by welcoming all people, nurturing them through Word and Sacrament, and equipping God's people to serve others in Christ's name.
