Stewardship

Stewardship, Wills and Memorials
Committee News

("Stewardship: Your response to God's generosity!"

NOTE FROM THE CHAIR OF THE STEWARDSHIP, WILLS and MENORIALS COMMITTEE - September 2010 Parish Paper

The past few months have presented us, the congregation of the First Presbyterian Church in Potsdam, with both many challenges and opportunities. With Pastor Rich’s retirement and the report from the Sustainability Committee, we clearly have much praying, thinking, discussing, and working to do. As the new chair of the Stewardship, Wills and Memorials committee, I see many of the challenges falling under the “Stewardship” banner. However, what does Stewardship mean? In growing into my new position, I have learnt that stewardship goes far beyond the fundraising campaign we see in the fall. The Presbyterian Church – USA website ( http://gamc.pcusa.org/ministries/stewardship/ ) puts stewardship this way:

“Stewardship is about making choices, as individuals and in community. It is more than giving money to the church. Stewardship is about being faithful disciples, caring for and managing all that God has given us. Stewardship is not just one part of Christian discipleship; it involves every aspect of life in all the stages of life. Stewardship is the grateful response to God’s grace and goodness. It requires a consideration of how our choices affect us and others, of how we can be good caretakers of the created world and of how we can best serve God as disciples of Christ.” I suspect that I am not the only one to have mistaken “stewardship” for “fundraising.”

However, if we look at stewardship as being a “grateful response to God’s grace and goodness”, then there are many ways we can be stewards for the church – primarily using our time, talents and money. As we move into the fall season, we will be beginning the “Stewardship Campaign” and I urge us all to think beyond the money, and about what we “do” for the church as a response to God’s goodness.

Yours in Christ, Devon Shipp

Don't let the plate pass you by!

The Session acted on a proposal by the Stewardship Committee that would help model good financial stewardship. Many people pay on their pledges monthly, quarterly, or semi-annually and therefore let the offering plate pass them by. Suggestion:  place a dollar or two in the plate (beyond your pledge).

2009 Fundraising Campaign 

If you were not contacted directly or were overlooked and wish to make a pledge for 2010, pelase contact me personally and I will provide you with materials. There’s still time to make your pledge!! 

Now that the campaign is nearing completion, I would like to extend my thanks to everyone who gave their pledges. The results* of the Stewardship Campaign are as follows:

.	2010	2009	2008
Operating Budget	$120,368*	$135,365	$130,188
2nd Century Fund	$ 14,062*	$  17,084	$  14,072
.	$134,430	$152,449	$144,260

*as of December 2009

I appreciate the willingness of the following who coordinated the distribution of the pledge packets: Roberta Stillin-Dowman, David Powers, Joe and Connie Zelinski, Fran Stowe, Alice Cullen, Lynn and Shirley Warden, Jim and Pam Whittet, Chip and Rosalie Hunter, Neil and Marilyn Johnson, Sue Waters, Ruth Kreuzer, Elisabeth Eno, Don Borsh, Cynthia Coleman, Dawn Bartow and Carolyn Zanta. The help of these people made the campaign a success.

Respectfully yours,
Bob Fraser – Chair of the Stewardship Campaign, 2009 

Attendance in Church

The Stewardship Committee thanks everyone for their participation in Potsdam First’s Stewardship Program.  One of the ways we can fulfill A Covenant for Personal Life is by making sure we don’t miss coming to church every Sunday.  Worship not only reminds us of God’s enduring presence and love, it also helps us commune with people we love and want to be with.  As stated on your Covenants paper, “Because God has given me life and called me to be a steward of life, I make a covenant to grow and change in my personal life by attending Sunday worship regularly. 

Keeping Stewardship in Our Hearts

A reminder: our Church is different from other social organizations. We are the ONLY organization committed to the Gospel and to God. While other community organizations do wondrous things and perform needed services, our commitment to our Church should represent the first fruits of our God-given gifts. 
 

Include the Church in your will

Have you thought about designating contributions to the Church in your will? Many times we forget to include our Church, an organization that has played a vital part in our lives for many years.

2009 Stewardship Campaign Report

The results of the 2010 Stewardship Campaign are noted below [final figures are noted in the collective Annual Report 2009 and may be read at the office]:

The following coordinated the distribution of the 17 pledge packets that were delivered within the area: Roberta Stillin-Dowman, David Powers, Joe and Connie Zelinski, Fran Stowe, Alice Cullen, Lynn and Shirley Warden, Sue Waters, Jim and Pam Whittet, Ruth Kreuzer, Chip and Rosalie Hunter, Helen Brouwer, Elisabeth Eno, Neil and Marilyn Johnson, Don Borsh, Cynthia Coleman, Dawn Bartow, and Carolyn Zanta. Their service and assistance is greatly appreciated.

Robert Fraser, Chair
Stewardship Campaign