THE VALUE OF STEWARDSHIP AT ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST PARISH
What is Stewardship? First and foremost, Stewardship is a value and ultimately a way of life based in faith and belief. While the actions we take in sharing our time, talent, and treasure support the value of Stewardship, Stewardship goes much deeper than our actions. The value of Stewardship is to encounter Jesus through those who are served, as well as those in our “midst as one who serves.” In serving and being served, Jesus is encountered in both parts of the action. Our involvement in Stewardship puts us in relationship with the God “who knit us in our mother’s womb.”
At the core of Stewardship is the faith and belief that God has placed in our midst the skills, talents, gifts and resources that, when discovered and shared, will enable us to grow and flourish as a Christian Faith Community in the Roman Catholic Tradition. Also at the core of Stewardship is the reality that “those who have received much will be asked to give much.” Through our baptism we are called by God to reach out from our community to others who are in need.
Stewardship is grounded in community, for community is a wonderful place where we can encounter and deepen our relationship with God. Every activity within our community is connected to the value of Stewardship as we experience mutual support and shared responsibility. Caring for the grounds, being a liturgical minister, teaching, cleaning areas of the building, participating in our worship as part of the gathered community, or serving on a parish committee or commission are but a few of the activities through which members of this community are in relationship with each other and with God through the value of Stewardship. For some, the primary avenue for sharing time and talent will be through ministries within the life of our parish.
We are also called to serve outside the walls of our parish. In exploring how members of our community might answer God’s call to reach out to others, we can recognize both individual and group efforts. Individual efforts include being active in school and community groups, volunteering with social service agencies, supporting food banks, etc. Group efforts include the good work of our parish Life, Justice and Peace Commission and all the ministries that help us meet our parish mission of serving others as Disciples of Christ. For some, the primary avenue for sharing time and talent will be through outreach and advocacy.
However we choose to share our time, talent, and treasure, Stewardship offers the promise and assurance that the gifts we offer will be used most effectively to build-up the Kingdom of God here on earth. Most of all, engaging the value named Stewardship brings “life” to each of our lives, for the ultimate reality of being in relationship with God is “life”. As the Stewardship Commission of St. John the Baptist Parish, it is our profound hope that in determining how you will live out the value named Stewardship you will look within for what gives you life, and then go and do it. Our parish, community and world need people like you, people who are alive!