STEWARDSHIP
The careful and responsible management of something entrusted to one's care.
Video prepared by the Stewardship Committee. Shared with the congregation on Sunday, October 23, 2016.
MAHALO FOR YOUR DONATION!
Checks may be made payable to:
All Saints’ Episcopal Church
PO BOX 248, Kapaa, Hawaii 96746.
*All donations are tax deductible.
All Saints’ Episcopal Church
PO BOX 248, Kapaa, Hawaii 96746.
*All donations are tax deductible.
Aloha All Saints’ ‘Ohana,
This is the time of year in which the Church generally speaks of Stewardship. But this isn’t just a once a year activity. Stewardship is a lifetime commitment to take care of God’s creation.
In Genesis the Bible tells us how God created everything; that it was good, and that he gave it to us. Everything he created he entrusted to our care. We as God’s people are called to use our Time, Talent and Treasure to manage the gifts that God has given to us.
As we enter into a new church year, this is the time we look at how best to use our Time, Talent and Treasure. Just like you, the members of the vestry, as individuals and families, are praying and deciding how to use their resources as God’s Stewards.
We would like to share with you some of our own thoughts on Stewardship and pray that it may inspire you to gratefully give of your Time, Talent and Treasure to God.
May God bless you and keep you.
All Saints Church and Preschool Vestry
This is the time of year in which the Church generally speaks of Stewardship. But this isn’t just a once a year activity. Stewardship is a lifetime commitment to take care of God’s creation.
In Genesis the Bible tells us how God created everything; that it was good, and that he gave it to us. Everything he created he entrusted to our care. We as God’s people are called to use our Time, Talent and Treasure to manage the gifts that God has given to us.
As we enter into a new church year, this is the time we look at how best to use our Time, Talent and Treasure. Just like you, the members of the vestry, as individuals and families, are praying and deciding how to use their resources as God’s Stewards.
We would like to share with you some of our own thoughts on Stewardship and pray that it may inspire you to gratefully give of your Time, Talent and Treasure to God.
May God bless you and keep you.
All Saints Church and Preschool Vestry
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When Bill’s family moved from Baltimore to Washington, DC in the 1960’s, his parents wasted no time finding just the right church to attend—the local Presbyterian Church. Soon Bill joined other 13-year old’s in a confirmation class. It wasn’t long after being confirmed that Bill received in the mail his first box of donation envelopes. No one prepared him for this--he was just a kid! This began what was to become a lifelong journey of stewardship--of understanding responsibility, learning what is expected, and embracing the fact that our actions should be designed to benefit those around us and those yet to come. This is especially true when we look at the property where we currently reside. We do not consider ourselves the owners, but the current stewards. After years of effort, this land became bountiful and thriving. Truly, we are blessed to be here and it is a blessing to share this bounty with friends and strangers. It is important to know that we will be able to pass it on to other stewards when we are gone. As for that Presbyterian Church in Washington DC, Bill attends service every time he visits his family. The names of people and families he knew 50 years ago stand out on plaques, memorials, and stained-glass works of art. Those people were stewards of that church and it is thriving.
David Murray, Sr. Warden & William H Brown |
To be whole we have to take care of our bodies, mind, body and spirit. Our bodies are unique, each part influences the others and all parts must be working together to be totally healthy. The church is the Body of Christ. If one person fails to use their unique gifts it affects the entire Body. If we all work together using our individual time, talent and treasure, the Church is healthy and whole, as Jesus intended. We’ll fit together perfectly as Jesus’ healthy Body on earth, his healthy church, growing in love.
Mary Margaret Smith, Jr. Warden
Mary Margaret Smith, Jr. Warden
I give because God has given me so much more. Giving is an expression of joy and gratitude for God’s blessings.
“Let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver”
(2 Corinthians 9:7)
Jan Hashizume Church Treasurer
“Let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver”
(2 Corinthians 9:7)
Jan Hashizume Church Treasurer
There are many faces of stewardship. One way I've been committed in giving back to God is through tithing and offering special monetary gifts whenever possible. Other ways is that I've been a church volunteer in some capacity the last 35 years on the mainland and Kauai. Stewardship enriches one's life and continually offers me the ability to make positive differences in countless ways.
Byron Barth, Vestry Clerk
Byron Barth, Vestry Clerk
As I reflect on all of my blessings, I am reminded that we are called to share our blessings with our brothers and sisters. All that we are given comes to us from the bounty that God has entrusted into our care. As stewards of that bounty, we must actively seek to preserve and increase it so that we may share His bounty with the rest of His children!
Joe Adorno
Joe Adorno
"The earth and everything in it, the world and its inhabitants, belong to the LORD.” (Psalm 24:1)
When we realize that everything we have comes from God, it is easy to reconcile ourselves with the idea of giving. If everything is of God and God’s, we are only stewards and what we give to our church and ‘Ohana, never really belonged to us; it was always God's. The Holy trinity of giving is TIME, TALENT, TREASURE. Surely, each of us has one of these or a combination of these in abundance from which to give. If you have been sitting on the sidelines, perhaps now is the time to say, what TIME, what TALENT, what TREASURE, is God calling me to give. What can be guaranteed is that he is calling. Are you listening?
Shane Morris Wise
When we realize that everything we have comes from God, it is easy to reconcile ourselves with the idea of giving. If everything is of God and God’s, we are only stewards and what we give to our church and ‘Ohana, never really belonged to us; it was always God's. The Holy trinity of giving is TIME, TALENT, TREASURE. Surely, each of us has one of these or a combination of these in abundance from which to give. If you have been sitting on the sidelines, perhaps now is the time to say, what TIME, what TALENT, what TREASURE, is God calling me to give. What can be guaranteed is that he is calling. Are you listening?
Shane Morris Wise
I realized a long time ago that no matter how much money we make, nor how many things we buy…we are not owners, but renters. The earth that we live on is rented to us by God. The air that we breathe, the water we drink and the food that we eat are all provided by Him. Even our very lives are really just on loan, and can be recalled at any time. God owns everything, and we just borrow and use his stuff. But God has entrusted us to take care of his stuff and to live our lives to honor and thank Him. So part of our responsibility then, is to support our place of worship- to give to the church your time, hard work, talents and money. How thankful are you for what God has given you?
"The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” (2 Corinthians 9:6-7)
Ron Morinishi
"The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” (2 Corinthians 9:6-7)
Ron Morinishi
My Stewardship is a loving God I trust in my everyday life. Vikki and I tithe, pray daily, have a bible study once per week for over 20 years and wholly trust our Lord for everything. And HE has Blessed us Abundantly!
"Each one should give, then, as he has decided, not with regret or out of a sense of duty, for God loves a cheerful giver" ( 2 Corth 9:7)
"Give and it will be given to you" (Luke 6:38)
Here's my daily prayer -
"Oh, that You would bless me indeed,
please expand my opportunities and
my impact in such a way that I touch more lives for
your glory. Let me do more for You
and enlarge my business,
that Your hand would keep me from evil,
that I may not cause pain!"
Nelson Secretario
"Each one should give, then, as he has decided, not with regret or out of a sense of duty, for God loves a cheerful giver" ( 2 Corth 9:7)
"Give and it will be given to you" (Luke 6:38)
Here's my daily prayer -
"Oh, that You would bless me indeed,
please expand my opportunities and
my impact in such a way that I touch more lives for
your glory. Let me do more for You
and enlarge my business,
that Your hand would keep me from evil,
that I may not cause pain!"
Nelson Secretario
