Stewardship Teaching & Testimony for 2013 CHURCH OF THE APOSTLES 170 Fairview Avenue Coventry, Rhode Island 02816
Stewardship Sunday at Church of The Apostles The Twenty-fifth Sunday after Pentecost November 17, 2012 5:00 p.m. Holy Eucharist November 18, 2012 8:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist and 10:30 a.m. Holy Eucharist On the weekend of November 17th & 18th, Congregants will be asked to make a financial pledge, as well as a commitment of their time and talent, toward the work of the ministry of Church of The Apostles for the year 2013. Pledges should be made after prayerful consideration. Church members are asked to take the pledge cards that you will receive in the mail with you to worship on November 17th or 18th and bring them to the holy Table at an especially appointed time during the 5:00 p.m., 8:00 a.m. or 10:30 a.m. celebrations of the Holy Eucharist, so that as a community of faith we may present [ourselves] as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God which is [our] spiritual worship (Romans 12:1). Please continue to pray for the mission of Church of The Apostles as we jointly prepare to make a commitment of our time, talent, and treasure to God for the year 2013. For we are the Lord s people: servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God (1 Corinthians 4:1), a people called to work, pray, and give for the spread of the kingdom of God [Bylaws, Article V.1].
From the Stewardship Minister In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. (Genesis 1:1) The earth is the LORD s and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it. (Psalm 24:1) These two verses (among many others) point to who is in charge. The acknowledgment of God as the Creator and Owner of everything is the starting point for stewardship. John Wesley (1703-1791), English evangelist and founder of Methodism put it this way, When the Possessor of heaven and earth brought you into being and placed you in this world, he placed you here not as an owner, but as a steward. A Biblical understanding of steward begins with the realization that all of creation belongs to God. All that we have time, talents, treasures, health, wealth, environment, etc. is given to us by God to use and care for responsibly. Stewardship is living out what happens when we center our lives in God. As an adopted child of God, I am in awe of the privilege and also the responsibility that God has given me. My view and choice about what I own reflects who I am. Recently, I was asked to speak to a group of pharmacy students about the challenges of owning a pharmacy. I have been a business owner for over twenty -five years and have come to realize just how much my view of ownership has changed. In the past, I would think of the business as mine but now I understand that this is just not true. The fact is I do not own anything: my house, my business, my family, my gifts, every possession belongs to God. To have a Scriptural understanding of stewardship is fine but it is the actual living it that is difficult. I remember patting myself on the back after an act of generosity, only to be shown in the same day of two other areas of my life where I was being greedy. It is humbling, but it is also encouraging to know that God does not
expect perfection, just obedience. My assurance as a Christian is that neither death nor life, not anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:38, 39). The Lord knows what I am capable of, and while I earnestly want to please him, I am so thankful for his forgiveness when I mess up. I pray that I can Give thanks to him; bless his name! (Psalm 100:4) for his many blessings that I realize each and every day. As you read this booklet, I ask you to pray for guidance for what God expects from you. The personal testimonies, multiple Scripture references, Biblical teachings and twelve day Bible reading plan are helpful guides, but it is only when we recognize that it is in the personal relationship we have with God that we will we truly understand what it means to be a faithful steward. I would like to thank Barbara Bickerstaff for her collaboration in preparing this booklet her guidance is invaluable, and the members of Church of The Apostles who have shared their personal testimonies. Finally, I give praise to God who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations (Ephesians 3:20-21). Yours in Christ, Deacon Kathy Kettle Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; praise him, all creatures here below; praise him above, ye heavenly hosts; praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Thomas Ken (1637-1711) 2
