All that we are and all that we have are because of the grace of God. There are many things we have in our lives that we should be thankful for every day. We have our family, our friends, our health, our faith, a job, a home, food on the table and clothes to wear. For all that God has given us, He asks that we dedicate a portion of these gifts to serve those in need, to strengthen our own faith community and to be a faithful steward to help fulfill God’s plan.
“As each one has received a gift, use it to serve one another as good stewards of God’s varied grace” (1 Peter 4:10)
Stewardship at Peace of Christ Parish is not just a passing thing. It is our JOURNEY. It is a way of life for all of us to share together. In order for our faith community to grow and prosper for generations to come, we need to embrace Stewardship – giving a portion of our time, talent and treasure to those around us – as a way of life. We have faced many challenges in the past and still face more in the future, but if we embrace Stewardship at its core, together we can conquer those challenges and build a strong Christian foundation for our children/grandchildren and ourselves.
Stewardship: What is it?
Stewardship, plainly put, is the recognition that God is the Creator and Owner of all. He created the earth and all that is in it. God has given each of us gifts, gifts that He has entrusted to us for our needs as well as the needs of others. Through the ministry of Stewardship we are to take these gifts and share them for the benefit of others, through time, talent and treasure.
Ask Yourself:
Our life is a gift from God. When God gives us life, we don’t know how much time we have to use that life. We are responsible for spending our time wisely to fulfill God’s plan.
When we talk about spending our time wisely, what does that mean? It can mean different things to different people depending on life’s circumstances. Volunteering for various causes is an excellent way to share your time. Helping out at Church is another great way to utilize your time and an excellent way to make new friends. In your home life, put down the cleaning rag and turn off the television. Playing, talking, or reading to your children or grandchildren is an excellent way of spending time. The dust will be there tomorrow, you can worry about it then. Embrace today!
When we are born, God bestows upon each of us at least one talent. We, as stewards, are called upon to develop our talents and to use them wisely by helping to change the lives of others.
The Bible tells us that if we use our talents wisely, we will be better able to use them and will develop others, but if we don’t, we may lose even those talents we do have.
Our Peace of Christ Parish offers many ways in which we can give of our time and talent by reaching out to others. Listed below are some examples where our parishioners can give of their time and talent:
| Liturgy Committee Member | Social Ministry Committee Member | |
| Eucharistic Ministers | Food Collection Delivery | |
| Children’s Liturgy Leader | Stewardship Committee | |
| Lector/Greeter/Gift Presenter | Community Life Committee | |
| Family Faith Formation | Garden Club | |
| Adult Faith Formation | Festival Committee | |
| RCIA Sponsor | Outreach/Visitation Ministries | |
| Pre-Cana Team Member | Decorate/Clean Church | |
| Youth Ministry | Driver for Teen Activities | |
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“Give, and it will be given to you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For the measure you give will be the measure you get back”
--Luke 6:38
As God’s stewards, we are called to manage our resources wisely and to regularly give a portion of these gifts in appreciation. The blessing of money, personal property, real estate, stocks and other possessions are not ours to hoard and be frugal with. They are possessions that we should share with others freely. Your financial contribution to St. James, St. John the Evangelist, and St. Ambrose ensure the continued stability of our Peace of Christ Parish and also will guarantee continued success with the programs and ministries we support.
The Bible tells us to give honestly, regularly, and generously. The Biblical guideline for tithing is 10% of one’s annual income. That gives us 90% of our income to live on. When looked at in this light, couldn’t we all live on 90% of our income to thank God for all that he has given us?
Of that 10%, half could go to the parish, while the other half could go to a personal charity of choice.
Methods of parish contributions:
Personal charity examples:
See below for stewardship opportunities for 2006/2007. If you did not receive a form in the mail, please contact your parish office (St. Ambrose, St. James or St. John the Evangelist) to confirm that we have your correct address on file.
Descriptions of Stewardship Opportunities
Sacrificial Giving Program Commitment Card