Feasting on Gratitude - Join the feast by making a 2012 pledge
Feasting on Gratitude is a series developed by The Episcopal Church with reflections based on the Gospel readings of Matthew, inviting readers to reflect and discuss stewardship principles and practices. Each of the six contributing writers explores stewardship, giving, gratitude and generosity in connection with the Gospel reading for each Sunday from October 2 through November 6, All Saints Sunday.

Click here to make a 2012 Pledge

The purpose of an annual giving campaign is not only to raise support for the life-giving ministries of the congregation, but to also help members of the faith community explore inten- tional and proportional giving as a spiritual practice that reflects gratitude and generosity for all that has been given.

 

The History of giving a 10% tithe
Throughout 2010 the stewardship theme was ONE in '10 caling to mind the idea of the Biblical 1/10 tithe as a standard of giving. It is an opportunity to nurture our engagement with God as we give proportionately.

Giving to God in our annual pledges is first and foremost an opportunity – not a requirement. It is an opportunity to be thankful for all that God has done for us through this community. It is an opportunity to say yes to God and accept the even more abundant gifts God has to offer us throughout our lives. It is not a requirement, though, to experience God’s unbounded love.

Giving to God in our annual pledges is an opportunity to nurture our relationship with God and the world rather than neglect our responsibilities. Each time we make an offering in this way we have God in mind. That alone is part of our challenge as Christians – to be ever mindful of God and God’s presence with us.

Finally, giving to God in our annual pledges is an opportunity for us to engage God and the world rather than ignore the needy in the world. Our giving to God at St. Luke’s allows us to continue and expand our outreach ministries and to teach our youth and adults how important our engagement with the world in God’s name is.

Changing through Giving
When we give we have the opportunity to change the lives of others. When we give WE change. This powerful transformation comes from letting go and trusting God. We struggle to let go of things tha we value and feel that we do not have enough of. We are influenced by the messages of fear that make us dwell on scarcity. We are challenged to change into giving people by practicing stewardship as a way of life. In these uncertain financial times, it allows us turn to God for what we really need. In 2009 we looked at how we were changed by giving. You can view the 2009 brochure by clicking here.

Thanks=Giving
Throughought 2008 we explored how thanks (our gratitude to God for everthing) correlates to our need and desire to give. We sarted off writing down and praying thanks to God for the blessings that we saw and felt in this community. Those Thanksgivings are on the cover of the 2008 Stewardship Brochure. Stephanie Borsi, one of our Wardens also wrote a letter expressing what Thanks-Giving had meant to her. Giving thanks for all that is done is based on our understanding of Abundance. Here is a list of Biblical passages on abundance.

Give
There are many ways to give - time, talent and treasure. To make a financial pledge to God hrough St. Luke's please complete the linked Pledge Card and mail it to the church office of place it in the offering plate on Sunday.

Stewardship is ...
using the gifts God has given us to do the work God is calling us to do. Therefore:

• Stewardship involves joyous acts of thanksgiving in response to all that God has given us
• Stewardship is about changing lives
• Stewardship programs should be guided by grace, not guilt
• We are God’s stewards. What we do grows out of our relationship with God.
• Stewardship is fun – we are learning about God’s love
• If you are not talking about Jesus, you are not talking about stewardship.