Our Statement of Faith Our Mission is to Obey, Follow and Bear Witness to JESUS CHRIST. The guideline for giving in the Old Testament was the tithe (ten percent). Jacob then made this vow: Of everything you give me, I will faithfully return a tenth part to you (Genesis 28:20, 22). The Christian Church embraced the Jewish tradition of the tithe from her earliest days. The tithe was, therefore, the expected standard of giving for all the followers of Jesus. The Constitution and Bylaws of Church of The Apostles states the following about tithing:... members are expected to affirm this Congregation s belief in the tithe the cheerful giving of ten percent of one s income as the generally received Biblical norm and the traditional standard of Christian giving... [Article V.1], for God loves a cheerful giver (2 Corinthians 9:7). While Christians are not obligated to give a fixed amount, it is hard to imagine (is it not?) that God would expect the people of the New Covenant to give any less than the tenpercent tithe given by the people of the Old Covenant. According to research on giving, the percentage of Christians in the United States who tithe is in the range of 5% to 7%. The average percentage of household income given to churches in 2008 was 2.43%. As a point of perspective, the tithe on an annual household income of $50,000 is $96.00 per week. How close do you come to giving what the apostles taught the earliest Christians to offer to the one holy, catholic, and apostolic Church? If you are not yet tithing, or have never even considered working toward the goal of doing so, why not pray about the issue of your own Christian stewardship and ask God to guide you in the Holy Spirit as you make your pledge to his holy Church for 2013. Contained in this book are a five year giving history of the members of Church of The Apostles and the collective pledges of our Congregation s leadership for the year 2013 (pp. 18, 19). 3
Christian Stewardship: A Way of Life Christian stewards receive God s gifts gratefully, cultivate them responsibly, share them lovingly and return them with increase to the Lord. Disciples as Stewards Jesus invites us to be disciples. Being a disciple means committing our heart and mind our whole life to God! As Jesus disciples, Christian stewards recognize God as the origin of life and source of all things. We are grateful for the gifts received and eager to use them to show our love for God and one another. If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. (Luke 9:23) Stewards of Creation God created the world, but entrusts it to human beings. Caring and cultivating the world includes appreciation for the beauty and wonder of creation; the protection and preservation of the environment; the respect for human life, from conception to final breath; the development of the world through human effort. The earth is the LORD s and all that is in it, the world and all who dwell therein. (Psalm 24:1) Stewards of Vocation Jesus calls his disciples to a new way of life the Christian way of life. He calls us individually, by name. Each of us, whether we be minister, clerk, teacher, nurse, mother, father, child, has a personal vocation. God intends each of us to play a unique 4
role in carrying out his divine plan. It is our challenge to discern God s call (our vocation) and respond generously to this call. Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. (Matthew 11:28) Stewards of the Church Stewards of God s gifts are not passive beneficiaries. Stewards of the church play an active role in the mission of the church: bringing lost souls to the saving power of Jesus Christ. Being a good steward means being generous with our time, talent, and treasure. As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God s varied grace. (1 Peter 4:10) A Steward s Way The life of a Christian steward models the life of Jesus. In today s secular culture, this is an often challenging and difficult way of life to follow. The world encourages us to focus on ourselves and our pleasures. Those who seek to live as Christian stewards learn that all things work for good for those who love God (Romans 8:28). God has given us all we have: our life, health, property, the earth and the Gospel. Everything is a gift from God. Stewardship is an expression of God s love for us and the joyful, thankful expression of our love for God in return. O Lord our God, you are worthy to receive glory and honor and power; because you have created all things, and by your will they are created and have their being. (Revelation 4:11) 5
Their owns words...on Stewardship It seems like the more I give and do, the more the Lord blesses me, with both treasure and talent, so that I truly never miss what I have given away. Debby Glynn To me, stewardship is the best measure of your faith. As your faith grows, you will be more and more willing to give joyfully of your time, talents and treasure. George Edge Stewardship means that everything is on loan from God and we should expect to return everything to God in better condition than we got it. Bob Singleton Stewardship is using the gifts God has given us for the work of his ministry, and for building up the body of Christ for his glory. Jodie Antonelli How do I practice stewardship? I try very hard every day to be the best, kindest, honest, respectful and loving person that I can be. Some days it s easier to do than others, but I try! I give thanks for each day. Joan Clarke The ultimate goal of being God s stewards is to continue the spread the Gospel. Donna Thompson God has given all of us gifts. As Christians, the members of our church family are good stewards when we live our lives responsibly and follow his Words. Joan Dugan God is faithful to those who are faithful to him. Sue and Don Pillsbury 6
