STEWARDSHIP ARCHIVE - 2016

2017 - January

First, thank you sincerely to everyone who submitted a pledge to St. Margaret’s for 2017. Your pledge dollars will be put to good use in supporting the operations of the church. As our current stewardship campaign draws to a close, we wanted to give you a final update:

At last count we received 35 pledge cards for 2017, which is a decrease of 9 pledges from 2016. This was not unexpected as we had several church members transition to other areas of the country, etc. The expected income from pledges for 2017 is approximately $105,000. This is slightly behind the $108,000 budgeted. We did see a few pledges decreased for 2017, but on a positive note we had 4 families pledge that had not pledged before, and 10 families increased their pledges.

Your continued support of St. Margaret’s is truly appreciated.

“They rise in the darkness as a light for the upright; they are gracious, merciful, and righteous. It is well with those who deal generously and lend, who conduct their affairs with justice. For the righteous will never be moved; they will be remembered forever.” Psalm 112:4-6

~ Kim Irvine on behalf of the Stewardship Committee

2015 - "GOD THE GIVER"

Octoer: We are honored to serve on this year’s Stewardship team at St. Margaret’s. On Sunday, Oct. 11, we will kick off our annual giving campaign, “God the Giver.” Over the following four weeks, we will explore together how acknowledging God’s generosity to us can unleash greater generosity in ourselves. Archbishop Desmond Tutu, in his book "In God’s Hands," says, “This is a God who intervenes on our behalf, not because we deserve it, but because God’s love is freely given. It is grace. It is not earned; it cannot be earned. It does not need to be earned.” God is the Giver, the ultimate lover of all God has created. Your generosity, in response to all God has given you, generates mission and changes lives.

Here is our road map for the next six weeks of our “God the Giver” campaign:

• Beginning on Sunday, Oct. 4, and continuing through Sunday, Nov. 8, you will find reflections written by Episcopal stewardship leaders across the country, covering stewardship and faithful giving in connection with the Gospel reading of the day in your worship bulletin. We invite you to use these reflections for prayer, study, and discussion during the Stewardship season.

• In both The Message and on the Rector’s blog, we will hear stories of personal transformation through the practice of intentional giving from your fellow parishioners.

• On Sunday, Oct. 11, you will receive your pledge packet, as well as surprise gift. During the next four weeks, pray over what your pledge will be. Bring your pledge card to worship on Sunday, Nov. 1.

• On Nov. 1, we will celebrate In-Gathering Sunday, the culmination of our exploration, when pledges will be completed and offered as an act of worship and in response to all that God has provided.

• Mother Jennifer, the Vestry, and Stewardship Committee have set a goal of receiving 100% of pledge commitments from our worshipping community. We will be in intentional prayer that each of us will remain open to letting the Holy Spirit lead and guide us in a faithful response to God’s generosity.

We will pray that your giving will come from a deep abiding sense of gratitude for the gift of this community and the gift we have in Jesus, the one who does not leave our side. As Stewardship Committee Members, our lives are enriched when we give not from a perspective of “what is my fair share,” or even, “what can I afford”; rather, our faith comes alive when we give from a grace-filled and grateful heart. Giving generously gives us strength and hope for the journey ahead.

Thank you for joining us as we consider God’s gifts to each of us. May our exploration open us to a deeper gratitude.

Yours in Christ,

~ Barbara Archer, Tom D’Angelo, Mike Hadden, Kim Irvine, Soledad Jacques, Cathy Marshall, Loretta Sawicki, The Rev. Jennifer Andrews-Weckerly

2014 STEWARDSHIP ARCHIVE: "WALKING THE WAY"

DEC. 1 - by Deacon Anthony Jones

It seems fairly common these days to see a small box or jar for donations near the cash register when paying at stores and fast food restaurants. There is often a sign on or near that encourages the customer to drop in their change as a donation to a charity, organization, or cause. It’s a good idea. When many people join together to give a little, the results can be big. 

There are expressions of our faith that are both individual and collective. Our life of faith can never be strictly personal or individual. There is an aspect of Christianity that is founded on the reality of relationships and common life together. We gather each week to worship, sing, and pray together. We enjoy time of food and fellowship together. We are bound together in Jesus Christ and family is formed. Even when our workweek takes us our separate ways, we are bound together in our common faith. 

