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Stewardship Program: Time, Talent and Treasure
What is Stewardship?
Stewardship, in its simplest terms, is the act of putting God’s priorities before our own. Good stewards give the first portion of their gifts of time, talent, and treasure to the Lord’s work in gratitude for his many blessings. This practice of giving our “first fruits” incorporates the aspect of sacrificial giving. Jesus Christ is God’s greatest gift to us. Stewardship tells us to share a portion of our time, talent, and treasure so that God’s Gift, Jesus Christ, may be given to those who do not know Him.
Time
A true understanding of stewardship begins with taking care of and sharing the gift of time. We are only given so much time. Planning a careful schedule in order to have the time to work, to rest, to play and to pray is vital in the stewardship of our physical, emotional, spiritual, and intellectual lives.
Talent
If stewardship means taking care of and sharing God’s gifts, then stewardship of the gift of talent means nurturing, developing, and using the God-given abilities and characteristics that help to define who we are as individuals. Our talents are special blessings that we receive from God. When we volunteer to help others by sharing our talents, we give something more precious than our time or our money.
Every member of St. Edward possesses unique skills and abilities, and these are of utmost value to our community. Our ministries and committees are always in need of the wealth of resources our parishioners can provide. Please consider how you can be involved. How you choose to give of your time and talent is ultimately connected to the reasons for being in this world – we are given time and talent, not only for our good, but for the good of others.
Treasure
We have hundreds of parishioners who give regularly to our church — thank you for your continued support. Our treasure — both money and all the other things we possess — are gifts from God that we are asked to care for and generously share for our own benefit and for the good of others. Our stewardship program is not an additional request for more money, it is merely a more systematic approach to handling the Sunday offertory donations. We are looking to involve more families giving more consistently. The monies which are pledged to the parish during this stewardship program are responsible for the operation of the parish, its ministries, the upkeep of the buildings and grounds and major maintenance plans for the future. A predictable giving rate is critical for the Finance Committee to create a realistic annual budget, to plan for the future growth of the parish, and to maintain the ministries and programs that are vital to our community of faith. This is why we are asking you to make a pledge.
How can I donate – what are my giving options?
To make things convenient for our parishioners we offer several giving options that are flexible and meet their individual needs. St. Edward Church offers the traditional Sunday envelopes, a billing option that provides personal reminders on a monthly, quarterly, and annual basis. We also offer the opportunity to donate a one-time gift, use stock, or a donor advised fund. But the most convenient and fastest growing method is Electronic Fund Transfer (EFT) which allows for donations using your bank accounts or a credit/debit card.
Why should I use Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT)?
By using EFT, you can simplify your life and help cut costs at St. Edwards. You can make regular automatic contributions to St. Edward Church using your credit/debit card or bank account, the same process that you use to take care of your most important commitments like your mortgage, utilities, or car payment. St. Edward Church is your home, and it is always your home even when you are away.
We are always here for you. We learned during the pandemic that it is not always possible to be physically in the church. But St. Edward Church needs your support now more than ever. Your electronic donations benefit the parish by providing a predictable cashflow that the parish can count on to pay employees, vendors, fund normal maintenance, and pay for any unexpected needs that may arise.
Electronic giving also saves the parish office time and money. The parish has spent up to $6,000 a year printing and mailing the weekly envelopes. Hundreds of hours are spent processing weekly envelopes. Electronic donations are easily managed and downloaded into your parish record.
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Online FormsSign up below for Offertory and Volunteer Commitments to St. Edward Church.
And to learn more about all the ministries and programs St. Edward Church has to offer, click the book below.
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