Our giving permits us to make a godly difference in people s lives. God s purpose in our lives is to glorify him by allowing God to work through us and bless others. Harrison and Carolyn Smiley Being a Christian is both an honor and a responsibility. Deb Adams My sadness around tithing is that I very often did not want to give. Giving was the right thing to do but I simply did not want to do it. When I gave with the wrong spirit it only led to bitterness. So for me, giving is a work-in-progress: a little learning done and a lot still to go. Bill Karner Countless times I have heard the word stewardship mentioned in church and in Sunday School, but I never really understood what it meant. Sarah Bethel Ultimately, stewardship is not about me, it is about God s plan. I believe we are here at this very time and place for a reason. We must stand where God tells us to stand. Doug Stomberg Stewardship to me is not an obligation, but a blessing and joy. Linda Greco Stewards of God do not put their trust in earthly things, rather they put their trust in God s promise. Why? Because God always keeps his promise. Mark Tellier I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. (Philippians 4:13) 7
Christian Stewardship in the New Testament One question that seems to come up in any discussion of Christian giving is: Are New Testament Christians obligated to tithe, that is, to give ten percent of their incomes to the church? Following are excerpts from a position paper prepared for the Conservative Congregational Christian Conference by The Reverend Mark Galloway which outline a Biblical understanding of giving. The earth is the LORD s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it (Psalm 24:1). The Holy Scriptures teach that God is the owner of all persons and all things, that we believers are but stewards of our lives and possessions, and that (first and foremost) God s ownership and our stewardship must be acknowledged. Giving to and through both the local church and the wider-church Universal for the propagation of the Gospel and for the relief of the poor is the privilege and duty of every believer. Planned, sacrificial and systematic giving is an obvious recognition that everything we have comes from God. This practice checks our greed, promotes personal discipline and thrift, testifies to our faith in Christ, promotes God s work in the world, and helps alleviate human need. In Matthew 23:23, Jesus makes reference to the tithe, noting that it has been distorted by the scribes and Pharisees into a legalistic practice: Woe to you scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice, mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others. In this verse, Jesus points out that tithing is meant as a spiritual devotion or witness, on par with showing justice, mercy and faithfulness. It is important to note, however, that during Christ s earthly ministry and after his Resurrection and Ascension and the subsequent establishment of the New Testament church at Pentecost 8
(Acts 2), the requirement to give a tithe or a tenth of one s income is never explicitly imposed on Christians. Rather than stipulating a fixed amount, the New Testament places emphasis on generous, sacrificial, abundant, cheerful giving: God loves a cheerful giver who sows bountifully (2 Corinthians 9:6-7), so wrote the Apostle Paul. The New Testament further promises that these cheerful givers will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way (2 Corinthians 9:11). Thus, while Christians are not obligated to give a fixed amount, it is hard to imagine (is it not?) that God would expect the people of the New Covenant to give any less than the ten-percent tithe given by the people of the Old Covenant. The New Testament specifically encourages giving to assist others in need: If anyone has the world s goods and sees his brother in need, yet While Christians are not obligated to give a fixed amount, it is hard to imagine (is it not?) that God would expect the people of the New Covenant to give any less than the ten-percent tithe given by the people of the Old Covenant. closes his heart against him, how does God s love abide in him? (1 John 3:17). The Apostle Paul devoted a significant portion of his third missionary journey to collecting funds for the needs of poor Christians in Jerusalem (see Acts 21:17, 24:17; Romans 15:25-28, 31; 1 Corinthians 16:1-4; 2 Corinthians 8:1-4, 9:1-5). Though it is right to give to the material needs of people, both believers and unbelievers (cf. Luke 6:32-36), the New Testament prioritizes giving to the needs of brother and sister Christians: So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith (Galatians 6:10). The New Testament also places a significant emphasis on Christians financially supporting the needs of the local church and of those who do the work of ministry in the wider-church Universal: that is, the proclamation of the 9
