 | Reaching Out
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Rebuilding Bastrop
Fires have destroyed over 1550 homes and 34,000 acres in Bastrop. The community has been blessed with an outpouring of in-kind donations and some donation sites have quit accepting clothing. Calvary Episcopal Church, Bastrop, in the Diocese of Texas reports monetary donations are what is most needed at this time.
The Diocese of Texas website offers several opportunities for outreach including online donations.
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| Things to Do |
Greetings!
Ordinary Time:
Celebrating the Mystery of Christ in all its aspects
September falls in the Season of Ordinary Time on the liturgical calendar. Ordinary Time celebrates "the mystery of Christ in all
its aspects." The online
Stewardship Calendar
offers several opportunities to grow your stewardship this month.
Consider exploring Spiritual Disciplines, those practices that we willingly pursue in response to a God who created us, saved us, and guides us. Disciplines highlighted in September include Centering Prayer, an online Bible study of the letter of Ephesians, and resources for Daily Meditations.
Jump to the Online
Year Round Calendar now!
Keeping stewardship front and center in our lives and with our family, church and communities can be a challenge. The Stewardship Calendar offers great ideas to focus your time, talent and treasure each and every month. Moving through each church season, the calendar offers opportunities for you, your family and your congregation to explore and grow stewardship through five monthly themes: Spiritual Growth, Ministry Spotlight, Financial Health, Outside Ourselves, and God's Creation.
October's Theme - Care of All Creation
Looking ahead to October, the Ministry Spotlight
invites you to celebrate clergy appreciation month with numerous ideas and resources to honor clergy. Exploring Caring For God's Creation, we are reminded to watch for one of God's smallest creatures, the Monarch Butterfly, as it makes its annual migration through Texas.
Reaching Out provides great resources to celebrate St. Francis Day (October 4) including Pet Blessing services in both English and Spanish and organizing a four-legged food drive.
FULL INFORMATION is on the diocesan website, click here.
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| Did you Know?
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Back to Church Sunday is September 18
Richelle Thompson writes, "I'm not normally a fan of made-up national-something-days.They sometimes seem contrived, like National Uncles who Once Took You Fishing Day (and you can buy the card at Hallmark). But I might be willing to get on board with this one, especially if it means I get to promote [this] video."
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| Food for Thought
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Turning what We have into Enough and More
The Episcopal Church Office of Stewardship has developed a six-week series of readings, reflections and questions called "Feasting on Gratitude," to assist in discerning the practice of intentional and proportional giving in one's faith community.
Based on the Gospel readings of Matthew, the series invites readers to reflect and discuss stewardship principles and practices. Designed to complement and support a congregation's annual giving campaign, six contributing writers explore stewardship, giving, gratitude and generosity in connection with the Gospel reading for each Sunday from October 2 through November 6, All Saints Sunday. Each week you can download a PDF of the Gospel reflection that encourages us to recognize, as William Stringfellow writes, "that life, including money, is a gift and the only way to honor such a gift is to give it away."
The series is available in both English and Spanish along with
bulletin inserts.
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| Things to Read |
For Sept/Oct Vestry Papers Online
Topic this month: Innovative Stewardship, in this issue you'll find:
"Green Shoots From the Stump," In the first of a two-part series, the Rev. Brent Owens writes that when you're down, you're not out. He examines how St. Alban's of Monroe, GA was determined to survive and how, through a combination of faith, innovation and creativity, there are now green shoots. Jeanie Sablatura and Terry Nathan, in their article,"New Heights," share how St. David's of Austin, TX is using its location to generate revenue and is exploring income-producing enterprises. In today's world of decreasing church attendance, changing parish demographics, and difficult economic times, it is essential that all of us optimize the stewardship of the resources with which we are blessed.
In "One Step out of Stuckness," Jamie Coats offers a creative way to look at how to bring about change in your congregation or your life. Providing helpful tools to get unstuck, participants identify: where they want to go; what their vision is; where they are stuck; and how to step out of stuckness. "Learning Together"- How do you learn? How do you put your learning into action? Anne Ditzler writes, "there is no simple or single answer. Much research suggests people learn in a variety of ways. Some are better at conceptualization, some in experimentation, yet others in reflection upon experience." Free to everyone, Vestry Papers at www.ecfvp.org offers us opportunities to create community among Episcopal leaders and foster learning about congregational issues among not only vestries and rectors, but also all lay people and clergy who lead congregations.
Sign up now to receive ECF Vital Practices. |
MORE FROM . . .Your Turn The Rev. Marek Zabriskie shares his tips for creating a Bible Challenge in your church. Read the article here .  How to Select a Professional Resource
Tools for congregational leaders who are considering hiring a consultant or professional resource to assist them in reaching their goals. Read the article here. Planning for the End of Life  As Episcopalians we believe that our estate and end of life plans should reflect our values. The following ECF resource contains three sections: the medical directive, planning your funeral and writing your will. Read the article here.
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