Here’s Your Stewardship ‘Toolkit’ for March 2018!
Rev. Rob Blezard, Assistant to the Bishop
Lower Susquehanna Synod
Good, thoughtful, consistent communication, education and actionwill help develop a healthy culture of stewardship and generosity in your congregation. This kit is designed to help get you there!
Here’s what you’ll find below:
-Stewardship Snippets: Put a “Stewardship Snippet” every week in your Sunday bulletin! It’s a quote from the week’s Revised Common Lectionary lessons, followed by a brief reflection. Just cut and paste!
-Newsletter Articles: Publish something in your newsletter every month on stewardship and faith, or post it on your website. Keep your people thinking about stewardship. Just cut and paste!
-Links to Resources: You’ll find links to resources on the Web:
-The “thinkit” resource – Something thoughtful and insightful to get your mind turning and your soul fired up. Share it with your leadership, or use it for a temple talk.
-The “teach it” resource – Your folks ought to prayerfully and faithfully wrestle with some of stewardship’s biblical, theological and discipleship issues.
-The “do it” resource – Talk, as they say, is cheap, so put your stewardship efforts into action.
-The “preach it” resource – Check out the weekly Lectionary Reflection written by Lower Susquehanna Synod pastor and synod staff person Sharron Blezard.
-General Resource Websites: – These are places you can go for great ideas!
-Consultation and Coaching: – Did you know there are experts willing to meet with your congregation?
Stewardship Snippets
Copy and paste into your bulletin!
Source: Rob Blezard
Stewardship Snippet
March 4, 2018 (3rd Sunday in Lent, Year B)
Exodus 20:3–You shall have no other gods before me.
What do you love more than God? If most of us are honest, we might answer, “Possibly my family, or my own life.” Or, maybe “my money,” or “my country.” This first commandment seems simple but gets complex as we ponder it. Stewards and disciples know that the more they desire to put God above all else, the smoother their lives are.
Stewardship Snippet
March 11, 2018 (4th Sunday in Lent, Year B)
John 3:16– Jesus said, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.”
Have you heard some Christians say how much they hate this world? But here we learn that God loves the world. So much so that God gave us Jesus. Wise stewards and disciples pray that God would help them reach out to the world in love.
Stewardship Snippet
March 18, 2018 (5th Sunday in Lent, Year B)
John12:21 – They came to Philip … and said to him, "Sir, we wish to see Jesus."
The visitors give voice to the faithful prayer of all steward-disciples. We wish to see Jesus. We wish to see Jesus in the many ways Jesus appears in the world around us. Most dearly, we want to see him in the eyes and lives of our brothers and sisters.
Stewardship Snippet
March 25, 2018(6thSunday in Lent, Year B)
Philippians 2:5– Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus.
How do we best use our lives – that is, be good stewards of our lives? Paul tells us to embrace and develop the same mindset that Christ had. Which of Jesus’ attitudes of heart and mind do you need to cultivate to live more fully?
Newsletter article
Reprint permission granted for local congregational use.Just copy and paste into your newsletter! Please include the copyright notice. Other uses please inquire: .
Source: Rob Blezard, Lower Susquehanna Synod
Consider a Lenten Facebook ‘fast’
Along with the old standbys of chocolate, alcohol, smoking and soda pop, Facebook and social media have joined the list of common things people give up for Lent as they prepare their hearts and minds for Easter.
It’s definitely a 21st century twist to the ancient practice of “fasting” to improve our willpower, strengthen our spirits, clear our minds, distance ourselves from distractions and bring us closer to God. And in our day and age, it’s entirely necessary, too.
What’s the stewardship connection? God entrusts us to treasure and use wisely all that we have and all we are. Growing evidence concludes that excessive digital media not only wastes our time but also may cloud our thinking.
Research shows people can become addicted – yes, addicted – to digital media. Scientists discovered that when folks get an affirmation on Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat or other social media, it triggers a response in the reward and pleasure centers of our brains. We want more and more and have a hard time disengaging. (It’s a real issue. Just Google “smartphone addiction” to learn more.)
Moreover, there is growing concern about the effects that excessive digital exposure has on the developing brains of children.
For those of us who use our phones for keeping up with news, texting, sending email, reading or watching video streaming, excessive smartphone use can lower our attention spans and train us to crave a constant stream of new information.
And of course, all this digital media takes up time that we might be using for more healthful activities, such as praying, meditating, processing the important things of our lives, talking to friends, taking a walk, reading a book, exercising or playing a board game with family members.
So maybe giving up Facebook and other digital media is a perfect idea for Lent in the 21st century. Like those old standbys of chocolate, alcohol, smoking and soda pop, giving up social media and other digital applications for Lent may not be easy, but it will help strengthen our spirits, test our willpower, clear our minds, distance ourselves from distractions and bring us closer to God.
--Rob Blezard
Copyright © 2018, Rev. Robert Blezard. Reprinted by permission. Pastor Blezard serves as an assistant to the bishop of the Lower Susquehanna Synod and also works as content editor for .
Links to resources
The “think it” resource
Why Faith Inspires Giving: Faith plays an important role in why people give, according to David King,Assistant Professor of Philanthropic Studies, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis. In fact, religious contributions comprised 32 percent of charitable giving in 2016, and 55 percent of all American donors cite religious values as a motivating factor. Check out how Americans gave to charity.
The “teach it” resource
The Bible’s Key Teachings on Stewardship: You hear people ask, "What are the basic biblical principles for Christian giving?" As we seek God's answer to that question and as we contemplate our own giving to the Lord's church in response to the clear teaching of the Bible, it might be helpful to review of those principles. From BibleStudyTools.com.
The “do it” resource
Resources for a Planned Giving Strategy: Here's a site for you if your congregation has been intending to get busy with planned and legacy giving. From the Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations, this site covers the issue well and provides solid resources to get you going with a planned giving program. Check out its link to the PDF "Planned Giving Guide for Congregations."
The “preach it” resource
Weekly Lectionary Stewardship Reflection – Sharron Blezard, Lower Susquehanna Synod assistant to the bishop and pastor, takes a look at stewardship implications in the week’s Revised Common Lectionary lessons.
General Stewardship Resource Websites
Stewardship of Life Institute– Headquartered at United Lutheran Seminary, this site has a trove of resources on stewardship in areas of congregational finance, individual finance, discipleship, education, preaching, creation care, and more.
Center for Steward Leadership – Luther Seminary’s excellent website with lots of resources.
The ELCA Foundation has resources at its website, as well as consultants who can meet with your congregational leaders to develop ideas and plans for long-term financial stability.
Lower Susquehanna Synod Stewardship – You’ll find a selected group of great resources.
Consultation and coaching
If your congregation is looking for direction, we have experts who are ready to help. We can provide guidance by telephone or email, in one-on-one meetings, in workshops and seminars for your team. Give us a call. We’re here to help.
The Rev. Rob Blezard, Assistant to the Bishop
717-652-1852, Ext. 109
Pastor Blezard specializes in stewardship development for congregations. He can assist in communication, education, programming and planning.
The Rev. Elizabeth Polanzke, Central Pennsylvania Gift Planner, ELCA Foundation
717-654-2334
.
Pastor Polanzke specializes in helping with legacy gifts, estate planning, endowment funds and other planned-gift topics.
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