Gospel that proceeds from those called to serve as Evangelists, Pastors and Teachers (cf. Galatians 6:6). The Apostle Paul received financial support from the church in Philippi (cf. Philippians 4:15-19), and he told the New Testament churches to systematically support the ordained Elders of their particular Congregations: especially those who labor in preaching and teaching, for the laborer deserves his wages (1 Timothy 5:17-18; cf. 1 Corinthians 9:6-14). This would require that those who are part of a Congregation should regularly give to support the ministry of the local church and that the local church should regularly give support to the Gospel efforts of the wider-church Universal. While tithing is clearly not a requirement for New Testament believers (and is certainly not a condition for salvation), the giving of the tithe points to a very significant Biblical model; one that should be included as a legitimate orthodox theological position concerning what may be considered the minimal standard for Christian giving. Thus, while we are aware that tithing can for some easily become a legalistic requirement of the law rather than a cheerful offering motivated by the love of God shown toward us in Christ, the giving of ten-percent of one s income to the church for the universal work of the Gospel ministry is a good spiritual discipline and a wise and Biblically appropriate beginning point for mature Christians. It is the joy of our salvation that should always motivate Christian giving (2 Corinthians 8:2). After all, the ultimate purpose in all that we do as believers is to glorify God! Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, O LORD, and you are exalted as head above all. For all things come from you and of your own have we given you (1 Chronicles 29:11, 14). 10
Radical Jesus, Radical Truth It s that time of year when many in leadership positions in churches give thought to how they might determine and secure their church budget for the coming year. Meanwhile, as they do this, the business world devises its own elaborate plans to remind humanity-at-large that Christmas is just around the corner and that it would be good if we all started our holiday shopping as early as possible. Obviously, their goal is banking big bucks, not contemplating Christ. It is making money, not managing God s creation. Whenever any publishing house or fellow student of the Word suggest that I look through a new translation of the Bible, I begin by running through a little checklist of about twenty verses to see if the translators truly grasped the story and the message -- or adjusted them to match their own theological position. The need in Christian circles is not to get people to give more, but inspire them to hang on to less. I am delighted by the New Revised Standard Version translation of Matthew 1:1, An account of the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah -- rather than Jesus Christ. Many see Christ as merely another name for Jesus, or as Jesus last name. It is not that. It is a title another word for Messiah. The central message of the New Testament is that Jesus was and is the Messiah, that in Him the Messianic Age has broken in, and that He is the full and final Word of God, Torah, Law, Truth. The implications for the church and the world are enormous! After all, there are many who are quite happy to believe in a Jesus who died for their sins and assures them of eternal life, but not quite so happy to hear that this same Jesus, this Servant-Messiah, calls us to follow Him as Lord in servant-discipleship in all we think, do, and say. Now, a word about those budgets! The more I grapple 11
with the mind, manner, mission, and meaning of Jesus, the more I am convinced that God is calling us to a radical change in thinking. The need in Christian circles is not to get people to give more, but inspire them to hang on to less to rob less. After all, there is no such thing as Christian giving, for we cannot give what is not ours. There is only Christian managing. The first article of the Apostles Creed might do well to begin, I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker and Owner of heaven and earth. Jesus parable of the rich fool (Luke 12:13-21) contains challenging insights. Jesus reminded the rich man that it was the land, not the man, that produced abundantly and God owns the land. Jesus also reminded him that his very life was being lent to him by God, and that very night God would demand that the rich man s lifeon-loan be returned to its Owner. He was about to die! Big truths? Yes! Essential truths? Yes! The Rev. Dr. Harry Wendt President & Founder, Crossways International The Widows Mite Jesus called his disciples to him and said to them, Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the offering box. For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty, has put in everything she had, all she had to live on. (Mark 12:43-44) 12
