Stewardship
Stewardship and Resources
The American Heritage College Dictionary, Third Edition, defines the word "resource" as something "that can be used for support or help". The customary connotation about "resources" is that this is the area of responsibility that entails raising money for the operations of a church. When one considers the dictionary's definition of resources, the connotation just described is an important but small part of this area of ministry. Please consider, for a moment, the word in its broader context.
Our parish, our worship services, the many activities that transpire in our parish, the various ministries that our church conducts for those of us who are parishioners and for our community at large are all resources that we enjoy. These resources nurture us and help us on our journey of faith.
We cannot "know God and make Him known," as a parish or as individual parishioners, unless we have the resources of our church community at our disposal. Our fellow parishioners give us support. Our clergy lead us in our spiritual journey. Our many parish programs impact our personal and/or spiritual development. Please think of resources in this context. All who worship at St. Michaels are beneficiaries of many resources that our parish community affords to each of us on a collective and an individual basis.
On the other side of the coin is the fact that each of us has resources which we can use for the betterment of our parish community - our time, our talents, our treasure. It is our responsibility, as parishioners, to provide all three resources - to the best of our ability - for the sustenance and growth of our parish. As we consider the areas of responsibility in our church, keep in mind that each of us has a duty to use our time, talent, and treasure for our parish as we, in turn, use the parish's resources for our spiritual journeys.
For more information about sharing resources for the good of the parish, contact Jim Vaden.