Giving and Christian Stewardship
Those of us who have struggled with our weight know well that it
is not simply a case of going on a diet for the odd week or two,
but of re-educating ourselves in our eating habits that will really
transform our situation and bring about a permanent improvement in
our health.
A similar programme of re-education needs to be undertaken
with regard to Christian Stewardship. Too many still regard it as a
means of extricating a parish from its financial problems, as a
"crash diet" for a week or two, and not as a way of life in
response to God, a steady programme of growth in Christian
discipleship.
That steady growth requires nurturing and a wide variety
of resources h
ave been produced for parishes to
help them carry out good practice year by year. These are available
for free download from the Parish Resources website.
You can also find on this website 'Giving for Life', the Church's latest
report on matters of giving and stewardship.
Being good stewards requires us to decide what we
will do with all that God has entrusted to us. The familiar
offertory response "All things come from you, and of your own do we
give you" reminds us that all that we have is sourced from God's
provision. We are encouraged to give of time, skills and money to
support the work of the church and that of other charities that
build God's kingdom. Much of this giving may be regular giving from
our income, but we should also consider what we will do with the
wealth that we accumulate. Everyone is encouraged to make a will
and the Church of England has produced a special site to help people with
willmaking matters, and to understand how they might leave a gift
to support the Church's work if they would like to do so.
