Stewardship Ministries at St. Mark's Chapel
For most of us (and, unfortunately for many churches) the word “Stewardship” conjures up very negative images of FUND-RAISING—that tiresome annual financial canvass in which the members are urged or, more honesty, guilted into giving money to support the Church’s budget. That notion of Stewardship is one that St. Mark’s totally rejects.
For us, Stewardship means much more than giving money. It means the giving of one’s entire self, not just some of my time, some of my talents, and some of my money. Rather, we seek to convince everyone that being a steward means recognizing that, in a strict sense, there’s no such thing as MY time talent, and treasure. All of those things belong to God. They are only “on loan” during my lifetime for me to use as an expression of my gratitude and commitment.
Here’s the business of Stewardship stated as clearly and simply as possible:
EVERYTHING THAT YOU HAVE AND EVERYTHING THAT YOU ARE IS A GIFT FROM GOD. HOW YOU USE THOSE THINGS, WHAT YOU DO WITH THEM, IS YOUR WAY OF SAYING ‘THANKS.’
In short St. Mark’s challenges you to think larger, to see Stewardship not as a once-a-year “tip” that you toss to God. Instead, consider this reality: that God has given you everything and, therefore, every second, every minute, whatever you’re doing or saying—THAT is your stewardship of what you have received. Money is one important way that in our culture we express what it is that we value, what priority we assign to things, so we would hope that financial support of the church is something that you take seriously and undertake in a generous, sacrificial way but writing that weekly check is only one part of a total stewardship offering.
Here at St. Mark’s you won’t hear about Stewardship just once a year, during a hyped-up Annual Giving Appeal. Throughout all our teaching, preaching, worship, community service, and the building of a caring community our effort will be to create in you a sense that ALL of your life is holy, all of it an offering that needs to be worthy of the love and trust that God has in you. We will try to give you a new set of eyes through which to view yourself and the world.
That’s why we consider Stewardship a MINISTRY—an ongoing work through which we are led to see ourselves and our life very differently. Through that ministry we are, by God’s grace, transformed into the People of God, people who pour themselves out for others, even as Jesus, the Perfect Steward, showed us to be the way to eternal life.
