About Stewardship

Stewardship means taking care of something that belongs to someone else.
For us in the church, stewardship is rooted in scripture, recognizing that we, as individuals, are not owners of our lives but rather are stewards of it. We recognize that everything we have and everything we are is a gift from God. Realizing that everything we are and have is a gift, each of us offers it back to God in gratitude and faith trusting that God can do infinitely more than we can imagine.

Practically, this means making gifts of financial resources as well as time and abilities to support the mission and ministry of our church. Before practicality, though, stewardship is always first and foremost a spiritual practice born of gratitude. Any spiritual practice is based on faith–faith that an act repeated regularly will increase our awareness of the presence of God and will gradually remove from our lives the walls we erect that block God’s grace.

These are just some of the numerous spiritual benefits stewardship can yield when we practice it regularly:

• Stewardship reduces our attachment to things material. We learn that giving away something we “have” really does not diminish us at all. Our needs continue to be met by God.
• Giving chips away at our belief in the concept of “mine” and “yours”. Giving helps us better experience the truth that we are indeed connected in the One Body of Christ.
• Our willingness to give impacts our willingness to receive. Many of us know the challenges of receiving gifts. We must be willing to give in order to be open to receiving. Realizing that God is giving to us every moment of the day, we acknowledge that our willingness to give enhances our ability to accept God’s gifts in return.​

A Note from Stewardship Committee Chairs

Dear Neighbors in Christ,
 
We are grateful to have been asked to lead our Stewardship Campaign this year and to spend these weeks with intention as we enter a season of giving. Our theme this year is Walk in Love, and it calls us to remember that our greatest gift in community is how we align, come together in purpose and mission. When we walk in the same direction, we can do so many things.
 
During this season we talk a lot about money, about our budget. Yes, those things are important, they are the way we fund the Church, but our real focus is on what our gifts can do for the world. Jesus calls us to heal, visit, feed, accompany, protect, advocate, love our neighbor, and sharing our time, talent, and treasure is the way that we make this happen.
 
Each of us hears this call differently, just as each of us has been blessed by God differently. Our talents and training have been gifts freely given to us in creation so that we may share them with a world in need. How will you feel God’s call to walk in love this year? How will you determine how you will share your gifts with God’s people in the world?
 
With this letter you are receiving the invitation to make your promise to the Church for the year to come. Before you fill it out, whether online or on paper, we ask that you pray about it, discuss it with your family, and discern how God is calling you to share your gifts. Pay special attention to both sides of the form and let us know what time and talent offerings you would like to learn more about this year.
 
Our campaign will end on Sunday, November 24th, please return your answer to us by then if possible so that we may count your pledge in our ingathering where your gift will be added to many others to be blessed, broken, and shared with the world. If there is anything we can do to support you or questions we can answer, please do not hesitate to reach out.
 
Walking with you in Love,
 
 
Andrew Reider-Van Hout, Ross Worzalla, Tammy Wyman-Wroblewski
St. Thomas of Canterbury Stewardship Team
 
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Stewardship FAQ's

WHAT IS A PLEDGE?
When we say ‘pledge’ at St. Thomas, what we mean is a financial promise. Our pledge is our promise to support the mission and ministry for the upcoming calendar year as stewards of God’s generosity. We ask every household to consider making a pledge, no matter the size. The vestry depends on pledge commitments in order to accurately prepare an operating budget that meets the needs of our ministry efforts and day-to-day operations for the year.
 
HOW IS A PLEDGE DIFFERENT FROM PUTTING MONEY IN THE OFFERING PLATE?
Any donation will benefit the ministries of St. Thomas, and we are grateful for generosity of all kinds. A pledge, however, has some added benefits to the church, and helps the parish be a good steward of its own resources. Through your pledges, the vestry has the information they need to prepare an accurate, balanced budget for 2023, and make decisions for staffing, programs, and maintenance.
 
HOW MUCH SHOULD I PLEDGE?
The amount of your pledge is a prayerful decision between you, your household, and God. You might begin reflection by looking at how your spending reflects what you value. Everyone’s circumstances are different, and as the Apostle Paul says, “Each of you must give as you have made up your mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” (2 Cor 9:7). What amount will not be coerced through guilt or shame, but given in joy, freedom, and generosity? Some parishioners commit to the biblical model of giving, which is 10%. Others choose to grow their habit slowly, increasing their pledge each year by an incremental percentage. Some reflect on what small sacrifice they might make this year— the cost of one dinner out per month, the equivalent of streaming services— to build on their pledge. Last year, pledges at St. Thomas ranged from about $5 a week to just over $300 a week. There is no wrong answer, and no amount too small.
 
WILL MY PLEDGE MAKE A DIFFERENCE?
Yes! Every dollar, every hour of service, every offering of love and prayer is of infinite value to our church community. Your generosity, no matter the size, is a blessing to your church home.
 
IS MY PLEDGE TAX DEDUCTIBLE?
Absolutely! St. Thomas provides a receipt at year-end for your tax-deductible contributions for that year, but only if you pay by check, credit card, bank draft, online, stocks or use a pledge envelope for cash so that we can accurately credit your account with each gift.
 
IS MY PLEDGE CONFIDENTIAL?
For purposes of record keeping and accounting, only the parish administrator, treasurer and rector see your gift amount. For the purposes of thank you notes or follow up calls, the vestry may see the list of names of pledging families on occasion, but never the amount.