Annual Stewardship Renewal

ANNUAL STEWARDSHIP RENEWAL
There is still time to hand in your Stewardship Renewal forms. We had a good initial count, but would like as many of you as possible to hand in your estimate of what you will be giving beginning on 1/1/2023. Thank you to those who have handed theirs in, and thank all of you for your generosity with time, talents, and treasure

Whether it is during Mass or adoration with Jesus present on the altar or at home in prayer, take time to ask God how he is calling you to give of your time, talent, and treasure in the coming year.

If you are interested in learning more about the Catholic Approach to Stewardship, there are some booklets on the table in the Gathering Space. Here is a link to a great article on the subject: https://edwardsri.com/2018/06/14/the-power-of-tithing-and-almsgiving/

Parishioners are asked to share their reasons for giving to the church with all of us. If you would like to share your reasons for giving, please email them to:

Email Chris Kuhlemeyer
Thank you for sharing your gifts. —Chris Kuhlemeyer

Why Give to The Church?

“How can I not? Jesus gave His life for me…What can I possibly do for Him to thank Him?
One time I heard someone in an RCIA class talking about how every time they gave to the Church, they would receive back at least tenfold. That has proven to be so true…when the giving comes from a truly generous place and not an obligation. There have been times when I almost begrudgingly gave because that’s what we were taught to do, and for those times I am most sorry. It’s taken a long time to realize it’s because of surrendering all I have and all I am to Him…because it’s all His anyway! He continues to shower me with His generosity, and I can only be grateful and desire to share.”

Michele Starke

Why Give to The Church?

“So that my children see how rewarding it is to give. Even though our family gives electronically for convenience, I also try to joyfully put a few dollars into the basket every week so they see the physical sign of participating in this sacrifice.”

Chris Kuhlemeyer

Why Give to The Church?

I was asked to respond to the question,” Why do I (we) give to the church?” It’s as simple as following Christian Stewardship. So what is Christian stewardship? We need to realize that ALL comes from God. That God is the source of all we have. We are the caretakers (stewards) of all God’s gifts. That the sharing of time, talent and treasure with others of the parish, family, workplace, community and world is following God’s blueprint for us. We owe God gratitude for the gifts He has given us. We cultivate those gifts responsibly and share them lovingly with others and return them with an increase to the Lord. It is not sufficient to give leftovers to God. Make sure God is at the top of the list. Finally, Christian Stewardship is a way of life that is a never-ending process in anyone’s lifetime. It is a long journey on the road to becoming Disciples of Christ.

Russ Schuster

Why Give to The Church?

Tithing, like most things in life, has been a journey of learning for our family. Initially we only tithed because our parents told us to & we occasionally heard in church that we’re supposed to tithe. This past year though, we read in Malachi 3:10 “Bring all the tithes into the storehouse so there will be enough food in my temple (other translations say “my house”). If you do, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won’t have enough room to take it in! Try it! Put me to the test!” All the sudden tithing took on a new meaning. We were able to look back in our life & see where God had been present, fulfilling our needs in ways that could only be explained as his blessings. For example, when baby #5 surprisingly came along, he provided us with people letting us borrow baby gear, with barely worn clothes being handed down to us, & with diapers galore. Whenever we have had a need, he has been there opening the windows of heaven, pouring out provisions for us so that we are taken care of, not by our own work but by his love & blessings. We 100% attribute this to the Malachi 3:10 blessings of our willingness to tithe to the church. If this seems like a foreign concept for you, I encourage you to do what God says in Malachi 3:10 – “Try it! Put me to the test!” Give tithing a try this year & see how God’s blessings flow into your life!
There is another reason our family gives / tithes to the church & that is for the impact it has on our community. Our church is unique in the fact that our donations not only pay for the church expenses but also for the school expense (like teacher salaries/benefits, operating expenses, textbooks & furnishings). Tuition alone does not cover the cost of running our school, so the church steps in to pay for the remaining expenses. Without our donations to the church, the school would not be able to operate. I was reminded recently of the amazing Christlike values our kids receive when attending St. Gregory’s School & the safe, loving & Godly environment they are in while at school. This is something that is invaluable to me as we raise our kids. I am so grateful that in our little town, our church is able to provide a top-notch school, available for anyone to attend. We tithe to the church in the hopes that over time our school will have the funds to increase teachers pay, increase facility services (like adding new classrooms), & increase its reach to serve even more kids in our community. This will not only bless our community but also our own family as God has taken our tithes & returned it to us in the form of kids who are respectful, kind, helpful & Christlike. I can’t think of any better way to show glory to God than by tithing to our church.

Jill Gockel