First Presbyterian Church of Alabaster (Cumberland)
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8-09-05 "The Motive for Christian Stewardship" PDF Print E-mail
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Wednesday, 10 August 2005
At the shepherd group meetings held over the past weekend, the elder shepherds spoke about the subject of stewardship. It is a subject that should always be addressed and always understood as apart of our daily response to living as the managers of the blessings God has given to creation. Stewardship isn’t only about money or personal gifts we use during worship. Stewardship is about being sensitive to the environment – making sure that the waters and fields and parks we enjoy are there for our children and grandchildren. Stewardship is about prioritizing our time – making sure that we are available for work and service in our community through the church first without neglecting our responsibilities to be loving, supportive family members, which is also a stewardship issue. Stewardship reaches into every crack, crevice, and cranny of our living.

     A church’s response to the charge to be good stewards changes as the needs of the community changes. Our focus on the different aspects of stewardship will reflect those changes. Right now our focus is drawn to the money side of stewardship. We are in the process of a search for additional full - time staffing. We have received some dossiers and some of them, from the initial perusal, look promising. We have to have this additional staff position if we expect to build our areas of programming within our church and outside our walls. It is essential. And that takes money.

     Our Touch the Future process is continuing to unfold, and we have some decisions to make soon about how aggressive we are going to be with regards to a building and a foray into new methods of ministry and service to the city of Alabaster. We will have to pray and discern and be faithful in the use of our money.

     The stewardship committee is working on ways to make stewardship a more common thought and word in our minds and in our vocabulary. Starting on Sunday, September 11th, individuals and/or families will be asked to speak directly to the congregation about how they have understood God at work through their responsible stewardship. The remarks will be brief, about one minute or so, and will take place during the time of response in our worship.

     As our understanding and appreciation for being good stewards grows, so will our participation in all aspects of managing God’s resources. We will find opportunity to develop programs, call people to discipleship, call people to particular work on staff, and we will bless God by growing the kingdom and serving our community. We should look forward to the challenges and the growth of embracing our role as faithful stewards.

     In Section 6.11 of The Confession of Faith, our church confesses that “ the motive for Christian stewardship is gratitude for God’s abundant love and mercy, accompanied by the desire to share all of God’s gifts with others. ” May it be so with us. May it be so.

     Grace and peace,
Last Updated ( Wednesday, 10 August 2005 )
 
 
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