Stewardship Newsletter

Transcription

1 Stewardship Newsletter The Montreal Ottawa Stewardship Committee September, 2010 Saisissant l occasion de cette publication de L intendance, circulaire du Synode de Montréal et Ottawa, je vous envoie à tous et à toutes mes chaleureuses salutations. N hésitez pas à me contacter au cas où notre comité pourrait vous rendre service. J anticipe vivement d avoir de vos nouvelles. Message From The Chair Eileen Lavigne This is the first issue of our Stewardship Newsletter for the coming months. I do hope that you enjoy it and that you will find the time you spend reading it worthwhile. I want to encourage each and every Stewardship Committee in our Conference to send representatives to one or both of our Stewardship Events being planned for In February you will have the opportunity of hearing the Rev. Arlyce Schiebout, and Karen and Bill Butt. There will also be 5 workshops for you to select from as well as displays and books for sale from UCRD. Darren Liepold from the General Council office will also be joining us and we are offering childcare. In order for everyone to have the chance to take advantage of these events they are being offered free of charge. You bring a bag lunch and we ll supply the tea and coffee.

2 In October we will welcome Barbara Fullerton and Amy Crawford to our Conference. They will both be speaking and leading workshops. These are one day events and we are hoping that they will be more appealing to people. We realize that people can t afford to be away from home for several days at a time. Also, in order to limit the amount of time spent traveling to the events, one is being held in Ottawa and one in Montreal. So I suggest that you check out the information on the Conference website under Stewardship and then register for the event that is going to be most beneficial for you. If your church is having a Stewardship Sunday and would like some resources to display please let me know and I will do my best to arrange for a display for the event. One of the ideas suggested is the church hold a service with Stewardship themes followed by a pot lunch luncheon and then a speaker and/or a workshop on a topic of interest. If you would like some help planning an event of this nature, please do not hesitate to contact me. Also, if you would like me to attend the event, please let me know and I will see what I can do to join you My prayer is that we may all be good stewards of the gifts God has given to us. ******************************************* STEWARDSHIP COMMITTEE MONTREAL AND OTTAWA CONFERENCE Chair Eileen Lavigne Ottawa M & S Carolyn Ruda Cornwall Financial Planner Paul Sales Ottawa Stewardship Consultant Denis Marcoux - Montreal

3 Staff Resource Person & Secretary Rev. Rosemary Lambie - Montreal UCW Representative Nancy Hazen Ottawa Montreal Presbytery Rev. Reg Jennings Rev. Barbara Bryce June Millar Quebec Sherbrooke Presbytery N/A Seaway Valley Presbytery Linda Suddaby Laurentien Presbytery Rev. Ed Berbezat Ottawa Presbytery Rev. Ed Gratton FOR YOUR INFORMATION Carolyn Ruda, our Mission and Service Fund Support Person, has prepared a booklet for children and youth entitled My Sharing Book. Please contact her at gordonruda@sympatico.ca or if you would like to know more about this resource.

4 Advent service written with imput from those who attended the workshop at More Franchises in Toronto, June ADVENT 2010 CALL TO WORSHIP: What can I bring before God I bring my mind which is open to share my thinking I bring my eyes to see God s goodness in my midst I bring my ears to hear God s voice I bring my mouth to sing God s praises I bring my heart to experience God s love I bring my hands to do God s work I bring my feet to walk in God s ways. PRAYER OF APPROACH: Oh God from whom comes every good and perfect gift, we thank you for the gifts of wisdom, goodness, praise and Your love who came in the cry of an infant and the person of Jesus. May Your Spirit be poured upon us so that we may give as you have given to us in Jesus name. Amen. HYMN: VU 506 Take my life and let it be CHILDREN S TIME Stewardship Theme 1. The Story of Stone Soup Message everyone has something to give you -- a little from everyone and you have something amazing

