Have you ever wondered what stewardship is all about? According to the ELCA*, the concept behind the term “steward” came about in the first century. The steward was the servant or slave who served the owner of an estate as the chief caretaker of almost everything the owner called his or her own. But this caretaker did more than just follow the “household rules”. Instead, the steward knew the over-all plan for the entire estate, both short-range and long-range. The steward knew the mind of the owner, the deepest intentions and greatest hopes of the owner. This became important when the owner was absent, and the steward was entrusted with the day-to-day affairs of the entire estate. Knowing the master’s intent, the steward was able to carry out the master’s plan in his absence.

And that’s where we come in.

The Stewardship Ministry helps us identify the abundance of gifts from God so we can make good use of them in our world, in our church, and in our faith. These gifts may be time, talent, or treasure based. Through an ongoing stewardship education effort and the annual survey of the congregation members, the Stewardship Ministry helps people recognize their talents, passions, and training and helps people find the ministry where they can make a positive difference in the church and our world. The Stewardship team is also responsible for educating and providing guidance to the congregation on biblical giving during the annual appeal process. This appeal consists of announcements, informational segments, and testimonials during services in October. They work closely with the Finance Committee and the Treasurer to help ensure that financial needs of the congregation in general, the ministries, and the church staff are met each year.

God’s work…our hands.*excerpted from Stewardship 101 “Make It Simple”