Testimony of the faithful... When I was approached to write something about what stewardship means to me I quickly said Yes. However, upon retrospection I wasn t sure why I was approached since I really didn t see myself as a good steward. When I asked the Lord to speak to me, he spoke to me plainly and led me to reflect upon the question. In my early years as a wife and mother, my husband and I were led through teachings that tithing was the best way to show the Lord that we were committed to being good stewards. However, as time went on I realized the fullness of what God wanted me to learn AND I matured in my understanding of stewardship. Through many difficult times I came to the knowledge that my stewardship depended more on my spiritual connection to Christ rather than my own resources. Living alone sometimes can make me feel selfish and protective of what I have; however, I soon discovered that my belief that God will provide led me to depend upon the Lord for everything. No matter if my income was small and I seemingly lived on the edge he always provides for my needs. With that in mind, I feel free to share what I have with others, whether it s money, time or talent. Recently the Lord spoke to me about the Fruit of the Spirit : love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5:22). My stewardship begins with my need to give love to others and is anchored by self-control to remain focused on his love and the power of the Holy Spirit within me to produce these fruits. I truly believe that giving is based on love for God s graciousness that flows outward from me to others. My stewardship is constantly being challenged by the needs and purposes of the world AND my own challenges both physically and emotionally. However, I adhere to the truths related by the author of Hebrews: Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw 13
off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith (Hebrews 12:1-2a). With the Lord on my side I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (Philippians 4:13). I am still (and always will be) a work in progress but I know that the Lord is faithful to me no matter my faults. Sharing my faith with others is my greatest strength and results in increasing my stewardship of all that I am and all that I have. Linda Lee Trahan Stewardship is what you do after you say I BELIEVE Stewardship is not a program, It is a way of life. Stewardship is not an activity, It is an attitude. Stewardship is not the latest fad, It is rooted in Scripture. Stewardship is not a way to raise money, It is a way to attain holiness. Stewardship is not a decision of the head, It is a conversion of the heart. Stewardship is not an option, Not if you truly want to be a disciple of Christ. 14
Testimony of the faithful... Through the years that have I attended church, while I have felt a part of a wonderful church family, I still have felt a distance from God. I used to think that I was insignificant to him because how could he possibly know me or love me? I had never really done anything very special or important in my own eyes. But as I started to grow in my faith and through my journey, I came to understand more about who God is, who Jesus is, and that we all have the Holy Spirit within us if we just open our hearts. I now know that I am just as important to him as anyone else because he loves each and every one of us no matter who we are. He just wants us to know him and love him. As I started to want to know more about God, about his Word, and about my Christian faith, I began to finally I m embarrassed to say read the Bible for the first time in my life. Reading God s Word has opened up such an inspirational and spiritual door for me. I began taking different Bible study classes, going to conferences, and reading different spiritual Christian books. The more I read and learned about God, the more I wanted to know. I started to feel the Holy Spirit working through me and giving me the confidence to finally be able to talk with other people about God and about Jesus, to both believers and nonbelievers. I feel so blessed to be on this journey and to be able to share what God has given to me. There is not a day that I don t wake up and feel blessed. I have come to realize that no matter what challenges life will bring to us and there are many if we have our hearts open to God, we can get through anything. Cheryl Bethel 15
From the Director of Christian Education Have you ever wondered what kids are thinking about stewardship? Recently I had the opportunity to spend two weeks teaching in the Workers class and asked them to find the definition of stewardship. Nate Hoyer did his homework and replied, being responsible for managing a household. The other classmates recalled the 3T s (time, talent and treasure) and proceeded to come up with a long list of talents and treasures they have. I then asked them what is love and how is it connected with stewardship? These teen and preteens really came up with answers for love: comforting, helping, forgiving, protecting, feeding, clothing, educating, taking care of. I then distributed a handout about God s love, including these passages: But God demonstrates his own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8). For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16). If he has given us the most precious gift (eternal life), how do we show him our love and thankfulness? The discussion that followed centered around problems the students face in school: bullies, kids who seem to have no friends, cheaters, poor or rich kids. So how can we be good stewards? Pray for them, be their friends, talk to them and act as God wants us to act. This is maintaining God s household. Last February we began the program Feed Our Lambs. All Sunday School students were assigned a shepherd. The purpose was for the members of the Congregation to support these young persons in their life in Christ, thus fulfilling their own baptismal vows, and to share with their lambs what was being taught in 16
