Spotlight on Ministry: Stewardship
Each month during 2006, we shined the spotlight on one of the vital ministries and missions of First Presbyterian Church. We hope this helps you get a clearer picture of what the church does and - if you are ready to volunteer - how you can help.
We made the goal!
As of Dec. 5:
108 pledges for a total of $333,580
Thank you all who prayed, planned and communicated your estimate of giving for 2008.
God Is Blessing Our Lives In Numerous Ways And We Now Have The Opportunity To Express The Gratitude We Feel!
October 16, 2007
Dear Church Family:
It is wonderful to be a part of a community of faith that comes together each week to count our many blessings and say, "Thank you so much, dear Lord, for your goodness and your grace."
Whatever the circumstances of our lives, God is there for us. This very day, whether we are experiencing
... joy or sorrow,
... health or illness,
... success or failure,
... acceptance or rejection,
God is placing His hand on our shoulders and assuring us that He is with us in a very personal way_
When we come together as a fellowship of believers, we are given the opportunity to show God our gratitude for the many ways in which He is blessing our lives. We praise Him
... in study,
... In song,
... in prayer,
... in the preached Word,
and we praise God in the bringing before Him of our tithes and our offerings.
When we begin the biblical practice of tithing and when we make generous offerings, we express our gratitude for God’s great generosity! This level of stewardship shows that
... we are putting our trust in the Lord,
… we are depending on Him to sustain us,
… we know worldly wealth cannot save us.
And that’s not all.
As we move forward in faith by tithing --- and by giving beyond the tithe --- our church can experience a new level of spiritual strength. We become energized in a powerful way. The result is that we are able to expand our witness for Christ AND move ahead in a dynamic manner toward the fulfillment of our mission!
The Lord’s will for us is to commit ourselves to the faithful practice of Christian Stewardship.
Only as we say "Yes" to His will can our church minister more effectively to us and our families. And only through our generosity can our church extend its outreach to those who are waiting to receive the Good News of God's love in Jesus Christ.
So, we urge you to begin praying now about your personal stewardship response. Seek the Lord's guidance as you examine this critical area of your spiritual life. Open your Heart to His Spirit, that He may help you grow
... in understanding,
... in thanksgiving,
... and in holy joy,
... the joy that comes when we are truly grateful for God's goodness and grace --- and express our gratitude by praising Him with all the financial resources He has entrusted to us as His servants.
Sincerely,
Your Session
First Presbyterian Church
October 24, 2007
Dear Church Family:
We started this years Stewardship program on October 21st and will commence with Stewardship Sunday on November 4th. This years Stewardship program is somewhat unique in its approach to Christian giving. Instead of being asked to make pledges, our church members will be ask to fill out cards on which you “estimate” you’re giving instead of signing pledge cards. We understand that your financial circumstances can change from time to time. During the coming year you may raise or lower your estimate at any time by simply calling the church office. There has been a lot of positive feed back in other churches where their members filled out Estimate of Giving cards.
Our approach to stewardship hopefully says that we trust you to act responsibly in making decisions about your financial stewardship. You are mature Christians. You love God and care about funding the ministry of Jesus Christ, just as we do.
Your Session is recommending new and expanded programs for 2008. With the help of these programs your session is proposing to grow your church by 10% this coming year. This year our stewardship program goal is to raise $450,000 in 2008, which is about 10% over what it was in 2007. Your participation in this year’s Stewardship program will go a long ways toward providing for the care and missions of this church.
WHAT CAN YOU DO TO PREPARE FOR THIS IMPORTANT ASSIGNMENT?
We are asking you to reflect on the gratitude you feel toward God for His goodness to you. Become aware of the financial resources He has entrusted to you. And consider the Christian stewardship giving response that is appropriate for you to make at this time. With you head bowed and your eyes closed, prayfully ask:
ARE MY TREASURES TRULY WHERE MY HEART IS?
LORD, WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE ME DO TO BECOME
THE CHRISTIAN STEWARD YOU WANT ME TO BE?
Then let the answer the Lord has given you guide your hand as you write on the Estimate of Giving card the amount He is leading you to return to Him and invest in His work.
We are asking you to return these Estimate of Giving cards when you come to church on Stewardship Sunday, November 4th. If you can’t be with us at church on Stewardship Sunday, please take time to mail your Estimate of Giving card to the church office in the attached return envelope.
Each person who fills in an Estimate of Giving Card will be mailed a certificate signifying the church’s appreciation for their participation in this year’s stewardship program.
Follow-up letters will be going out the following week to any families and individuals who were missed during our initial stewardship drive. Each letter will enclose an Estimate of Giving Card to be filled in and mailed back to the church office as soon as possible.
And as you present these tithes and offerings week by week, may you be blessed and your church empowered.
Thank you,
Steve Crook, Your Session
October 31, 2007
Dear Church,
Thank you for your part in making this one of our best stewardship years ever. Together, we have met General Fund giving goals this year. In addition, we had a capital funds campaign last Spring called, “Bridge to the Future.” In all, we pledged $505,000 over three years. Already, more than $80,000 has been given for Bridge to the Future since April. In addition to continuing our regular mortgage payments for the Sanctuary renovation, we have begun paying down the principle on our mortgage, planned a restroom renovation and are making headway with master planning the church campus, including new buildings.
Now, we are in a time when we are planning for 2008. This Sunday, November 4, is Stewardship Sunday. That’s the Sunday when we ask those making commitments for giving in 2008 to come up and place your response card in the basket. Please plan to be in one of our worship services this Sunday. I have enclosed a response card for your convenience.
I want to share with you some plans for next year. We want to move forward with our ministries of worship, small groups, classes, fellowship events, Happy Day preschool and mission outreach ministries. In addition, we have two major goals:
- Alpha. We are planning all-out for this ministry which will help FPCers step up to a new level of spiritual growth. We will also make Alpha an outreach into the community. We need $5,000 in 2008 to adequately promote and start Alpha in January.
- Youth Director. We have a strategic opportunity in front of us. Carloads of youth are coming to our Junior and Senior High Youth events, many are bringing friends from outside our church. We have an energetic group of youth volunteers. What we still need is a staff person, with experience, training and time (at least half-time), to lead, train and coordinate with our volunteers to make the most of these opportunities for making disciples of our youth. We are targeting $40,000 for this purpose in 2008 (total package). You may recall, we wanted to do this in 2007. Yhis goal was postponed, for lack of funding. Let’s make 2008 the year.
In order to meet these goals, it will take all of us, dreaming big, praying, giving and planning our giving. It can’t be just the usual contributors. We need many new regular, planned givers and we need many who are currently giving to step up to a new level.
Please pray about the commitment you will make for the coming year and bring your completed response card to either Worship Service, this Sunday. This will be a joyful celebration of our faith in God's faithfulness.
For more information, go to our website: www.petalumafirst.com/stew/. Feel free to call me too if I can help.
Yours in Christ,
(Email)
Pastor Dave Weidlich
Stewardship Leadership - 2007
Steve Crook, Elder for Stewardship
Loren Dooley
Dave Weidlich, Pastor
Spotlight on Ministry: Stewardship 2006
© 2006 First Presbyterian Church of Petaluma