The Members of St. Paul Parish are gathered by the Holy Spirit to worship God in word, action and sacrament and to serve Jesus Christ by serving others, especially the poor and needy. We are committed to handing on the faith we have received from the Apostles to our children and others.
What is Stewardship?
Stewardship is the responsible management of our God-given resources of time, talent, and treasure. It is our commitment to be Christ-centered rather than self-centered. In the U. S. Bishops’ 1992 Pastoral letter on Stewardship, a Christian Steward is defined as “One who receives God’s gifts gratefully, cherishes and tends them in a responsible and accountable manner, shares them in justice and love with others, and returns them with increase to the Lord.”
Sharing the gift of Time is the idea that God gives us each a certain amount of time on earth and we are responsible to share a portion of that time helping others, especially the poor and needy. There are a multitude of opportunities in our parish and community that require only one thing of you, your time. Please be generous with it.
Sharing the gift of Talent refers to how we use the talents (no one is without them) that God has given us. Sharing these talents in service to the Church and others is how we return, with increase, God’s gifts to Him. Again the list of opportunities is endless. Someone in need is out there looking for the service that your unique talent can provide. Answer that call, God will reward you!
What is Sacrificial Giving?
Sharing the gift of Treasure has traditionally been called tithing. What is a Tithe? The word tithe means tenth. A tithe is the first tenth of a wage earner's income. It is giving back to God something God gave in the first place. Tithing is not any tenth; it is the first tenth of one's income--salary, dividends, and interest-income from any source. The ideal tithe is 5% to the Church and 5% to charity. The amount you decide to give is a decision you must make. Your gift should be a sacrifice. If your circumstances do not allow the 10%, start lower and set your eventual goal at 10%. It may take a while to get there, but it is a worthy and rewarding goal for all.
Sacrificial Giving Chart