We also share together in the giving of our time, talent and treasure as another expression of our faith. We give to our common life to share with each other and the world a part of the time, money and gifts with which we have been blessed. What has God called you to give in this place? I urge you to think and pray about how you should give of your own time, talent and treasure this year. 

The box or jar at the cash register is a great idea. But, it’s for the extra and for what’s left over. It is there that we can drop in our extra change: unplanned, unfelt and often unnoticed. Too often, that is what we give to God – a few tired minutes at the end of the day or a little from what’s left at the end of the week. 

This focus on stewardship is a time to think, pray and plan for how we will give of our blessings in the coming year. Plan now for how you will be a part of this community of faith. What might God do if we give a portion of our time, talent, and treasure first and then take for our own use what is left? 

Will you commit to greet newcomers? Will you help with coffee hour? Is it time for you to grow deeper in scripture through Bible study? Should you make a pledge to financially support the ministry and mission of the Church? Have you felt an urge to explore Altar Guild or be a part of the team of Lay Eucharistic Visitors and Ministers? 

Our God is a God of abundance. We can never expend or outgive our love. Above all, we are called to love God and to love one another – and that is where the heart of giving really lies. 

DEC. 1 - by Dan McGee
We had a wonderful In-Gathering in November, complete with a festive gathering of pledges to the tune of “When the Saint Go Marching In.” Pledges are still coming in, so we expect to report numbers both at our Annual Meeting and in the January Message. Many thanks to those of you who have already turned in your pledge. So far, the numbers are promising. If you have not yet turned in your pledge, we hope you will do so before the end of December. Thank you on behalf of the Stewardship Committee, Vestry and Finance Committee for Walking the Way with us! 

3) When I was approached to write about Stewardship this year, I was actually a little reluctant to do so - since I always seem to be asking our congregation for some type of financial support as a member of the Outreach Committee. My forte is not pulling beautiful passages of scripture from the Bible to augment whatever thoughts I have about giving. I am quite envious of those that can do so. How was I supposed to inspire others to give? I’ve been told that my articles this year about Outreach have been filled with great passion, but could I write with that same passion about Stewardship? As I took some time to reflect on what stewardship means to me personally and on this year’s theme of "Walking the Way," it all started to come together. In my mind, asking my fellow parishioners to pledge support for St. Margaret’s was something we do both for ourselves and for our church - whereas asking for donations for outreach projects was something we did for others. Both are strong tenets of our Christian belief – to support our church and to help others. I thought about how the two were connected but also different. In the end, we need to do both in order to live out a life dedicated to following in Christ’s footsteps. 

I remember growing up in the Catholic Church and at some point every Sunday, the priest or deacon was always asking for money – usually in a second collection after the first one was done at the Offertory. There was no explanation of why we needed to give – other than to support the church building and its staff. This is all I knew. However when I came to know the Episcopal Church 26 years ago, pledging support was about something more than just giving money. Of course we do need to financially support our church building, its campus and our Rector. But it’s also giving of our time and talent. I’ve always tried to live into the “time, talent and treasure” mantra as I’ve enjoyed my years at this beautiful church of ours. I made it my goal years ago to give as generously as possible – to thank God for all He has given me – which is a truly blessed life. I’ve made it a personal goal to increase my pledge every year – in some years more than others – but I feel that even a small increase in my monthly giving is a sign to God that I want to walk the way and show Him that I am serious about committing to this place which has given so much to me. I have also contributed much of my time and talent to St. Margaret’s – to the church choir, the Vestry and, for the past few years, Outreach. By diving in and getting so deeply involved in several areas of service to St. Margaret’s, I feel a deep spiritual fullness in my soul that I can’t really describe. I love spending time with people and I love helping people in need. I firmly believe we are richly rewarded when we give so generously of ourselves – of our time, our talent and yes, our treasure. 

Years ago, in high school, I sang in a wonderful school production of “Godspell.” Lyrics from one of the songs I sang still sit with me today: “All good gifts around us are sent from heaven above! Oh thank the Lord, oh thank the Lord for all His love! I really want to thank you, Lord!” 

As one of the Wardens of this church, I ask you to help me in thanking the Lord and to give generously whatever you can. We have been truly blessed with a beautiful church building, a fantastic Rector who inspires us every week and a wonderful church family. We need to support this holy place. And in doing so, we show our love and thanks to God the Father and to his Holy Son, Jesus Christ! 

