Stewardship
We are all stewards - managers of many gifts God has bestowed upon us.
Our challenge as Christians is to make good use of those gifts as we pray, serve and share.
“It is more blessed to give than receive.”
…Acts 20:35
+The First Sunday of Advent + December 3, 2006+
Dear Brothers and Sisters of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish Family,
Today we begin another “Year of Grace” in which we remember again all the saving action and grace of God in human history. As we wait for Jesus to come again at the end of earthly time with the fullness of the Heavenly Kingdom, we can look back and see God’s promise - the Covenant - that we should be His People and He will be our God.
While we have fallen short at times on our end, God has never withdrawn His love, His Mercy and His promise. That’s what a covenant is: fidelity to a promise and a relationship.
In fact, in the face of our shortcomings with the first covenant of the Ten Commandments on Sinai, God gave another chance in the “Christmas gift” of His own Son, Jesus! His blood seals the faithful relationship between God and us that no sin, not even death can break!
In that light, as we begin Advent and anticipate Christmas, and among other things the gift-giving that goes with this ‘holyday’, and encouraged by the Parish Pastoral Council, the Finance Council, the Stewardship Committee and the Parish Staff, I ask you to join me in renewing the covenant between ourselves and God, and ourselves and the Church, and to our parish family here at Lourdes. This is a precious gift we can give in the promise and follow-through.
For this time in history, we have the duty and privilege of “tending the vineyard” of this parish family. Think of it! We benefit every day from the sacrifices and ‘covenant fidelity’ of those who have gone before us for our 300 years in West De Pere. Now, the Gospel asks us to “pay it forward” for others as they did for us! Then, for another 300 years this parish family will be able to be vibrant, compassionate, welcoming and effective in announcing Christ!
This Advent we ask you to “Renew the Covenant” - with God and our Church - by ‘signing on again’. Being a part of it all focuses on three areas:
The Stewardship of Prayer and Worship
The Stewardship of Service
The Stewardship of Financial Support & Sharing
As these Advent days begin, I ask you to think about how you will respond, and to pray about it too!
In next weekend’s bulletin, there will be a facsimile of the Covenant we are asking each member and household to renew, complete and sign. Then on December 16th & 17th - the Third Sunday of Advent - we will ask you as the weekend Masses to complete the Covenant and to participate in an Offertory procession that makes an offering of the bread and wine, the weekly collection and our completed covenants.
After January 1st, we will follow up with a mailing to those who weren’t at Mass; and if needed, a third ‘wave’ later in the year will use phone and/or visit those who haven’t responded.
Since all is gift from God, since we can take none of it with us, how important that we use wisely and share generously all that god has given as a way of thanking God for the gift of Life in Jesus and through the Church! And since God will not ever be ‘outdone’ in being generous, as we remain faithful stewards,
“God will bless us…EVERY one”!
Fr. Timothy Shillcox, O. Praem.
Pastor
My Covenant with God and our Parish Family