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God’s Story··· † ···

Our StoryConnecting the Dots

Tom GossenExecutive Director, TENS

tom@tens.org

I’m New to Stewardship

Part 3Essential Annual

Commitment Program

Strategies

Part 4Building

Relationships:A Key Ingredient in Stewardship Growth

Part 1God’s Story

··· † ···Our Story

Connecting the Dots

Part 2Leadership’s Role:

Creating a Climate ThatInspires Generosity

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Opening Prayer

“Blessed are you, God of the universe, for the abundance you have showered on each of us. It is enough, and more than enough. Make our hearts glad, open our hands, and let us see through eyes of blessing.”

The Most Rev. Katherine Jefferts Schori

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Introductions

Name City & State of residence Parish characteristics (avg. Sunday

attendance, annual budget, a significant outreach program)

One thing about your parish congregation that you are excited about

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God’s Story··· † ···

Our StoryConnecting the Dots

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“Learning to acknowledge God’s claim on us is the beginning of wisdom.”

William H. Willimon

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What do you currently believe about Christian Stewardship?

What do you do in response to what you believe about Christian Stewardship?

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Understanding Christian Stewardship

OIKONOMIA -- the management of the household (God’s household)

OIKOS -- the entire household (God’s entire household)

OIKONOMOS -- the manager of the household -- the steward

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To be a Christian Steward is to strive to be a faithful disciple of Jesus, a zealous proclaimer of his message and a responsible caretaker of all the gifts and blessings given daily by the loving God, our creator and sustainer.   Jesus Christ calls us to love, follow, know and proclaim him in the world without regard for the difficulties and resistance we experience.  The faithful Christian Steward responds generously to the call out of gratitude and joy.

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An Awareness of GodIn, with, and under all faithful stewardship lies

a common psalmic refrain with variations:  Give thanks to the Lord for he is good  Give thanks to the Lord for his mercy, his

steadfast love, his hesed endures forever. Give thanks to the Lord, creator of heaven

and earth, the sea and all creatures. Give thanks to the Lord, for I am most

wonderfully made.

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PSALM 111: 1-10From The Message

Read from full page handout

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The Life of a Steward

Vocation

Creation

Time

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Vocation The LORD God took the man and put him

in the garden of Eden to till it and keep it. Genesis 2:15

it is God’s gift that all should eat and drink and take pleasure in all their toil. Ecclesiastes 3:13 

The human is to “serve and guard, watch, and keep” the garden.

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Psalm 121

The LORD is your keeper...The LORD will keep you from all evil;he will keep your life.

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“till and keep”

Genesis 2:15 teaches us that we properly steward our vocation through serving and keeping the object of our toil.

In Genesis the garden is a microcosm of God’s world.

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“… when we serve and keep the garden we are serving and keeping God’s world. These two verbs combined are the same verbs used in reference to God’s temple. So in serving and keeping the garden, we are serving and keeping God’s world as if it were God’s temple. Thus in this invitation to a steward-ship of vocation, we are invited both to a certain attitude towards our work - all our work is properly serving and watching over God’s world. And we are also invited to adopt a certain attitude toward the world. All the world is God’s garden which is God’s temple.”Diane Jacobson, professor of Old Testament, Luther Seminary

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Stewardship of CreationGod spoke: “Let us make human beings in our image, make them reflecting our nature so they can be responsible for the fish in the sea, the birds in the air, the cattle, and, yes, Earth itself, and every animal that moves on the face of the Earth.” God created human beings; he created them godlike, reflecting God’s nature. He created them male and female. God blessed them: “Prosper! Reproduce! Fill Earth! Take charge! Be responsible for fish in the sea and birds in the air, for every living thing that moves on the face of Earth.” Genesis 1:26-28, The Message

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Stewardship of Creation

We have dominion only as God’s representatives, and we are to rule only as God rules -- that is, with justice and mercy.

If we are stewards in God’s image, then our dominion becomes service.

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Stewardship of Time

How many days are there in the creation story?

– Six?

– Seven?

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Stewardship of TimeFirst Day Middle Day

(Fourth)Last Day

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Stewardship of TimeFirst Day Middle Day

(Fourth)Last Day

Day & Night

LIGHT

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Stewardship of TimeFirst Day Middle Day

(Fourth)Last Day

Day & Night

LIGHT

Sun, Moon &Stars

TIME

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Stewardship of TimeFirst Day Middle Day

(Fourth)Last Day

Day & Night

LIGHT

Sun, Moon &Stars

TIME

Sabbath

SACRED TIME

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Life of the Beloved

Imago Dei

The Image of God

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“I have called you by name, from the very beginning. You are mine and I am yours. You are my Beloved, on you my favor rests. I have molded you in the depths of the earth and knitted you together in your mother’s womb. I have carved you in the palms of my hands and hidden you in the shadow of my embrace. I look at you with infinite tenderness and care for your with a care more intimate than that of a mother for her child. I have counted every hair on your head and guided you at every step. Wherever you go, I go with you, and wherever you rest, I keep watch. I will give you food that will satisfy all your hunger and drink that will quench all your thirst. I will not hide my face from you. You know me as your own. You belong to me. I am your father, your mother, your brother, your sister, your lover and your spouse ... yes, even your child ... wherever you are I will be. Nothing will ever separate us. We are one.”Henry J.M. Nouwen, Life of the Beloved(Crossroad: New York, 1992) p.30

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What gets in the way of accepting our “Belovedness?”

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Examining Scripture – Inductive Bible Study

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1 Timothy 6:11-19

A. What does this passage reveal that God is asking us to do, or inviting us to do, or demanding of us?

B. What does this passage reveal that God is promising us?

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1 Timothy 6:11-19

C. What barriers prevent us from responding to God’s call?

D. What would our lives be like if we could overcome the barriers and realize God’s promises here and now?

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Remember!

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Bullet List

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The same applies for the Bars, Pies etc

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Diagram

ManagerJohn Smith

SalesJo Smith

MarketingJeremia Smith

DistributionJustin Smith

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Pie Chart

12%

20%

46%

22%

Other Original Improved New Product

Source: Market Research

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Line Graph

0102030405060708090

100

1998 1999 2000 2001

FreezingColdNormalHot

Source: Market Research

Units

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Bar Graph

0102030405060708090

100

1998 1999 2000 2001

FreezingColdNormalHot

Source: Market Research

Units