| Stewardship as a Way of Life with Christ
Stewardship is an expression of discipleship, with the power
to change how we understand and live out our lives. Disciples
who practice stewardship recognize God as the origin of life,
the giver of freedom, the source of all they have and are
and will be. They are deeply aware of the truth that "The
Lord's are the earth and its fullness; the world and those
who dwell in it" (Ps 24:1). They know themselves to be
recipients and caretakers of God's many gifts. They are grateful
for what they have received and eager to cultivate their gifts
out of love for God and one another.
Stewardship - A Disciple's Response
Pastoral Letter of the Bishops of the U.S.
Christian Stewardship
What Stewardship Is:
Christian stewardship is a way of life based upon the spirituality
embodied in the concept of the "Good Steward" that
Our Lord often turned to in his parables to teach us how we
should live our lives.
The Bishops of the United States, in their 1992 pastoral
letter, "Stewardship: A Disciple's Response," defined
the good steward as "One who receives God's gifts gratefully,
cherishes and tends them in a responsible and accountable
manner, shares them in justice and love with others, and returns
them with increase to the Lord."
Elaborating on this the Bishops wrote: "Essentially,
Stewardship means helping the Church's mission with time,
money, personal resources of all kinds. This sharing is not
an option for Catholics who understand what membership in
the Church involves. It is a serious duty."
In short, Stewardship is what we are called to do in response
to Jesus' invitation, "Come, follow me."
What Stewardship Is Not:
Stewardship is not a gimmick for raising more money for the
Church. The fact that stewardship is being initiated at St.
John the Apostle at a time when we are working toward building
a new church is purely coincidental.
Stewardship is founded on God's word, not on the fundraising
needs of the church. Stewardship is rooted in the premise
that all that we have and all that we are comes from God and,
as a way to thank Him for all His blessings, we return a portion
of the time, talent and treasure allotted to us.
And not just to the Church. Good stewards will volunteer
their time and talent to community agencies as well as to
their parish. Most will give money to various civic charities
in addition to supporting their parish and diocese. Clearly,
stewardship is not a fundraising ploy; it is a way of life
based on spiritual principles.
The Stewardship Committee
St. John's Stewardship Committee was formed at
the invitation of our previous pastor, Fr. Brooks, was approved
by the Pastoral Council, and was assisted by the International
Catholic Stewardship Council, of which St. John's is a member.
The committee's mission is to live their own lives according
to the ideal of stewardship, to communicate that ideal to
others and, through stewardship, to help build a spirit of
community and hospitality at St. John's. The members give
of their time and talent to promote stewardship as a way
of
life through a variety of communications and programs designed
to remind all of us at St. John's that the Christian call
is to return a share of the gifts of time, talent and treasure
that each of us has received.
Any parishioner interested in the Stewardship mission, particularly
any who may have engaged in stewardship activities in other
parishes, are invited to seek more information by calling
Stewardship Committee member Kate Trask at 703.777.5376
or by attending a Stewardship meeting. The committee meets
regularly on the second Tuesday of the month, at 7:00
p.m. in the Parish Center.
St. John the Apostle is a member of the International Catholic
Stewardship Council whose mission is to foster an environment
in which stewardship is understood, accepted and practiced
throughout the Catholic Church. For information, contact the
ICSC at its website:
www.catholicstewardship.org
St. John the Apostle Stewardship Mission Prayer…
We come in thanksgiving, knowing that all that we are and
have are gifts from God. As Catholic stewards, we strive to
live the spirituality of our Church and align our goals with
God's work.
Through the power and grace of the Holy Spirit, we ask for
wisdom, patience, and humility to educate ourselves and others
to this way of life.
Lord, pour your spirit into our hearts, minds, and bodies
as we endeavor to fulfill our stewardship mission. Amen.
Please pray for the success of the Stewardship Program at
St. John's.
The members of the Stewardship Committee are:
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Stewardship