Stewardship

ABOUT OUR TIME,

TALENT & TREASURE

The message of Stewardship is the message that all we have, everything we have been given, is a gift from God. By the grace of God we are blessed to live lives of freedom and abundance. As the saying goes: There is nothing we have not received.

When we truly realize this we wish to become good stewards of God’s bounty by cultivating a spirit of generosity. Centuries ago, King David, the poet of ancient Israel, offered his famous prayer of thanksgiving to God: All things come of Thee and of thine own have we given Thee.

Stewardship is not merely about money. The Episcopal Church has long taught the importance of the Three Ts: time, talent and treasure. There are as many ways to give to the life of a community as there are God-given gifts and skills.

The Church seeks to cultivate stewardship in her people by summoning them to dedicate all to the service of God, giving actively as they are able to the practical support of the ministry. Some ways to serve at Saint Bernard’s are outlined in the pages of this web site. A good place to start is by speaking with the clergy about how you might become involved. We welcome your participation.

Ministries open to the volunteer help of parishioners include Vestry, Outreach, Parish Life, Pastoral Care, Parish Office Volunteers, Lay Leadership in Worship, Church School and Children’s Events, and a host of others.

STEWARDSHIP OF FINANCES

The Episcopal Church encourages its members to tithe, that is, to give 10% of their annual income to the work of the Church. Knowing this to be an ambitious goal for many people in our day, we also teach proportional giving, the commitment to donate some percentage of one’s annual income (2%, 5%, 7%) on the way to achieving the future goal of the tithe.

Each year in the autumn, Saint Bernard’s Church conducts its annual Stewardship Campaign, a large part of which is the solicitation of financial pledges for the following year. Making an annual financial pledge to the parish (a commitment in writing to give a certain amount annually) allows the Finance Committee and Vestry to plan expenditures and to adopt a realistic Annual Operating Budget.

Pledge forms for the giving of money, as well as forms for time and talent, are sent out to parishioners each October, then returned to the Parish Office for recording. Pledge cards can always be picked up from the Office and are also available on the table in the Great Hall and on the table in the lower hallway of the Parish House.

HOW TO MAKE AN ANNUAL PLEDGE

An Annual Pledge of money to Saint Bernard’s Church is to be distinguished from a gift. Gifts are given freely and occasionally by parishioners and friends of the parish as they wish.

An Annual Pledge, on the other hand, is a commitment in writing to donate a specific sum of money to the work of the Church in a given year. Pledge cards are filled out according to the instructions provided on them, then signed and returned to the Parish Office. The Executive Assistant to the Rector keeps our pledge records, tracks pledge income, and issues quarterly statements to the families and individuals who have made them.

All members of the parish receive Pledge Cards in the mail once a year in the autumn. This is timed to facilitate their decision on pledging for the upcoming year. Extra Pledge Cards are always available throughout the year by contacting Hilary Thomas Dorer, Executive Assistant to the Rector, in the Parish Office.

For more details about our ministry of Stewardship, please speak with John Canavan, Chair of the Stewardship Committee, whose contact information is available through the Parish Office (Telephone: 908-766-0602, extension 5 or E-mail: saintbernards@verizon.net).

HOW TO MAKE A GIFT

To make a free-will financial gift to the parish (apart from an Annual Pledge), simply send in a check payable to “Saint Bernard’s Church.” Acknowledgement of the gift in writing will be sent to you in response. All gifts are processed in the Parish Office (Saint Bernard’s Church, 88 Claremont Road, Bernardsville, NJ 07924). We welcome unpledged gifts.

All undesignated free-will financial gifts will be put toward the Annual Operating Budget of the parish unless otherwise earmarked.

Gifts to the rebuild effort should be made out to the “Campaign for Saint Bernard’s Church.” Gifts to a particular memorial fund, or for a special seasonal offering (Flowers & Music at Christmas, etc.), while made out to the church, should be so noted on the memo line.

Gifts to Music at Saint Bernard’s should be made payable to “Music at Saint Bernard’s.”

HOW TO MAKE A BEQUEST

Please remember to remember the Church in your will. Planned estate giving is a wonderful way to say thank you to a community of faith that has offered support and nurture over a life time.

To arrange a bequest to Saint Bernard’s Church, please contact the parish clergy via the Parish Office.