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Stewardship is a way of life. It is a way of living each day
in gratitude for all the blessings that God has given us. We do
not own the gifts God gives to us. We are only here on
earth to use those gifts to do God's work. The roots of stewardship can be found
in the Bible which tells us over and over that God is the Creator and Giver of
all gifts. It is our responsibility to show our gratitude to God for these gifts
by giving back to Him a truly grateful share.
Sharing our gifts and returning them to God means giving generously of our time,
talent, and treasure. We give to God by sharing with our church and with those
in need. Time and talent can be shared by becoming involved in parish life,
volunteering and offering a helping hand. Treasure can be shared by making a
conscious effort to make a financial gift to God first. When we give to God only
after using our treasure for personal desires, we end up throwing Him the loose
change or nothing at all. When we give to God first, we are making a gift of
faith trusting that God will provide for our needs.
We are truly giving Him the first fruits just as God asked us to do in the
Bible.
What difference will stewardship make in my life? The difference can be seen in several areas of our lives. The
life of a Christian steward models the life of Jesus. It is
challenging and even difficult in many respects, yet
intense joy comes to those who take the risk to live as Christian stewards.
First, the difference is in the focus of giving. Instead of focusing on the
needs of the group to whom we are giving financial support or helping with our
time and talent, the focus is primarily on God and our relationship with the
Lord.
Second, the difference is in the motivation for giving. Stewardship is an
integral part of our spiritual life and we give in that context because we are
grateful to God for what the Lord has already given us. We give freely because
we want to, not because we have to.
Third, the difference is in the result of the giving. As we practice
Stewardship, we find that we grow spiritually and that our faith is deepened. In
fact, we find that our lives are changed for the good.
What is meant by giving of one's time and talents?
Sharing of one's time involves being with God in prayer and worship and sharing
our love with family and friends. It means volunteering our time in church and
community activities that help others. Sharing our talents means that God has
given each of us the ability to do certain things well and we have the
responsibility to develop those talents for the good of others. Below are a few
suggestions of ways to give your time and talent back to God in gratitude.
Stewards of Faith
Individual prayer or prayer group
Parish Bible study
Scripture reading Daily and Sunday Mass
Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
Stewards of Family
Praying as a family Doing household tasks
Spending time together Taking family outings
Eating meals together Visiting family
Helping a sibling with school work Visiting cemeteries
Playing or reading together
Stewards of our Parish Community
Teaching religious education classes
Serving as a sponsor for the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA)
Volunteering in the ministry programs in the parish (St. Vincent de Paul,
Bereavement, etc.)
Being involved in parish liturgical ministries (Extraordinary Ministers of the
Eucharist, Lector, Choir, Hospitality, Altar Server, etc.)
Offering skills for parish use (carpentry, plumbing, electrical, etc.)
Stewards in our Civic Community
Chaperoning activities
Coaching teams and leading Scouts, 4-H, etc.
Supervising or helping with extracurricular activities (music, drama, yearbook,
etc.)
Serving on councils/committees and neighborhood groups
Volunteering for hospitals, homes for elderly or fire and rescue squads
Experience the Joy of Giving!
How can I be a steward of my financial resources?
God has blessed you with talents that allow you to work and earn money
which pays for many necessities such as food, shelter
and clothing. Do you show your appreciation for these wonderful and powerful
blessings by returning a generous portion? Our Biblical roots describe the
response of God's chosen people to His goodness as a return of 10%. This
tradition of returning 10% of God's
bounty has been followed through time.
Here at St. Anthony's, we ask parishioners to return a percent of their income,
with the goal of 10%. The scriptures tell us that those who really share will be
rewarded a hundred fold. "Give and gifts will be given to you; a good measure,
packed together, shaken down, and overflowing, will be poured into your lap.
For the measure with which you measure will in return be measured out to
you." Luke 7:38.