St. Andrew Parish

Stewardship

Stewardship is the humble acknowledgement that everything we have, our time, talents and all our worldly goods, come from God. A Christian steward receives these gifts gratefully, cherishes and tends them in a responsible and accountable manner, shares them in justice and love with others and returns them with an increase to the Lord.

In response to the 2005 parish survey, St. Andrew Parish has formed a Stewardship Committee of 12 volunteers to guide a total parish stewardship program. Activities include sponsoring the annual parish Ministry Fair to offer volunteer opportunities, accenting stewardship within the many parish organizations and communicating the enrichment of parish life from the school to seniors. For more information, contact Lorri Posani at stewardship@standrewparish.cc.

Stewardship Prayer

Heavenly Father,

Our church is composed of people like me. I help make it what it is.

It will be friendly, if I am.

Its pews will be filled, if I help fill them.

It will do great work, if I work.

It will make generous gifts to many causes, if I am a generous giver.

It will bring other people into its worship and fellowship, if I invite and bring them.

It will be a church of loyalty and love, of fearlessness and faith, and a church with a noble spirit, if I, who make it what it is, am filled with these same things.

Therefore, God I ask for your continued guidance, love and blessings so that, I may dedicate myself to the task of being all the things that I want our church to be.

Amen.

Stewardship Defined

From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked. (Luke 12:44)

Stewardship Self Reflection Form – click here for the opportunity to personally reflect on how you make use of your time, talent and treasure.

Stewardship Initiative at St. Andrew

Promoting engagement among the more than 5,000 parishioners of St. Andrew Parish is the purpose behind this Stewardship Initiative. In the fall of 2007, a stewardship committee was formed at the request of Parish Council. Parish Council had been looking at the various initiatives that have come about as a result of the parish’s master plan adopted in 2005. Stewardship was identified in that planning process as important to the future of our parish so Fr. Watson and Parish Council asked a group of parishioners to develop a strategy for sharing the stewardship message.

The good news is that stewardship is alive and well at St. Andrew. There are countless examples of parishioners giving generously of their time, talent and treasure. From serving as an extraordinary minister to selling ride tickets at the parish festival, St. Andrew’s offers many opportunities, and many wonderful people step forward in service to the Parish. Those who are involved understand the joy and satisfaction that comes from giving. They have experienced that the real reward for their efforts is a deeper, more personal relationship with God.

The goal of this initiative is to move parishioners towards a stewardship journey, a conversion of the heart in which one leads a God-centered, rather than self-centered life. It also serves as a means of engagement in which individuals, as they embrace the idea that everything they have is a gift from God, are inclined to become more involved in the life of their parish. As they give of their time, talent and treasure each moves individually and then collectively as a community closer to God.

To promote stewardship, the committee has been conducting educational presentations on stewardship to various educational groups, highlighting parish stewards in the bulletin and gathering additional resources to share with the parish.

Stewardship Call to Action

Prayer – parishioners are asked to pray that the stewardship message will resonate throughout the parish and will open people’s minds and hearts to a stewardship conversion.
Participation – parishioners are asked to give freely of their time, talent and treasure in service to St. Andrew Parish and other organizations that move people closer to Christ.
Promotion- parishioners are asked to share the message of stewardship and to highlight examples of and opportunities for stewardship among their families and friends within and beyond the parish. Encourage and invite fellow parishioners to join you at mass or another parish activity that they may not be involved in.

Stewardship Spiritual Inventory

TIME:

Sunday Mass	Rosary	Parish Mission
Weekday Mass	Adult Faith Formation Programs	Bible Reading
Reconciliation	Fasting	Parents in Prayer
Daily Prayer	Stations of the Cross	Bible Study

In what ways do I set aside time for God?
How do I make the time I give God more than just spare time?
What have been my most challenging struggles this year? How have I asked God to help?
What sins have I wrestled with? How have I sought forgiveness as I deal with my weaknesses and failings?

TALENT:

*Liturgy:*
Altar Server	Extraordinary Minister	Church Caretakers
Cantor	Lector	Greeters
Choir	Usher

*Parish Administration:*
Parish Council	Finance Council	Collection Counters

*Parish Life:*
Garden Club	Liturgy Committee	Home & School Association
Lenten Fish Dinners	Knights of Columbus	*SCRIP
Parish Festival	*Christmas Tree Sale	*Market Day
Athletic Association	*Pancake Breakfast	*Room Parent
School Volunteer	Women's Club	*Teacher Luncheons
Visitor of Homebound	*Holiday Bazaar	*Teach Cookie Boxes
PSR Volunteer	*Spring Fashion Show
	*Bereavement Luncheons

*Human Concerns:*
St. Vincent de Paul Society	Open Shelter Meal Program	Respect Life Society
Habitat for Humanity	Heart & Hand Outreach	Advent Giving Tree

Where has God called me to use my talents and how have I responded?
In sharing my talents, am I overcommitted, balanced in my ministry or struggling to discern God's role for me?

TREASURE:

The love of God and the gratitude for His generous blessings creates the desire to freely give financially to one's Church out of gratitude for the blessing received.

There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men. Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. (1 Corinthians 12:7)

Stewardship Committee Roster

Stewardship Committee board members are to be compliant to the St. Andrew Parish Safer Environment Policy. Contact Mary, mbeasecker@standrewparish.cc for assistance.

Meeting Schedule

The Stewardship Committee meets monthly from September through June. They typically meet on the third Wednesday of each month at 7 pm in the Rectory Den. All parishioners are welcome to attend. Contact Lorri Posani to verify the meeting date and time prior to attending.