by Kitty Merrill | Aug 1, 2016 | Finance
Here is a simple test to help measure our attitudes regarding stewardship in our congregation It is a true/false format for easy use:
- I find it very difficult to talk candidly about money with almost everyone.
- It’s easy for me to think about the time and money I invest in church because it’s important for me to commit to what I think is important.
- It makes me defensive when you ask me to volunteer to give more time or money to support the church. We get this way too often during the year.
- I feel lucky and satisfied that my church work and financial contributions help sustain the people who work and donate to support each other and our common goals.
Our success in providing a vibrant social and spiritual gathering place seems like magic, but is evidence of successful behind the scenes work done by individuals connected by faith in each other and our future.
by David Henkel & David Smith, Stewardship Coordinators
by Kitty Merrill | Jul 6, 2016 | Finance
by David Henkel and David Smith, Stewardship Coordinators
July is an in-between time for stewardship as we savor the successful Celebration Campaign that our generous members responded to, and as we contemplate our stewardship activities for next year. One important initiative that is in process now involves identifying our long term major maintenance projects and listing them for the board of trustees to schedule and fund during the next 5-10 years.
This work is being done by an ad hoc committee on major maintenance that will provide the board with their conclusions. This is an important stewardship activity in that we want to keep things in good shape outside and inside our building and not defer maintenance until there is a crisis.
We have seen a reduction in our SCE bill for the first six months of the operation of our solar energy plant on our new rooftop. This project helps us maintain our property and decrease our carbon footprint in line with our environmental values.
Stewardship is a way of viewing our resources as needing to be available for a very long time. Our mission is important enough to last longer than we do.
