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First Presbyterian
Church of Stockton
Church of Stockton
Stewardship Committee
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Worshiping our Lord since 1850
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| How do we use our time, talents and monies? The Lord calls us to be good stewards and use our resources wisely. There are many opportunities on a daily basis to do this. |
| We are called to be good Stewards. Time, Talent, Money and Resources |
First Church
Goes Green
Goes Green
| In an attempt to be good stewards of the earth, First Church has re-implemented its recycling program. Our goal is to cut the size of our garbage bin. We will be recycling bottles, cans, aluminum and paper weekly. |
What is Stewardship?
Stewardship is about making choices, as individuals and
in community. It is more than giving money to the church.
Stewardship is about being faithful disciples, caring for
and managing all that God has given us.
Stewardship is not just one part of Christian discipleship;
it involves every aspect of life in all the stages of life.
Stewardship is the grateful response to God's grace and
goodness. It requires a consideration of how our choices
affect us and others, of how we can be good caretakers
of the created world, and of how we can best serve God
as disciples of Christ.
Stewardship is about making choices, as individuals and
in community. It is more than giving money to the church.
Stewardship is about being faithful disciples, caring for
and managing all that God has given us.
Stewardship is not just one part of Christian discipleship;
it involves every aspect of life in all the stages of life.
Stewardship is the grateful response to God's grace and
goodness. It requires a consideration of how our choices
affect us and others, of how we can be good caretakers
of the created world, and of how we can best serve God
as disciples of Christ.
| Resources |
| Time & Talent |
How do we use our time?
Are we serving others in our
communities and world?
Click Here For Ways to
Serve
Are we serving others in our
communities and world?
Click Here For Ways to
Serve
| Monies & Investments |
In the law of Moses, the people of Israel were taught to
bring their first fruits to God as a temple sacrifice, and
these first fruits were to be the best—a lamb without
blemish, the purest grains, the most luscious fruit. God was
to be given the first and the best. That was the nature of the
tithe—a tenth portion given to the community in God’s
name—ten percent of gross income in today’s language. It
was a given.
Read More about Checkbook Theology
bring their first fruits to God as a temple sacrifice, and
these first fruits were to be the best—a lamb without
blemish, the purest grains, the most luscious fruit. God was
to be given the first and the best. That was the nature of the
tithe—a tenth portion given to the community in God’s
name—ten percent of gross income in today’s language. It
was a given.
Read More about Checkbook Theology
Do you ever think about how your
checkbook reflects your beliefs?
What would someone looking at
our check registers and credit card
receipts assume were our
priorities?
checkbook reflects your beliefs?
What would someone looking at
our check registers and credit card
receipts assume were our
priorities?
Cents-Ability is a small first step in the battle against
hunger and poverty. Congregations invite every member
— of all ages — to contribute a few cents at every meal.
This simple act is an expression of thanks for what we
have received. It is also a commitment to share with
others in response to Jesus' command "You give them
something to eat." When members bring their offerings to
church on the appointed Sunday, all of those coins "make
a joyful noise unto the Lord" as they are received and
dedicated.
These small acts of faithfulness can add up: One hundred
persons in a congregation will contribute $180 a month at
two cents a meal. That's $2,160 dollars a year. A 30,000-
member presbytery has the potential of raising over $1.6
million annually at a nickle a meal.
hunger and poverty. Congregations invite every member
— of all ages — to contribute a few cents at every meal.
This simple act is an expression of thanks for what we
have received. It is also a commitment to share with
others in response to Jesus' command "You give them
something to eat." When members bring their offerings to
church on the appointed Sunday, all of those coins "make
a joyful noise unto the Lord" as they are received and
dedicated.
These small acts of faithfulness can add up: One hundred
persons in a congregation will contribute $180 a month at
two cents a meal. That's $2,160 dollars a year. A 30,000-
member presbytery has the potential of raising over $1.6
million annually at a nickle a meal.
| March Message from your Stewardship Committee Stewardship Talk II Hard Hearts and Soft Hearts Every now and then I run across a Bible verse that upsets me and makes me angry. It’s usually where God hardens someone’s heart so he or she won’t listen, won’t obey the will of God. I’m thinking- “How fair is that?” God made the people’s hearts hard so they wouldn’t listen to Isaiah, and then punished them for not listening. My mind and my heart protest. But lately, that’s not been such an issue for me. I’ve put that question on the list I’ll take with me to where there are answers – we usually call that place Heaven- and finally achieve some understanding and some peace. Besides filing the question away on my Heaven list, something else has been happening that makes the issue less upsetting. God has been softening my own heart over the years, and I see things differently. There have been a few times, for example, when life has handed me a bonus – an unexpected financial gain; perhaps a small bequest, or a legal settlement- and my new, softer heart wants to share with God’s church and his people. So I have had that chance, and when I took it, my heart warmed with such happiness that I was amazed. Someone said to me about a small extra gift, “How generous of you.” No, that’s not it at all; I just like being happy. So, if you’re willing to let God make your heart soft instead of hard, watch out. You just might become very, very happy! We have a chance to be happy, and to be together, very soon to celebrate the 160th anniversary of this beautiful church. I don’t know about you, but I’m going to the party! And, I’m going to take a gift- after all, isn’t that what we do when we go to a celebration party for someone or something we love? Outreach committee has asked us to consider 160 when making our gift – maybe 1.6 hours of volunteer work in the office, 16 phone calls to people who might be interested in joining us, 160 dollars over and above our normal pledges this year, 160 pages of Bible reading this year, 16 hours of prayer for the church, 1.6 cans of paint we provide to freshen things up- you get the idea. Write it down, tie a ribbon around it, and bring your gift to the celebration. See you at the party, with thankful hearts, willing hearts, and very, very glad hearts. Note: if you’re reading this after the March Anniversary celebration, don’t worry – we’ll still be very interested in your gift ideas! Linda Abbott Trapp, Stewardship Co-chair, 2010 Click Here for February 2010 Message |