2027 Stewardship
OH NO! Not More Stewardship Stuff!
If this tends to be your reaction to the word Stewardship at church, you are not alone. It has often been my reaction as well. As an Elder here I initially had no intention whatsoever of serving on the Stewardship Committee. But, as is often the case, God had a different plan. And now I am continually being surprised at my excitement at being a part of this incredible committee. It has fundamentally changed my own attitude about Christian stewardship.
As was mentioned in the Windows article two weeks ago, we feel strongly that stewardship is not a Sunday or a season, but a way of living as followers of Jesus. Stewardship is also not only about money, though that is a fundamental and integral component. Right now, especially, is a challenging time to ask for money. With so many daily-living costs going up, our necessary expenses are understandably competing with “extras.” Some in our church may be concerned about how to feed, clothe, and house their family; some find that their fixed incomes are competing with the necessities of life. So many are having to carefully pinch pennies (or nickels now as the case may be!). As such, many may be struggling with how to fulfill a pledge already made or how to commit to a future pledge.
God fully and completely knows our concerns as well as our needs. Yet He expects, even requires, us to remember that all things come from Him. We, in turn, must remember, recognize, and honor our pledges, commitments, and obligations to support His work through our church. Giving is not just a “grin and bear it” situation. It is the joyful responsibility of putting our faith in action, knowing that whatever our sacrifices, God’s rewards will outweigh any burden.
Prayerfully, let us give and let us pledge with thoughtfulness, generosity, and joy. /Lenita Thibault
Life as a steward in God’s kingdom invites us to experience great joy through opportunities to reflect and respond to the bounty God has entrusted to us in the form of our time, our talent, and our treasure.
Stewardship is best thought of as a way of life, lived out each day. We are stewards of everything God has placed in our care: our families, our work, our resources, our calendars, our neighbors, and our commitment to First Presbyterian Church. How faithfully we steward is something that should always be top of mind.
This year the stewardship committee of First Presbyterian Church is made up of elders who prayerfully accepted the call and who, together, are enthusiastically focusing on the future. Led by the Holy Spirit to center our stewardship message around our church’s mission statement, we reflected on how it guides us in our response to our call as Christians. This simple, clear statement was developed several years ago, and it remains as relevant as ever to our life together at FPC:
As a community being made whole by God,
We love, serve, and grow
Through Jesus
These fifteen words are filled with power, possibility, and promise. They tell us what we are called to do — to LOVE and to SERVE and to GROW — and remind us that the only true way to get there is through JESUS.
Finally, loving, serving, and growing require our active engagement, and so, then, does stewardship! Our theme this year reminds us that we each have an active role in the church’s mission:
Loving, Serving, and Growing by Giving
As we approach Dedication Sunday on October 25th:
Reflect on the ways big and small that you are giving this year — using your time, talent, and treasure to love and serve;
Thank God for the ways others are being blessed by your giving, and for the ways you are growing and being blessed through your actions; and now
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal your call to give in 2027, perhaps in new and unexpected ways you’ve never imagined!!
We thank you for your contributions to our community of faith at FPC. May together we love, serve, and grow through Jesus, every day and always to God’s glory.
Your Stewardship Committee: Ann Abel, Becky Adams, John Bechtold, Beth Flannagan, Susan Gannaway, Jack Hyder, Deidre King, Lenita Thibault, David Tudor, John Vann, and Bill Whisnant.
Click for complete instructions on how you can establish a legacy gift through bequests to the church. The Funds of FPC’s Legacy Giving Ministry enable all of us to meaningfully participate in the future and vision of FPC by making bequests from our estates or gifts in our lifetime, beyond our annual pledges, to sustain the work of the church far into the future.
