As stewards, we have a relationship first of all to God, the creator, then to other human beings, then to nonhuman creatures, and towards Earth, our common home. Stewardship is God’s will for us on this planet. It impacts our life on a daily basis and makes our lives fuller and more vibrant.
The St. Timothy’s Stewardship committee’s mission is to explore all aspects of biblical stewardship from financial gifts to caretaking of the earth to discovering our spiritual gifts and talents. Contact charman, Ben Holt, benholt3@gmail.com.
God has given us life, security, faith, hope and resources to flourish as ministers of his word. How should we respond?
Stewardship of Creation
The Earth is the Lord’s and all that is in it,
- Psalms 24:1 (NRSV)
This ministry focuses on environmental education and action. Check out the stewardship bulletin board and The Signal for creative ways to be environmentally sensitive both at church and in our homes.
Gifts and Talents
Now there are different varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit: and there are varieties of services, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but the same God who activates them in everyone.
- 1 Corinthians 12:4-6 (NRSV)
Gifts and Talents is an enriching ministry that allows each of us to fully explore our place in the world. Great or small, no matter, God has a purpose for our gifts and talents in the service of others, bringing us each individual fulfillment and purpose. For more information on how you may discover your own gifts and talents, please contact Darrington Crane at darringtonc@comcast.net.
On This Rock Endowment
The income from endowments enables many churches to reach far beyond what they would be able to do through the yearly pledges of their members and the annual budget. Yes, the assets can be spent as soon as they are given, but a well-organized and thought through plan for receiving such assets and for the use of the income provides the opportunity for the mission of the church to continue through many years to come. Here at St. Timothy’s, we are working to expand our mission opportunities through the establishment of the “On This Rock” Endowment Fund. For more information on how you can support your Church mission through planned giving, please contact Jim Dunbar at rwcdunbar@aol.com.
Automatic Debit
St. Timothy’s now offers the ability to allow the Church to automatically debit your bank account for the payment of pledges. Simply print and complete the online enrollment form and return it to Bill Chapman, Parish Administrator. The amount that you designate will be debited from your account on the 1st or 15th of each month - it’s your choice!
For more information about Stewardship opportunities at St. Timothy’s, please contact George Hamrick, Stewardship Vestry Liaison, at gbhamrick@comcast.net.
For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Certainly, no conscientious Christian wants to be guilty of loving money to the extent of withholding from God, yet the shoe may fit all too snugly if he has not been properly instructed in what the Bible teaches about the Christian's stewardship of his money. The following five biblical principles will help you to determine what you should personally contribute financially to the work that our Lord wants to accomplish through His church.
Principle 1: Weekly Giving
According to (1 Corinthians 16:2) we are to give regularly "on the first day of every week." Even though you may be paid once or twice a month, the best way to handle your giving is to break it down into weekly giving. That helps you to be regular in your giving and it makes your worship more complete and meaningful each week.
Principle 2: Proportionate Giving
(1 Corinthians 16:2) also informs us that we are to give proportionately--"as he may prosper." Giving as God has prospered you requires an evaluation of what He has given to you materially. Each of us tends to think that we simply do not have enough money or possessions, but our giving should accurately reflect that God has truly prospered us and promised to "supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus". (Philippians 4:19).
Principle 3: Knowledgeable Giving
We are to give knowledgeably, or with understanding. On the one hand, we should give with the knowledge of what Jesus Christ has done. (2 Corinthians 8:9) speaks of the tremendous cost and sacrifice that He paid to achieve for us the forgiveness of sin and an eternal life with God. What greater motivation to give than the realization that our Lord went from having everything to having nothing in order that He could take us from having nothing to having everything! On the other hand, we should give with the knowledge that God is able to provide sufficiently for us in the material realm as well as the spiritual (2 Corinthians 9:8). Our giving should reflect the fact that even though the world system tries to make us think that we never have enough, that we are never secure enough, and that we can never be sure that tomorrow's needs will be met, the Bible says, "God is able."
Principle 4: Cheerful Giving
Based upon (2 Corinthians 9:7), we are to give willingly, "not grudgingly or under compulsion." While there should be genuine sacrifice in giving, it should be accompanied by joy, not grief or misery or to avoid feeling guilty. The "cheerful giver" mentioned in this verse regards it as a privilege that God has provided sufficiently for his legitimate needs, as opposed to his wants, so that he can give to support the ministry of the church.
Principle 5: Generous Giving
(2 Corinthians 9:6) indicates that Christians are to give bountifully, meaning generously. The Macedonian believers provided an excellent example of this principle according to (2 Corinthians 8). Even though they were going through "a great deal of affliction" and "deep poverty," what characterized them was "their abundance of joy" and "the wealth of their liberality". The Apostle Paul commends them for giving bountifully in spite of their poverty, stating that they gave "beyond their ability." What motivated them to give so sacrificially? Because "they first gave themselves to the Lord", they were willing to give everything else they had to Him and trust Him to meet their every need. When the grace of God takes hold of our hearts, we give well beyond what we think we can afford to give.
