Youth@Convention; Family Saturdays & More! 

Check out our full row of Youth at Convention for Convention Eucharist! 

Youth at Convention Eucharist

Youth from all over the diocese joined us for fun and fellowship, Convention Eucharist, dinner and Monstrance's debut on Friday night. We stayed overnight at St. Dunstan's. Saturday we served at the Food Pantry, Grace Church. We served 22 persons at the pantry from 10am and Noon. The youth shared that serving on Saturday was the best part of the whole weekend. Their second favorite part was riding the cool elevator at the Marriot. Thank you to Rev. Seth Allen Raymond, John Michael Rasmus, Russell Lenz, and Bill Dunlop for being our Y@C adults. Thank you to Deacon REGS Scheeler (Bishop's Deacon for Christian Formation) and Lori Masset (Christian Formation/Camp Webb Assisting Volunteer) for their time with our youth and for assisting as Christian Formation representatives to Convention.

The Youth & Family Commission of the diocese is planning our next event for January 19, 2013 and February 16, 2013 - Family FUN Saturdays! Jan. 19 we will meet 9-3 at Zion in Oconomowoc and Feb. 16 we will be at St. Dunstan's, Madison. Come the day that fits your calendar schedule. Bring the entire family. We will be family together on this day event. We'll be talking about the value of being family, that we have a voice and can be advocates for our families, (no matter our ages). Parents will also have a time to talk together about discipline. Teens and children will have time to talk about our own voices and talent of negotiation with parents. We'll share family meals/snacks and create a craft that will be a conversation starter for meals to come!

This Family Saturday will be part of our Diocesan Christian Formation and Leadership Development Days presented in partnership with the Commission on Ministry and Development. The COMD will also hold two opportunities in February and March 2013 for continuing leadership training and vestry days.

Offering these opportunities separate from Friday convention workshops allows more time for learning and building community together. Peggy Bean, the COMD, the Life-long Christian Formation Commission and Youth & Family Commission hope you will plan to join us at each of these 2013 events!

 

May it be well with your soul,

Carla

Lots New in the Resource Center - Check It Out!

Don't just read about it here - check out a book from the Resource Center. Here are "Two in Review".

              

  Carol Gallagher takes on the challenging task of weaving what she learned from her family life, her Cherokee heritage, her understanding of biblical stories, and her life in the church into a theological tapestry. Along the way she invites us in with questions and observations that reach beyond her life and into ours. Gallagher, the former bishop suffragan of the Diocese of Southern Virginia, is the first American Indian (Cherokee) female bishop in the Episcopal Church. She is currently Assisting Bishop of North Dakota and is the author of Reweaving the Sacred: A Practical Guide to Change and Growth for Challenged congregations (Church Publishing, 2006).  

Stewardship vs. Charitable Giving

By: Paul Citerony

Christian stewardship is a critical ministry for any parish community. Unfortunately, stewardship can at times, be thought of as a perplexing influence in our lives. Eventually however, stewardship helps us to clarify values, purposes and our daily decisions.

At this time of year, when we begin to think about stewardship, it's important to distinguish or draw a line between stewardship and charitable giving. Stewardship is grounded in the Biblical principle of giving the first fruits of the harvest back to God in thanksgiving. Charitable giving, on the other hand, is a generous sharing of last- fruits, with worthy causes that happen to please the giver. Both types of giving express generosity, but the differences between stewardship and charitable giving are significant.

First fruits-the Hebrew expectation-was the first tenth portion, off the top, as the obligation to be met, first. Last- fruits come later, after other expenses and tax obligations have been satisfied. Giving from the harvest is different from giving from assets or accumulated wealth. Stewardship is about faith and about sharing of the faith among our friends in Christ. It's not primarily about ways to raise money or pay bills.

Therefore, giving back to God is, obviously different from giving to a favorite charity, such as a museum, repertory theatre, or an alma mater, - especially when that charity has "cultivated" the donor, tapped into feelings of loyalty, pride or obligation, as well as personal recognition.

On the other hand, the tithe or one's proportionate giving is pure gratitude. Charitable giving often entails fulfilling a community service or cultural need. Both types of giving are important and matter. Charitable giving is the lifeblood of American culture, education and mission. But stewardship is a ministry of the faith community, not in order to only meet a budget, but to help us get right with God.

To be a Christian means to organize everything around the principle of Thanks -Living. Each of us needs ways to say thanks to the God who is the source of all we are and all that we have. Only when we believe and practice that insight can we even talk about ourselves as "Stewards".

Any other motive for giving is less than Christian. The question for us is not, "How much money does God demand?" But, - "How much of all that God has given me, do I have a right to keep for myself"? If we feel that God has given us little, then our response will be small. If we feel we owe our very lives to Him, - then our response will reflect that belief. Our response can be a shinning light in our community to reflect our Christian goodness as in Ephesians 5: 8 - 9:

" For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light, for light produces every kind of goodness and righteousness and truth."

If we, as a congregation, can comprehend that Christian stewardship begins with a solid understanding all we have comes from and belongs to God, - we are managers or stewards of God's property. As we face the responsibility that comes from being entrusted with someone else's belongings, it is important to realize that stewardship must be more than a duty: it is a joyful and thankful response to God's gifts and graciousness to us. Stewardship can only proceed from a celebration of our commitment to Christ and to the joyful knowledge that the earth is the LORD's and everything in it, - the world, and all who live in it.

Our goal must be giving in ways which help us grow spiritually in our relationship with God by supporting the church's mission and ministry with a portion of our income. To give is to live. To restrain, to hold, to guard, to hoard, is to die. Freely, we have received; Lord, help us to freely give.