On Stewardship

Here are some pieces on the subject of stewardship:

• A poem I wrote for the Stewardship Committee one holiday season,
• Notes from a class on stewardship I taught the high schoolers, and
• Thoughts from a Stewardship Moment for the congrgation.

Back to Moira's Musings.

Stewardship Poem

by Moira Guertin Merrill

Twas the night before Christmas two thousand and three,
First Parish had three services and a beautiful tree.
The children dressed for the little pageant with care,
Proud parents, brothers and sisters all were there.
At 7, the Confirmands and brass instruments led,
Visions of Sacred Dance were not just in your head.
Then mama in her kerchief and I in my cap
Enjoyed the 11:30 service before our long winter’s nap.
The moon wasn’t out, we had rain and not snow
But we had the Spirit, warm hearts and candles aglow.
The theme of all services was abundantly clear-
 The babe in the manger that we all hold dear.
The Christmas season was lively; it all went so quick
But at First Parish we made time to think about more than St. Nick.
More rapid than eagles-the New Year- It came!
So the wonders of Christmas Eve I have yet to name:
The brass!  The choirs!  The candles that glistened!
The pageants!  The pastors!  The people who listened!
We were dressed in our finest from head to feet,
Some alone, some with family, some with friends to meet.
Even on Christmas Eve there were still gifts to wrap
Some of us had trips for which to pack
But- Alice’s eyes- how they twinkled- Lucy is always so merry,
If advent is an ice cream sundae than Chet’s carols are the cherry.
Now-In a wink of an eye or a twist of a head
It is already time to start looking ahead.
Now is the time!  Let’s get straight to work!
Let’s be generous in our pledges, can we all give up some perk?
Let’s celebrate next year with the same warm glow,
Let’s give what we can!  Don’t let pledges be low!
Two hundred thousand is a lot- I agree,
And I know Santa didn’t leave it under my tree!
But I heard Santa exclaim as he drove out of sight,
Pledge as much as you can, let Jesus be your light.

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Stewardship Class

FPC High School Sunday School notes, 02/13/05

Moira Guertin Merrill & Fred Merrill, Guest appearances by Katie & Ryan

Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received.

Last year, during the stewardship campaign, I dressed my children up as “stewards” and invited them into class to “serve” the high school students in an attempt to make a connection between real world service and our service to God.  Though it sounded like a good idea at the time, it backfired in several ways.

• Every time I try to dress Ryan in a tuxedo, he still refers to it as his “waiter costume”
• Katie chose to dress as a cruise director.  I thought she chose that form of stewardship because she wanted to wear her sailor dress.  She informed me, however, that she chose to be a cruise director because they get to boss the rest of the stewards around.
• I don’t think we actually got around to talking much about stewardship.  Those of you that were there might sum the class up like this:  The food was good and the kids were cute, but Moira is crazy.  What did any of that have to do with stewardship, again???

So, given all of that, you might think that I have learned my lesson, and would not repeat the same mistake.  Well, then, you don’t know me that well.  I have decided that it wasn’t a mistake, simply an opportunity that was not explored to its full potential.  So, I’ve decided to try this again, for the following reasons:

1. Pretty soon my kids will be too old to let me dress them up in goofy costumes and take them out of the house.
2. The food was good.
3. I have faith in all of us that we CAN make a connection between having fun, serving each other and our stewardship in the church.

Here are some conventional and secular definitions related to stewardship:

Steward:  noun (definition from www.education.yahoo.com)

1. One who manages another’s property, finances, or other affairs.
2. One who is in charge of the household affairs of a large estate, club, hotel, or resort.
3. A ship’s officer who is in charge of provisions and dining arrangements.
4. An attendant on a ship or airplane

Stewardship:  noun (definition from www.merriam-webster.com)

1. the office, duties and obligations of a steward
2. the conducting, supervising, or managing of something; especially:  the careful and responsible management of something entrusted to one’s care.

Today, we are going to define what stewardship means to us in the UCC, in a congregational church, here at First Parish and especially in this class.

Stewardship Brainstorming Exercise Results:

Stewardship Definitions: 
- Serving God in whatever way we can
- Serving Christ by means of talent, time or material goods

What we get:
- Little people (Katie & Ryan) serving us food during Moira’s yearly stewardship class
- church building, youth room, electricity
- Lucy
- best breakfast
- music
- opportunity to worship together
- Horton Center experiences

What we give: time, money, talent

Specific things we pledge to do this year:
- pledge money (confirmed students)
- participate in choirs (senior, brass, sacred dance)
- serve as teachers and role models for younger students through action and interaction (Sunday school classes, helping in the nursery, volunteering for vacation church school)
- Help with breakfast, harvest supper, sugar plum fair, youth auction, and at other events throughout the year
- Organize youth events
- participate in mission trips
- Serve on Committees and Boards
- Continue to grow as individuals and as members of our Christian family.  We will use our knowledge and new experiences for the good of our community.

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Some thoughts on stewardship…

Early Christians didn’t go to “church”…
they met in each others homes to worship the Lord and to inspire one another to carry on the ministry of Jesus Christ…
they were the church…WE ARE THE CHURCH…
We have so much…There is so much to be grateful for…
We have an obligation to reach out beyond the walls of our church building. 
We have an obligation to BE the church. 
The ONLY way to be the church, is to share God’s abundance.
It isn’t about what we say…It’s about what we are going to do…
It’s not about who agrees with us…It’s about who needs us.
It’s not about being politically correct…It’s about trying to do what’s right.
It’s not about coming to church…It’s about being the church.
Can we look into our own hearts and know that we, like Jesus have led by example?What I ask is simple.
Give as you have received.
Abundantly and by the grace of God.
Amen.

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