St. Dunstan's Episcopal Church, Tulsa

Join your parish family when the Saint Dunstan’s Community presents pledges for 2008 by making a “Thanks Giving” offering at the altar on Sunday, November 18, 2007.

“Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received.” 1 Peter 4:10

Stewardship is the care and use of all that we have been given by God, which includes our money, talents and time.

Financial Stewardship

At St. Dunstan's, we count on financial pledges to help us continue Christ’s work in our community. Financial gifts help us serve those in need, provide programs and services to our faith community, and maintain our facilities.

Reflections on Stewardship

We are created by God to be stewards of this world. We have no option…we are stewards. Our option is the kind of stewards we are. We are called to love others as Christ loved us; to be caretakers of others, of our world, of our time, of our emotions, of our relationships…all of life! Stewardship is a response to the abundance God bestows upon us. It is the joyful, loving, good-will gift, Sent forth to God’s purposes, Given to be made Holy. It is given first as faithful witness of trust that god will provide. It is given proportionally as a faithful discipline of a Holy Habit. It is given without reserve as God loves us without reserve. The result is the gift becomes love and the giver grows into a deeper relationship with God.

Remembering Our Baptismal Covenant

Will you continue in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in the prayers? I will, with God’s help.

Will you persevere in resisting evil, and, whenever you fall into sin, repent and return to the Lord? I will, with God’s help.

Will you proclaim by word and example the Good News of God in Christ? I will, with God’s help.

Will you seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving your neighbor as yourself? I will, with God’s help.

Will you strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being? I will, with God’s help.

Grant, O Lord God, to all who have been baptized into the death and resurrection of thy Son Jesus Christ, that, as we have put away the old life of sin, so we may be renewed in the spirit of our minds, and live in righteousness and true holiness; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Prayers for Our Stewardship Program

O merciful Creator, whose hand is open wide to satisfy the needs of every living creature: Make us, we beseech thee, ever thankful for thy loving providence; and grant that we, remembering the account that we must one day give, may be faithful stewards of thy bounty; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with thee and the Holy Spirit liveth and reigneth, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Almighty God, who hast created us in thine own image: Grant us grace fearlessly to contend against evil and to make no peace with oppression; and, that we may reverently use our freedom, help us to employ it in the maintenance of justice in our communities and among the nations, to the glory of thy holy Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Almighty and everliving God, ruler of all things in heaven and earth, hear our prayers for this parish family. Strengthen the faithful, arouse the careless, and restore the penitent. Grant us all things necessary for our common life, and bring us all to be of one heart and mind within your holy Church; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Heavenly Father, we remember before you those who suffer want and anxiety from lack of work. Guide the people of this land so to use our public and private wealth that all may find suitable and fulfilling employment, and receive just payment for their labor; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

O God, in the course of this busy life, give us times of refreshment and peace; and grant that we may so use our leisure to rebuild our bodies and renew our minds, that our spirits may be opened to the goodness of your creation; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Almighty and most merciful God, we remember before you all poor and neglected persons whom it would be easy for us to forget: the homeless and the destitute, the old and the sick, and all who have none to care for them. Help us to heal those who are broken in body or spirit, and to turn their sorrow into joy. Grant this, Father, for the love of your Son, who for our sake became poor, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Almighty God, whose loving hand has given us all that we possess: Grant us grace that we may honor you with our substance, and, remembering the account which we must one day give, may be faithful stewards of your bounty, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Lord Jesus, for our sake you were condemned as a criminal: Visit our jails and prisons with your pity and judgment. Remember all prisoners, and bring the guilty to repentance and amendment of life according to your will, and give them hope for their future. When any are held unjustly, bring them release; forgive us, and teach us to improve our justice. Remember those who work in these institutions; keep them humane and compassionate; and save them from becoming brutal or callous. And since what we do for those in prison, O Lord, we do for you; constrain us to improve their lot. All this we ask for your mercy’s sake. Amen.

Almighty and everlasting God, you made the universe with all its marvelous order, its atoms, worlds, and galaxies, and the infinite complexity of living creatures: Grant that, as we probe the mysteries of your creation, we may come to know you more truly, and more surely fulfill our role in your eternal purpose; in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Almighty God, in giving us dominion over things on earth, you made us fellow workers in your creation: Give us wisdom and reverence so to use the resources of nature, that no one may suffer from our abuse of them, and that generations yet to come may continue to praise you for your bounty; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

We give you thanks, most gracious God, for the beauty of earth and sky and sea; for the richness of mountains, plains, and rivers; for the songs of birds and the loveliness of flowers. We praise you for these good gifts, and pray that we may safeguard them for our posterity. Grant that we may continue to grow in our grateful enjoyment of your abundant creation, to the honor and glory of your Name, now and for ever. Amen.

