Stewardship as a Spiritual Issue Made in the image of God... Made in the image of God... Talking about money Talking about money Teaching generosity to children Teaching generosity to children Talking about financial giving with different kinds of givers Talking about financial giving with different kinds of givers

Psalm 104 God the Creator and Provider Bless the Lord, O my soul. O Lord my God, you are very great. You are clothed with honor and majesty, wrapped in light as with a garment. You stretch out the heavens like a tent, you set the beams of your chambers on the waters, you make the clouds your chariot, you ride on the wings of the wind, you make the winds your messengers, fire and flame your ministers.

You set the earth on its foundations, so that it shall never be shaken. You cover it with the deep as with a garment; the waters stood above the mountains. At your rebuke they flee; at the sound of your thunder they take to flight. They rose up to the mountains, ran down to the valleys to the place that you appointed for them. You set a boundary that they may not pass, so that they might not again cover the earth. You make springs gush forth in the valleys; they flow between the hills, giving drink to every wild animal; the wild asses quench their thirst. By the streams the birds of the air have their habitation; they sing among the branches. From your lofty abode you water the mountains; the earth is satisfied with the fruit of your work.

You cause the grass to grow for the cattle, and plants for people to use, to bring forth food from the earth, and wine to gladden the human heart, oil to make the face shine, and bread to strengthen the human heart. The trees of the Lord are watered abundantly, the cedars of Lebanon that he planted. In them the birds build their nests; the stork has its home in the fir trees. The high mountains are for the wild goats; the rocks are a refuge for the rock badgers. You have made the moon to mark the seasons; the sun knows its time for setting. You make darkness, and it is night, when all the animals of the forest come creeping out. The young lions roar for their prey, seeking their food from God. When the sun rises, they withdraw and lie down in their dens. People go out to their work and to their labor until the evening.

O Lord, how manifold are your works! In wisdom you have made them all; the earth is full of your creatures. Yonder is the sea, great and wide, creeping things innumerable are there, living things both small and great. There move the ships, and there is that Leviathan which you have made for the sport of it. These all look to you to give them their food in due season; You give it to them, they gather it up; You open your hand, and they are filled with good things. When you hide your face, they are dismayed; when you take away their breath, they die and return to their dust. When you send forth your spirit, they are created; and you renew the face of the ground.

May the glory of the Lord endure for ever; may the Lord rejoice in his works— who looks on the earth and it trembles, who touches the mountains and they smoke. I will sing to the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praise to my God while I have being. May my meditation be pleasing to him, for I rejoice in the Lord. Let sinners be consumed from the earth, and let the wicked be no more. Bless the Lord, O my soul. Praise the Lord!

Stewardship the practice of celebrating all of life as a trust to be managed on God’s behalf. Good stewardship Poor stewardship

Talking about Money Many different times and places Many different times and places Equipping disciples Equipping disciples A safe place A safe place

(How) was money discussed in my family of origin? With whom am I most comfortable speaking about money? Why? Do persons become more or less generous as they grow older? When in my life have I been least concerned about money? Why then? When in my life have I been most concerned about money? Why then? Who is the most generous person I know? How has that person expressed his or her generosity?

The root word of “generous” means “according to kind” or “natural.” Is generosity natural? What is the last possession I would want to give up? What are one or two of the most generous acts of which I have been the recipient? What was my response and why? When has God allowed me to practice an act of unusual kindness? What were the results and why? Basically I go shopping in order to... When Jesus sends out the Twelve (Luke 9:1-6) and then the seventy-two (Luke 10:1-9) to preach and to heal, he instructs them to live off of the hospitality of others. Is this in any way a model for us? Why or why not?

Teaching Generosity To Children By children Generosity is fun. Generosity can be taught, nurtured, encouraged. Encouraging, nurturing and teaching generosity is a community responsibility. Generosity is an occasion for community celebration.

Including our Children Make sure there is an opportunity for children to give an offering each week. Give offering envelopes to every child who wants them. Honor every gift. Record children’s offerings and give them regular statements regardless of the amount they contribute. Teach parents how to teach their children. Forum on early memories of money What memories do you want your children to have? Discuss stewardship with the youth confirmation class Make use of one of the curricula or lesson plans available in your Sunday School Honor the children themselves as gifts. By Terry Parsons, Stewardship Officer, Episcopal Church Center

So Big in Church... So Small in the Mall Dan Hotchkiss: Three Different Kinds of Givers: Practical Givers: Like being part of a team that is accomplishing a worthwhile project. Appreciate leadership by example. Like being approached by people they think are in a similar giving bracket Want the case for giving to be well-prepared. What’s this for? Where will it go? What difference will it make?

Spiritual Givers: Believe spirituality and generosity go together. May be almost indifferent to the specifics. If giving is mostly a response of gratitude to God, a recognition that God already owns everything, or an expression of one’s own spirituality, then one need not quibble over every detail of how the money will be used. Dues Payers: Think about their giving mostly as dues, or as a fee for service. What is the (smallest) amount they must give if they are not to be considered freeloaders. They use services, want to make sure they’re covering their usage.

Tell your stewardship story Your pledge is... Someone being baptized into Christ and the Church, the people of God celebrating the Holy Eucharist, the Word of God being proclaimed, praying together for those we love and those we’ve never met, beautiful music offered to the glory of God. Children receiving instruction in the Christian faith, youth learning they are cherished by God, adults continuing to grow, a place to discuss important issues. Pastoral counseling, a listening ear, someone to pray with, the sick being visited and cared about. Young and old doing something together for others, helping our city become a better place to live, food for the poor, shelter for the homeless, clothing and household items being transformed into money for outreach at the Thrift Shop. Meeting old and new friends for fellowship and laughter, the joyous sounds of choral music and organ, a quiet place to pray. The Good News becoming visible. A way to respond to the love God gives graciously and abundantly. A commitment you can make to increased spiritual growth through learning to trust more and more in God’s abundance and goodness.