5 2. The Sand Dollar Story Message even a little person can make a great big difference to someone The Persimmon Tree Story (Japanese) (I apologize if I spelt that wrong) Message take what you need but leave for future generations 3. Building your own stewardship story about how - help the environment turn off lights composting, recycle - help their families setting the table cleaning their room - the church share their allowance make cards for people greeters, sing in the junior choir - Stewardship is about sharing your gifts and caring for creation - Children s Hymn Love is Something If You Give it Away Scriptures: Magnificat Luke 1 He upholds the lowly the rich He sends empty away Isaiah 9 The people who walked in darkness Mark 1 A voice crying in the wilderness Luke 1: see VU 900 also earlier when God promises Zechariah the gift of a child and Zechariah does not believe Hymn: VU 9 People look east SERMON: These are some of the topics suggested for the sermon Putting G in Christ Gratitude Abundance, Church, Family & Friends Community Friends, Health Greening Generosity Graciousness Gifts Less Waste and Less Buying Time, Talents and Treasures Create Quiet times and places Buy or Make use our skills and ideas

6 God Round out the Sermon Time, Talent and Treasure Thank you Thank you to congregants for the support they have provided given Thank you to God for what we ve been given are being given and will be One suggestion from facilitator of the workshop How many words can you think of quickly that start with the letter G? G the 7 th letter of the alphabet. G a powerful letter beginning many special words that speak of the love and compassion of God. Goodness, Gratitude, Greening, Generous, to name a few. We have all been given gifts by God we don t all have the same gifts we need to develop and use the gifts we have we need to share them we are called to be good stewards of the gifts we possess. But do we really possess them or are they loaned to us by God while we are living here on earth yes they are everything belongs to God we are privileged to share the opportunity to use them. So how do we demonstrate these gifts to others how do we show what they mean to us. Let s look at the word generous. God gives us everything we need. As good stewards we are to give Him our best He is to come first He wants the first part not the leftovers - since He is so generous He gave us His Son to show us the way to live what greater gift could He give us for this gift we need to show our gratitude. Christmas is a time when we have an extra opportunity to thank God but I like the idea of everyday being just like Christmas we should be demonstrating being good stewards 365 days a year so whether it is Advent, Lent or Easter we need to show our gratitude

7 thoughts And the rest is up to each of you to complete with your Offertory Hymn: VU 578 As a Fire is Meant for Burning Prayers of the People Life and Work of the Church Commissioning and Sending Forth Closing Hymn: O Come All Ye Faithful ************************** STEWARDSHIP COMMITTEE, MONTREAL AND OTTAWA CONFERENCE ANNOUNCES A STEWARDSHIP EVENT TO BE HELD AT PARKDALE UNITED CHURCH, OTTAWA SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 5 TH, :30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. THEME SPEAKER REV. ARLYCE SCHIEBOUT

8 SPECIAL GUESTS KAREN AND BILL BUTT WORKSHOPS Stewardship As a Way of Life Rev. Rosemary Lambie Financial Stewardship Getting to Abundance Stewardship Themes in Scripture Rev. Darren Liepold Rev. Anthony Bailey Sacred Writing Stewardship through Legacy Giving Eileen Lavigne Paul Sales Bring your own lunch tea and coffee available Childcare available See the Montreal and Ottawa Conference Website for further details Book Reviews Understanding the Spirituality of True Stewardship Christopher N. Sealey 2003 Xulon Press From the first chapter, I realized this was a very helpful book in learning more about Stewardship. It begins with the story of Adam & Eve. It ends with ideas and suggestions for becoming better stewards of the gifts God has given to us. The Living Steward Christopher Levan UCPH

9 A very thought provoking book very helpful in learning ways to be good stewards. Stepping Stones of The Steward Ronald E. Vallet A Faith Journey through Jesus Parables This book includes a study guide for groups. Many of Jesus Parables are used as food for thought. Recommended Reading Giving Magazine Published by Ecumenical Stewardship Center - $9.00 per issue Order through UCRD Mandate Published by the UCC Order through UCRD HAVE YOU HEARD? Information about upcoming Stewardship Events for our Conference can be found on the Montreal and Ottawa Conference website under STEWARDSHIP Please check this link out regularly How many of you are using the Minute for Mission Book put out each year by the M&S Department

10 Stewardship Seconds are available These can be inserted in your Sunday bulletin each week Would you like to have me come and speak at your church about Stewardship contact me at Or Apt. 407, 945 Richmond Road, Ottawa, Ontario K2B 8B9