Stewardship

The base from which we serve as the Voice of Christ in a Changing World is the Parish. A strong parish provides opportunities for sharing the Good News of Christ, for welcoming those that are searching for a spiritual home and a foundation from which we are sent out into the world. Our parish also provides a place of worship, community and education in our faith. To be Stewards of the Gospel, we need to be Stewards of our parish. This requires the vision and inspiration to see our parish, not as it is, but as it could be. We are called to offer ourselves and our treasure to make Holy Trinity parish all that it can be. As Christian Stewards, we are given the chance to put a portion of our God-given gifts to good use in the building up of Christ’s Church.

Stewardship is an opportunity to examine our priorities and values, to express our thankfulness, to give of ourselves and to grow in grace. It allows us to participate in the work of God. We are called to offer ourselves and our treasure to make our local church all that is can be. Please take the time to make your offering today and enable our Church to continue to enhance the spiritual growth of the Orthodox Christians entrusted to our care. Your Parish community hopes that we can continue to count on you for your generous contributions of Time, Talents & Treasure. True Stewardship involves two key principles. First, that our giving level is commensurate to our abilities and income. Secondly, that we give in thanksgiving for these blessings. 

If you would like to contribute to the Stewardship Campaign, you can do so in the following  ways: 

• Print and fill out a stewardship card and mail it to the office with your payment.

Thank you for being part of our community and for offering your time, talent and treasure to God and His Church.

Orthodox Christian Stewardship is a way of life, which acknowledges accountability, reverence, and responsibility before God. A primary goal of Stewardship is to promote spiritual growth and strengthen faith. Becoming a Steward begins when we believe in God, to whom we give our love, loyalty and trust and act on those beliefs. As Stewards, we affirm that every aspect of our lives comes as a gift from Him. Stewardship calls on the faithful to cheerfully offer back to God a portion of the gifts with which they have been blessed.

An Orthodox Christian Steward is an active participant in the life of the Church. The parish encourages all who accept the Orthodox Faith to become practicing Stewards. Each year the Steward is expected to carefully review his or her personal circumstances and make a commitment of time, talent, and treasure to support the Parish and her Ministries, which in turn support the National Ministries of our Archdiocese, Metropolises, and institutions.

Effective stewardship ministry is not a single event or project. Rather, it is going out to our people wherever they are in their walk with Christ, listening to their concerns, helping them to realize their importance as branches of the True Vine and encouraging them to offer their gifts in His service. We use various resources to support our efforts, but unless we meet with our people personally, sincerely listen to their ideas and concerns, and share a vision for the future of the parish, our efforts will not each their full potential.

In Oriented Leadership their book on Orthodox Christian leadership, Williams and McKibben define stewardship as the call of the faithful to share willingly the gifts that God has bestowed on them, including sharing these gifts for God’s work. Stewardship is devotion and service to God and His Church as persons, as families, as a Parish, as a Metropolis, as a National Church, and as the Church Universal. Stewardship is our active commitment to use ALL our time, talent and treasure for the benefit of humankind in grateful acknowledgement of Christ’s redeeming love.

Stewardship is caring for the needs of others.

Stewardship is offering one's self to God as He offered Himself to us.

Stewardship is what a person does after saying "I believe..." as proof of that belief.

- Williams and McKibben in Oriented Leadership

In the words of Fr. William Chiganos of Holy Apostles Church in Westchester, Illinois, “…people don’t give to need; they give to vision…. Church people don’t stretch their giving because of need to meet the budget; they give more because they are able to see a vision of people being reached and God’s purposes being accomplished in the life of the church and its ministry.” Parishes with successful Orthodox Christian Stewardship Programs have found that incredible support is unleashed from Stewards who unselfishly and joyfully offer their time, talent and treasures, which in turn enhances the spirituality and ministry of the local parish.

[from http://www.goarch.org/archdiocese/departments/stewardship]