Almighty God, look with favor upon us as we reaffirm our commitment to follow Christ and to serve in his name. Give us courage, patience, and vision; and strengthen us all in our Christian vocation of witness to the world, and of service to others; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

O God you taught us by your Son Jesus Christ that all of our possessions come from you. Help us to be faithful stewards of our time, our talents and our wealth; And to consecrate gladly to your service a due proportion for all that you have given us. Take us and make us your own; For Jesus Christ’s sake. Amen.

May God the Father bless us, God the Son heal us, God the Holy Spirit give us strength. May God the holy and undivided Trinity guard our bodies, save our souls, and bring us safely to his heavenly country; where he lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen.

How and Where to Begin:

Q: I’ve never practiced proportional giving before. How should I begin?

A: Reflect on the amount of your pledge last year. Calculate its proportional amount with last year’s income. This is the beginning percentage to work toward your goal. Increase your percentage giving each year until you reach the proportional amount that is your goal.

Q: What guidance is there for what the standard of giving should be?

A: The tithe (10%) is the minimum biblical standard of giving to God’s world and is also the standard of the Episcopal Church. Gifts of time and talent are more difficult to quantify than money, but the principle of proportional giving still applies.

Questions about Your Pledge:

Q: Why is it better to offer a formal pledge rather than just give a weekly offering?

A: Signing a pledge card helps the Vestry budget for the coming year. Your annual pledge commitment allows Saint Dunstan’s to discern God’s will for our faith community and to respond.

Q: Will the church maintain a record of my giving?

A: Yes. You will also receive quarterly statements of your pledge status.

Q: Are cash and checks the only ways to present our regular gifts to Saint Dunstan’s?

A: No. In being good stewards of our gifts from God, it is possible to fund the pledge in other ways. Gifts of appreciated securities, monies from a charitable planning instrument, direct bank transfers and other methods can be established. Contact the church office for more information.

Q: What is the payment period for my pledge?

A: This pledge is for the calendar year beginning January 1, 2008 and ending December 31, 2008.

Q: What should my gift be?

A: Our individual circumstances vary greatly. We give in proportion to what we have. This is why it is helpful to determine what percentage of our income we are already giving and to adjust that amount to reflect our priorities. It is important to stretch ourselves and to give at a level that celebrates our thankfulness. God offers us the Holy Habit of giving as a tool to avoid becoming prisoners of money. In giving, we become richer.

Determining Your Pledge:

Prayerfully consider all that you have and all that you are. Before deciding on your offering, give thanks for all you have. Making a list of things for which you are thankful is a helpful tool. Do this for one week and you’ll be amazed. Determine what percentage of your total income you usually give each year. One way to determine this is to compare your last year’s pledge with your tax return. Next, add up all sources of your income and create an estimated total for 2008. Determine what percentage of your 2008 income you will give to God’s work at Saint Dunstan’s Church. Consider how you will fulfill your pledge. Ask God’s help that your mind and heart will be made grateful and generous through the making of you pledge. Ask God’s help that you can be disciplined to give first to Him and to give a portion that is pleasing to Him.

A Holy Habit:

In Exodus God asks His people to bring the first and the choicest harvest to Him as their offering. (Exodus 23:19)

Giving to God first, before our own human wants are satisfied, is a declaration of trust that God will provide.

The act of giving in this way is a practice or discipline of one of the Holy Habits.

As a member of the Saint Dunstan’s community, you are invited to consider practicing the Holy Habit of Giving.

Consider asking each member of your family to do this exercise. It is never to early to teach children to have grateful and generous hearts.

2007–2008 Stewardship Calendar

October 7, 2007 - Volunteer Event

October 15, 2007 - Cottage Meetings Begin

November 3, 2007 - Conclude Cottage Meetings

November 18, 2007 - Thanks Giving Service

January 2008 - Stewardship Time and Talent

February 2008 - Outreach Programs

March 2008 - Focus on Millennium Development Goals

April 2008 - Stewardship of our Environment

May 2008 - Stewardship of Self

June 2008 - Diocesan Apportionment

July 2008 - Endowment and Estate Planning

August 2008 - New Rector’s thoughts on Stewardship

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