Stewardship 101
Talk by David Caldwell, Sept 7, 2025
Good morning! First, I’d just like to emphasize Nancy’s remarks regarding the Foodland ‘Give Aloha’ program. There are only three weeks left. It’s just a way to stretch your pledge even further at no cost to you. So if you happen to shop at a Foodland this month, please consider making a donation to St. Timothy’s when you check out, just say you wish to make a donation to the Give Aloha program, they will ask for St Timothy’s number, which is on the cards at the back of the church, or you can just say St. Timothy’s and they will give you a receipt. At the end of the month, you can put an envelope w/ receipts in the alms basin, noting that it goes toward your pledge or as a special offering. Pretty simple. When many of us participate, it adds up! I’m looking at the card now and see that you can donate up to $249 per visit - great, give big!
I am here this morning wearing my Stewardship hat, and to say a few words about our upcoming Stewardship ‘season’ as Fr. Pete just referred to it. To be clear, this is not, actually, a church season like Advent or Epiphany because, as Nancy and Jana often remind me, Stewardship is a year round activity. So, we’ll call it a season, and it will occur over the next two months - September and October - and culminate with the Ingathering of Gifts on the first Sunday in November. These two months in our church-life are intended to to be an opportunity for all of us to take a moment to be less distracted by the world outside, while we pause in self-reflection to consider how we spend our time, talent and treasure.
Our Ministry Minute talks that we have heard over the summer are also a part of Stewardship. As we did last year, we have a slate of guest speakers lined up for each Sunday over the next two months, and I hope and trust that you will find them interesting and spirit-filled. Once again, we’ve been intentional in trying to recruit speakers from a broad cross-section of the congregation, resulting in a variety of ages and faith experiences that reflect ‘us’, who we are here at St Timothy’s.
Our theme last year was Walk in Love; this year our theme is Shining Our Light, and to that end, we have simply asked our speakers to reflect about moments when God’s grace has shone on them or perhaps, through them shining on others, where their own faith journeys have taken them, and how their love for Jesus plays out in their daily lives, here at St. Timothy’s or in other times and places. We had a wonderful group of speakers last year, and as it happened we were treated to a spiritual smorgasbord of stories, personal experiences, and inspirational reflections.
Some of our speakers will address the giving of alms through pledging, plate offerings, or designated gifts. This is nothing new; after all, in 2nd Corinthians the Apostle Paul wrote to encourage the church in Corinth to really bear down and give generously from the heart concerning a financial gift that Paul was raising for the church in Jerusalem. He sternly warned them not to be distracted and discouraged by thoughts of scarcity, but to focus instead on God’s generosity to each of us, the abundance of blessings we have already received from God, and continue to receive. The giving of alms is just one part of our call to be Christians, an important part to be sure, whether through plate offering or pledging, and it is intended to be woven together with worship time, and the sharing of ourselves and our gifts, in ministry.
In a few weeks, we will each be receiving a letter along with a pledge card that may be returned by mail or to the church office directly at any time, although, and this is important, we are asking that you do try to return them by the beginning of November. This is so that we can get a start on our budgeting process for 2026 in a timely fashion. I know that pledging can be a little bit uncomfortable for some of us, and honestly, I think it is meant to be that way. It takes some soul-searching, and since none of us can know what the future holds for us, it is a profound act of faith. Some of you may remember a talk I gave last year about a Muslim student I had taught who shared with me the care and the piety her father took in the annual giving of alms as a reflection of his devotion to God. Now being Muslim, for him, it was one of the five pillars of his faith, and he did not take it lightly. Like him, I think we too all want to be in ‘right relation’ with God, and the giving of alms, either through a pledge or a plate offering, can and should be one step in that direction.
I hope these next two months can be a time for all us to pray, and to listen with open ears for God’s guiding hand to lead us. I look forward to hearing our Shining Our Light stories and reflections, and I hope you will enjoy them as well. Please hold our speakers in prayer as they come forward, as not everyone is equally comfortable in speaking from the heart before the whole congregation. I think of Isaiah and our hymnal, when we sing, “Surely it is God who saves me. I will trust in him and not be afraid.”
Ecclesiastes also encourages us to be generous where it says, “Cast your bread upon the waters, and it will return to you.” And as Fr. Pete will remind us as soon as I’m finished here, from Psalm 96, “God loves a cheerful giver.” And if somehow we need any more reminding, listen to what Jesus says to the crowd in the gospel of Luke about our earthly possessions: “Be not afraid…for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom… Give alms. Make purses for yourselves that do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Good scripture to keep close as we begin this season of Stewardship.
One last note, we are so thankful for Zach who again has written an original hymn for us, and as I close, he and our musicians will premier it now, so be cheerful givers and loud singers.
Thank you all!
