Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”
Matthew 14:31
Matthew 14:31
Greetings Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
As people of faith, we understand that stewardship is not about a season, dates blocked out on our calendars, or a pledge card. Stewardship is a way of living every single day. Stewardship is believing in one omniscient and omnipotent creator of the universe and all that is within it, also believing that God has entrusted the care of all creation to humanity with the breath of divine air pulsing through us. And yet, part of being wise stewards is visioning, planning, preparing and giving attention to how we can offer our resources, in thanksgiving, for God’s purpose and plan. Thus, we do actually have a season, some dates, monetary pledge cards, gifts and skills commitment forms, and we call this a Stewardship Campaign. This year, we turn our hearts to Matthew 14:31 as a reminder that not only are we to follow the words and ways of our Lord, we are with those words and ways called to overcome our doubts with faith. Whatever we give (money, time, care, mercy, energy, skills) we give out of gratitude, not compulsion or coercion. We step out of our proverbial boats and trust that our Triune God will be further glorified through the limitless faith God has provided each of us.
In October the Sunday worship sermons have asked heart probing questions such as “Who has authority over your life?”, “Are you producing the fruits of the kingdom?”, and “To whom do you belong?”. Pastor Paul reminded us of the Biblical history of tithing and that if everyone in the church gives 10%, we will never have a resource problem. On November 5th, we share time together at the Stewardship Luncheon for fellowship and celebration of Christ’s ministries at Eastminster and give attention to the direction of the Spirit for Christ’s future holy work of our congregation as we present the 2024 budget. At the Stewardship luncheon we offer the gifts of our hearts, lives and resources as we dedicate them all to the glory of God by completing the time & talent form. Members who do not attend the luncheon can pick up their form at church on November 12th, and all remaining forms will be mailed out afterward. Please fill out the form and return it in the self-addressed stamped envelope included in the mailing. Time, Talent and Pledge sheets can also be filled out on the church website under Get Involved, Stewardship 2024, and you can submit it online. The 2024 Budget is online as well, and included in the mailing. God has blessed Eastminster financially in that the 2023 budget called for an almost $100,000 shortfall, Praise God that instead, so far in 2023 the church does not have a shortfall! Please prayerfully consider what God is calling you to pledge for 2024 in terms of finances, talent and service.
May the Spirit bring to us the joy of giving, the gift of laughter and faithful hearts because we are responding to God’s will through the words and ways of Jesus, “… why did you doubt?”
Your Stewardship Committee,
Dick Knox, Chair, Cindy Garrett, Darlene West, Tony Bennett
As people of faith, we understand that stewardship is not about a season, dates blocked out on our calendars, or a pledge card. Stewardship is a way of living every single day. Stewardship is believing in one omniscient and omnipotent creator of the universe and all that is within it, also believing that God has entrusted the care of all creation to humanity with the breath of divine air pulsing through us. And yet, part of being wise stewards is visioning, planning, preparing and giving attention to how we can offer our resources, in thanksgiving, for God’s purpose and plan. Thus, we do actually have a season, some dates, monetary pledge cards, gifts and skills commitment forms, and we call this a Stewardship Campaign. This year, we turn our hearts to Matthew 14:31 as a reminder that not only are we to follow the words and ways of our Lord, we are with those words and ways called to overcome our doubts with faith. Whatever we give (money, time, care, mercy, energy, skills) we give out of gratitude, not compulsion or coercion. We step out of our proverbial boats and trust that our Triune God will be further glorified through the limitless faith God has provided each of us.
In October the Sunday worship sermons have asked heart probing questions such as “Who has authority over your life?”, “Are you producing the fruits of the kingdom?”, and “To whom do you belong?”. Pastor Paul reminded us of the Biblical history of tithing and that if everyone in the church gives 10%, we will never have a resource problem. On November 5th, we share time together at the Stewardship Luncheon for fellowship and celebration of Christ’s ministries at Eastminster and give attention to the direction of the Spirit for Christ’s future holy work of our congregation as we present the 2024 budget. At the Stewardship luncheon we offer the gifts of our hearts, lives and resources as we dedicate them all to the glory of God by completing the time & talent form. Members who do not attend the luncheon can pick up their form at church on November 12th, and all remaining forms will be mailed out afterward. Please fill out the form and return it in the self-addressed stamped envelope included in the mailing. Time, Talent and Pledge sheets can also be filled out on the church website under Get Involved, Stewardship 2024, and you can submit it online. The 2024 Budget is online as well, and included in the mailing. God has blessed Eastminster financially in that the 2023 budget called for an almost $100,000 shortfall, Praise God that instead, so far in 2023 the church does not have a shortfall! Please prayerfully consider what God is calling you to pledge for 2024 in terms of finances, talent and service.
May the Spirit bring to us the joy of giving, the gift of laughter and faithful hearts because we are responding to God’s will through the words and ways of Jesus, “… why did you doubt?”
Your Stewardship Committee,
Dick Knox, Chair, Cindy Garrett, Darlene West, Tony Bennett
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Eastminster Presbyterian Church
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 571188, Dallas, TX 75357 Physical Address: 6550 Samuell Blvd., Dallas, TX 75228 214-381-4693 officeadmin@eastminsterdallas .org Sunday Schedule Breakfast: 9 am Church School: 10 am Worship: 11:30 am |