In gratitude and love, 

NOV. 1 - by Debbie McGee
If you were absent from church services on Sunday, Oct. 12, you missed the kick-off of this year's Stewardship campaign, “Walking the Way.” By now, you should have received a packet of materials in the mail to review and a blue colored pledge card I am hoping you will submit. In the upcoming weeks, you will continue to hear about our parish's annual giving campaign in Mother Jennifer's sermons, through Adult Education, on St. Margaret's blog and in this Message. As a member of the Stewardship committee, I hope you will take this opportunity to reflect on your own journey of giving and your “Walk with Christ”. How can I inspire you to embrace the Way of Jesus through the spiritual practice of giving? A story is sometimes the best and most interesting way to convey a message, so here's one for you: “Most of us find pledging dollars to God through the church hard to do. We want to take the easy path, hold back and let others pull our weight.

“That is my inner-Gollum talking. Do you recall J.R.R. Tolkien‟s gnarled character in "The Lord of the Rings"? He had a split personality; "Smeagol‟ still vaguely remembered things like friendship and love, while "Gollum‟ was a slave to the Ring who knew only treachery, scarcity and violence.

“Over the summer, I took a friend out to see my vegetable garden. She ooo‟d and ahhh‟d over a summer squash and though my impulse was to pick it for her to take home, something inside me sputtered, crackled, chilled, hissed and withdrew. "I had a poor crop,‟ a voice in my head said. "It is my preeecious,‟ Gollum might have said. That squash was the only one I could see. So I smiled, rather too sweetly, and we moved on.

“The next day I was playing with my dog, Rusty, and his ball went into the garden. Searching for it among the squash plants, I lifted leaves and found six huge gourds, more than I could possibly eat. It turns out that I could have shared with my friend. I chose not to do so ...”

(Charles LaFond, Fearless Church Fundraising, 2012, Morehouse Publishing, pp. 4-5.)

With my busy life, I sometimes “miss” these extra “gourds” that God places right in front of me! Like everyone else, I sometimes worry too much about paying the bills or the car repair or how to pay for this semester's tuition. The list goes on and on. Over the years, however, I have come to rely on my relationship with Jesus. I'm not worried about pledging anymore because pledging is about trusting we will have enough and giving some away. I WANT to support St. Margaret's Church, its family, and all the important things it does; educating our future generation, doing good works for our neighbors and beyond, as well as providing me with the stimulating sermons I need to hear each week and the music that makes me feel so connected with God. Is it easy to make that commitment to pledge each year? YES! Is it always easy to increase it each year as well? Not always, but Walking the Way with Jesus has proved time and time again that the act of giving allows us to experience the joy, satisfaction and pleasures that come from doing so! Trust, give and join me in Walking the Way!

OCT. 1 - by Janice Palladino

By now, we all know the biblical command that God gives us to tithe. I am sure most of us (especially me) grapple with this concept of tithing and try to rationalize it to fit our needs. But, when I heard it put this way recently from a televangelist, Pastor Robert Morris, it almost blew my socks off. Hearing it put this way makes it clear(er). 

“Bring all the tithes (the whole tenth of your income) into the storehouse…” (Malachi 3:10) 

“And they shall bring one-tenth of the tithes to the house of our God, to the chambers, into the storehouse...” (Deuteronomy 12 5-11) 

Tithing is not an option. 

God gives us everything we have and then, in return, only asks for one-tenth back to Him in love and obedience to Him and in trust that He will in turn take care of us and bless us. Sounds simple on paper – right? 

But, in truth, even if we get the concept and the command of tithing, there still seems to be the question of where to give? And why? An even bigger grapple! Can we tithe our monies to the church and to other charities, giving only, say, one percent to the church and five percent to the March of Dimes and four percent to the Salvation Army? The simple answer is no. We are commanded to give to the “storehouse” all of our ten percent tithe. In the Old Testament, the storehouse was the temple in Jerusalem. Today the church is the house of God (1 Timothy 3:15). We are then obligated to help the poor through additional giving to mission organizations over and above our tithe to the Church. 

