Sunday Worship Schedule: 8:00am and 10:00am
The mission of St. Peter's is to be a joyous family of God, gathered in worship and prayer, teaching the Gospel of our Lord, Jesus Christ, and ministering to others.
|
Sunday Worship Schedule: 8:00am and 10:00am The mission of St. Peter's is to be a joyous family of God, gathered in worship and prayer, teaching the Gospel of our Lord, Jesus Christ, and ministering to others. |
|
|
Stewardship and Money According to God’s purpose in creating the world and us, human beings are stewards of God’s good creation--“God blessed them and said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply and have dominion…over every living thing that moves upon the earth’” (Genesis 1:28). This means we have a responsibility to care for material resources that are in our care (or sphere of influence), and we also share a responsibility in caring for all of creation. As stewards then, we care for ourselves (our souls and bodies), our families and households, our communities, the nation, and the world. Christian stewardship is the natural response of all who seek and receive Christ’s sacrificial love that we know by His death and resurrection for all people. By accepting that gift and receiving new life, we trust in God’s goodness and grace, and we trust in God’s abundance. This trust is demonstrated best by sharing the earthly resources that are within our sphere of influence for the Kingdom of God here on earth. Each person has a sphere of influence over time, talents or gifts, and treasure. By dedicating, or sacrificing (“making holy”) the first portion of those resources to God, we are transformed because we trust God fully. The Bible teaches that it is normal for people who follow God to dedicate a tithe, or 10% of the resources in your sphere of influence to God. This means that all who call St. Peter’s their church or spiritual home are asked to participate in this faithfulness by contributing to the church financially, by making an annual pledge, temporally by seeking and offering your time for a ministry of the church using the special gifts that God has given you. Some households tithe their financial resources to the church and others are working toward tithing by giving a proportion (such as 3% or 5%) and increasing that annually. Stewardship also means that each of us must care for ourselves, our family and our household in such a way that priority is given to our relationship with God. This is not always easy in a culture that demands novelty and expedience in all things, so we support each other in being good stewards and in helping each other make and meet the commitments we make to worship, service, and sacrifice. Showing up is also stewardship! Churches are funded by the pledges made by their members; therefore, making a pledge is a normal expectation for all who belong to St. Peter’s. Annual Pledges are made and gathered each year, usually in the fall. Pledge cards can be obtained from the church office or the Treasurer, and we are always happy to share our current financial statements and the budget. If you have made a pledge and find that you are unable to fulfill it, or if your circumstances change and you need to increase your pledge, you may do so by contacting the Treasurer or the Priest. St. Peter's of the Valley
Episcopal Church Email: info@stpetersbasalt.com
|