class. For the lambs, it might be a bit scary to talk about their class (the Good News) with someone they may not have previously known. So to the Shepherds, the questions is: Are you maintaining God s household? I invite you all to visit our classes, visit our lambs and be faithful stewards. Your sister in Christ, Linda Jones What is Stewardship? time, talent, treasures Love Leadership Praying Faith Believe Preach teach Music Instruments Singing Bible Church Money God s Gift life eternal life Forgiveness Caring Helping with needs Food Clothing School work This diagram is the result of a brainstorming session on stewardship in the Workers Sunday School class (Grades 7-9). 17
Total Annual Weekly Offerings $273,031.00 $303,973.75 $320,665.88 $341,063.22 $342,429.33 * * Projected Weekly Offering for 2012 based on the current level of giving year-to-date. Five Year Giving History The following is a breakdown of offerings received in the weekly offering envelopes for 2008 through the first nine months of 2012. While individuals give in various frequencies (weekly, monthly, quarterly, etc.), all offerings were calculated to determine each giver s weekly offering. Offering Amount 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 (per week) (Jan Sept) $200.00 or more 2 4 6 6 $150.00 $199.99 8 5 9 7 5 $100.00 $149.99 6 11 4 7 6 $50.00 $99.99 20 22 21 20 25 $25.00 $49.99 30 22 25 29 28 $10.00 $24.99 30 30 28 28 29 Less than $10.00 78 57 43 46 41 Total Givers 172 149 134 143 140 Average Weekly Offering $30.53 $39.23 $46.02 $45.87 $46.15 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 18
A Statement of Leadership Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, that you may discern what is the will of God what is good and acceptable and perfect. (Romans 12:2). At the Church Council meeting held on October 18th, our Congregation s leadership collectively made their pledges to the work of ministry here at Church of The Apostles for the year 2013. Eleven Council members (the Superintendent, three Elders, five Deacons, the Treasurer and Clerk) pledged as follows: Total pledges for 2013: $114,684.00 This is an average of $10,425.82 or $200.50 per week for each member. This is the LORD s doing and it is marvelous in our eyes. (Psalm 118:23) 19
A Daily Bible Reading Plan for Stewardship Through your Bible: an insight into giving Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path. (Psalm 119:105) At Church of The Apostles we honor God with faith-based pledging. This means that what you decide to pledge for the upcoming year is between you and God. During the weekend of November 17 and 18 you will bring your pledge card to the holy Table and offer it up as a gift to God. The Scripture readings listed below are provided to guide you as you prayerfully consider your pledge. DAY 1 God s first gifts to us Genesis 2:7; 1:29, 30; 3:21 DAY 2 The first recorded tithe Genesis 14: 17-20 DAY 3 The joy of giving 1 Chronicles 29:1-18 DAY 4 The reward of giving Malachi 3:6-10 DAY 5 The servants choice Matthew 6:24; Luke 16:13-15 DAY 6 The freedom of giving Matthew 6:25-26; Luke 12:22-31 DAY 7 The disappointed man Mark 10:18-25 DAY 8 The dishonest gift Acts 5:1-10 DAY 9 Putting things into perspective 1 Timothy 6:6-10 DAY 10 Regular, planned, proportionate 1 Corinthians 16:1, 2 DAY 11 God gives...we give...god gives 2 Corinthians 9:6-10 DAY 12 Let us thank God! 2 Corinthians 9:10-15 Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift! (2 Corinthians 9:15) 20
Church of The Apostles Evangelical Anglican 170 Fairview Avenue Coventry, Rhode Island 02816 Office Hours: Monday - Friday 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Church Office: (401) 821-7609 Superintendent s Residence: (401) 397-3652 Website: apostlesri.org E-mail: office@apostlesri.org The Holy Eucharist Christian Education Sunday Brunch Evening Prayer Meeting Morning Prayer Superintendent Church Administrator Communications Officer Director of Christian Education Pastoral Assistant (MSW, LICSW) Youth Minister Health and Wellness Minister Organist and Music Director Assistant Organist Property Maintenance Technician Treasurer Clerk Saturday 5:00 p.m.; Sunday 8:00 a.m. & 10:30 a.m. Sunday 9:15 a.m. Sunday 11:45 a.m. Wednesday 7:00 p.m. Tuesday through Friday 9:00 a.m. Church Staff Board of Elders The Reverend Mark R. Galloway Erin Swanson Barbara Bickerstaff Linda Jones Roberta Tvenstrup Roger Hall Sharon Galloway, RN Marianne Salisbury Shyanne Slinko Jim Quinn Bob Bickerstaff Deb Adams Elder Chad Tvenstrup 385-9958 Elder Nina Deuel 789-3837 Elder Rob Geoffrey 943-4661 Elder Emeritus Conrad Ruppert Board of Servants Archdeacon Tom Bourn Servant Evangelism Minister 294-4186 Deacon Bill Sexton Congregational Care Minister 726-4549 Deacon Cathy Morgan Outreach Minister 781-8577 Deacon Kathy Kettle Stewardship Minister 822-2460 Deacon Harry Sacchetti Buildings & Grounds Minister 374-4273
Church of The Apostles 170 FAIRVIEW AVENUE COVENTRY, RHODE ISLAND 02816