“But you shall seek the place which the Lord your God shall choose out of all your tribes to put His Name and make His dwelling place, and there shall you come; and there you shall bring your burnt offerings and your sacrifices, your tithes and the offering of your hands….” (Nehemiah 10 37-38)

The church was commanded by Jesus to preach the gospel. (Matthew 28:18-20). This is not an easy task and not a cheap task in today’s world, and the expenses are to be borne by the people. The preachers of the gospel are to be supported by the churches. First Corinthians 9:14 states: “In the same way, the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel.” Supporting preachers and missionaries is then an obligation. The church is also an obligation. It is the house of God and the pillar of our foundation of faith. (1 Tim. 3:15). Thus, every believer has an obligation to support the work of the church financially so it can fulfill its God-given function in a needy world. 

In Haggai 1:5-9, God warned the people, after their return from the Babylonian captivity, that because they had neglected the building of His house they did not have His blessing. They worked and tried to get ahead, “You have sown much, but you have reaped little; you eat, but you do not have enough; you drink, but you do not have your fill; you clothe yourselves, but no one is warm; and he who earns wages has earned them to put them in a bag with holes in it.” 

Some churches talk about money all the time. Other churches are so hesitant to bring up the subject that they almost never do, until a financial crisis threatens to disrupt even the day-to-day activity. If we believe, as the Bible teaches, that all we have belongs to God and that “returning” is an act of worship and a command, then we cannot ignore this subject any more than we can ignore other biblical teachings. 

“For the Israelites and the sons of Levi shall bring the offering…to the chambers where the vessels of the sanctuary are, along with the priests who minister and the gatekeepers and singers. We will not forsake or neglect the house of our God.” (Nehemiah 10 38-39 - emphasis added) 

This is Stewardship Season. Let’s reflect carefully on our financial duty, obligation, and tithe to our Church. I’m still working on it. Let’s see if we can get closer to the goal together. 

SEPT. 1 - by Rev. Jennifer Andrews-Wecklerly
This year, our Stewardship Team has planned a wonderful campaign for us to explore the ways that our faith walk informs our financial stewardship. In October, you will begin to see "Message" articles, blog posts, testimonials, and a parish-wide letter inviting us into a time of discernment and reflection about our support of the ministry of St. Margaret’s. I am looking forward to the journey with you and know that the Stewardship Committee is excited as well.

unknown AUTHOR: 
Very seldom am I the first car to drive into the parking area of the Church of St. Margaret’s, Plainview, N.Y. Even during the summer months when the worship schedule might have one service on Sunday morning, there are usually a few cars when I arrive. This is a given! And just as I don’t expect to be the first person to arrive, I do expect the doors of the church to be opened, with parishioners in the Narthex ready to enter the Nave in preparation for worship.

In my early years as an adult member of a parish on Long Island, I would take the appropriate weekly envelope from the box of envelopes I received every December, fill it with the amount I pledged for that year and have it ready to put in the offering plate. Sometimes there were people nearby who would put coins or dollar bills in the offering plate without a church envelope. I didn’t think much about it – different people do different things.

Many, many years have passed by since the time when I was that young adult, and I have filled out many, many pledge cards in preparation for Stewardship Sunday during that time. I have come to understand the importance of letting a parish know the amount you will give each year. A yearly budget for the parish isn’t guesswork. It is carefully prepared with the estimated giving from every parish family or individual member. Stewardship season comes once a year and it is always the time of the year when my faith flourishes in thoughts because of the words that I hear. Sermons focus on God’s gifts and blessings and bible readings remind us of God’s presence in our lives. God never stops giving to me, and to you, too. Every day, every week, every month … and all that we are asked to give back is a small portion of that giving.

This year let your faith flourish as you think about God’s blessings in your lives. Smile with a feeling of gratitude when you think about the prayers God has answered.

Stewardship month gives me the opportunity to be a part of the assurance that St. Margaret’s will be here in 2014. I will fill out my pledge card with an attitude of gratitude and drop it in the offering plate on Nov. 3. On Sunday mornings I still will not be the first car in the parking lot but I will see parishioners in the Narthex preparing for worship and I will see Mother Jennifer, sometimes with Simone by her side, process down the aisle and, as she enters the Sanctuary, say “Blessed be God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.”

Will you have your Pledge Card ready to present at the In-gathering on Sunday, Nov. 3?