Talk by David Caldwell, Sept 7, 2025
Good morning! First, I’d just like to emphasize Nancy’s remarks regarding the Foodland ‘Give Aloha’ program. There are only three weeks left. It’s just a way to stretch your pledge even further at no cost to you. So if you happen to shop at a Foodland this month, please consider making a donation to St. Timothy’s when you check out, just say you wish to make a donation to the Give Aloha program, they will ask for St Timothy’s number, which is on the cards at the back of the church, or you can just say St. Timothy’s and they will give you a receipt. At the end of the month, you can put an envelope w/ receipts in the alms basin, noting that it goes toward your pledge or as a special offering. Pretty simple. When many of us participate, it adds up! I’m looking at the card now and see that you can donate up to $249 per visit - great, give big!
I am here this morning wearing my Stewardship hat, and to say a few words about our upcoming Stewardship ‘season’ as Fr. Pete just referred to it. To be clear, this is not, actually, a church season like Advent or Epiphany because, as Nancy and Jana often remind me, Stewardship is a year round activity. So, we’ll call it a season, and it will occur over the next two months - September and October - and culminate with the Ingathering of Gifts on the first Sunday in November. These two months in our church-life are intended to to be an opportunity for all of us to take a moment to be less distracted by the world outside, while we pause in self-reflection to consider how we spend our time, talent and treasure.
Our Ministry Minute talks that we have heard over the summer are also a part of Stewardship. As we did last year, we have a slate of guest speakers lined up for each Sunday over the next two months, and I hope and trust that you will find them interesting and spirit-filled. Once again, we’ve been intentional in trying to recruit speakers from a broad cross-section of the congregation, resulting in a variety of ages and faith experiences that reflect ‘us’, who we are here at St Timothy’s.
Our theme last year was Walk in Love; this year our theme is Shining Our Light, and to that end, we have simply asked our speakers to reflect about moments when God’s grace has shone on them or perhaps, through them shining on others, where their own faith journeys have taken them, and how their love for Jesus plays out in their daily lives, here at St. Timothy’s or in other times and places. We had a wonderful group of speakers last year, and as it happened we were treated to a spiritual smorgasbord of stories, personal experiences, and inspirational reflections.
Some of our speakers will address the giving of alms through pledging, plate offerings, or designated gifts. This is nothing new; after all, in 2nd Corinthians the Apostle Paul wrote to encourage the church in Corinth to really bear down and give generously from the heart concerning a financial gift that Paul was raising for the church in Jerusalem. He sternly warned them not to be distracted and discouraged by thoughts of scarcity, but to focus instead on God’s generosity to each of us, the abundance of blessings we have already received from God, and continue to receive. The giving of alms is just one part of our call to be Christians, an important part to be sure, whether through plate offering or pledging, and it is intended to be woven together with worship time, and the sharing of ourselves and our gifts, in ministry.
In a few weeks, we will each be receiving a letter along with a pledge card that may be returned by mail or to the church office directly at any time, although, and this is important, we are asking that you do try to return them by the beginning of November. This is so that we can get a start on our budgeting process for 2026 in a timely fashion. I know that pledging can be a little bit uncomfortable for some of us, and honestly, I think it is meant to be that way. It takes some soul-searching, and since none of us can know what the future holds for us, it is a profound act of faith. Some of you may remember a talk I gave last year about a Muslim student I had taught who shared with me the care and the piety her father took in the annual giving of alms as a reflection of his devotion to God. Now being Muslim, for him, it was one of the five pillars of his faith, and he did not take it lightly. Like him, I think we too all want to be in ‘right relation’ with God, and the giving of alms, either through a pledge or a plate offering, can and should be one step in that direction.
I hope these next two months can be a time for all us to pray, and to listen with open ears for God’s guiding hand to lead us. I look forward to hearing our Shining Our Light stories and reflections, and I hope you will enjoy them as well. Please hold our speakers in prayer as they come forward, as not everyone is equally comfortable in speaking from the heart before the whole congregation. I think of Isaiah and our hymnal, when we sing, “Surely it is God who saves me. I will trust in him and not be afraid.”
Ecclesiastes also encourages us to be generous where it says, “Cast your bread upon the waters, and it will return to you.” And as Fr. Pete will remind us as soon as I’m finished here, from Psalm 96, “God loves a cheerful giver.” And if somehow we need any more reminding, listen to what Jesus says to the crowd in the gospel of Luke about our earthly possessions: “Be not afraid…for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom… Give alms. Make purses for yourselves that do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Good scripture to keep close as we begin this season of Stewardship.
One last note, we are so thankful for Zach who again has written an original hymn for us, and as I close, he and our musicians will premier it now, so be cheerful givers and loud singers.
Thank you all!
|
|
|
