New Year's Resolutions...A Thought on Stewardship

Christmas blessings upon you!

We are right in the thick of the Christmas octave! And yet, our world continues to move forward at light speed with the New Year quickly approaching.

The New Year's holiday ushers in the month of January, also known to many as the month of resolutions. Each year millions of people make resolutions as a form of hope and planning for the coming year.

My challenge to you is to look at your resolutions from a Stewardship perspective. This year, don't set your resolutions based on what you think you need (a better job, a better body, a better use of your time), but set your resolutions based on your gratitude for the gifts God has given you.

God Gives you Life
Show your gratitude by caring for your body and your mind as His temple. Sustain your body with healthy food, regular exercise, and lots of water. Enrich your mind with scripture, learning, and meditation. Quiet yourself and create opportunities that relieve stress instead of create it.

God Gives you Resources
Remember that the financial resources you have or you do not have are gifts from God. Say thank you by sharing your resources with the less fortunate. Find a cause that feeds your own passions and interests and share the great gifts God has given you. God does not need our money, God is all-powerful after all, but He asks us to give because it is good for us and it can help to keep us from being enslaved by it.

Remember also that God gives us the earth and we are called to be good and responsible stewards of our environment. Pay close attention to your use of utilities and natural resources.

God Gives you Time
Your time comes from God. He has given us the free-will to decide what to do with it. Does working all those extra hours or sleeping the day away bring Him glory and show Him your gratitude? If it doesn't, what can you do with your time that will show Him how grateful you are for the gift?

God Gives you Love
Show your gratitude for God's love by loving others. Love your family. Love your spouse. Love your next-door neighbor. Love yourself.

Consider these things when you are making your New Year's resolutions. And remember, if you don't succeed at them right away, don't give up. Keep trying. God never gives up on us!!!

Five Stewards of Christmas

"Consider the Five Stewards: the three Magi, King Herod, and yourself. Consider these five people, given the gifts of life, love and material goods. The three Magi chose to pay homage and give their gifts to a King of whom they knew nothing. One-Herod-choose to be selfish, much like Ebenezer Scrooge. He promised homage, but in his deceit he knew he would pay none. (The only different between Herod and Scrooge is that through Jacob Marley's intervention Scrooge is eventually saved). The last? What has the fifth steward done? Only you can answer that."
Written by Deacon Stephen A. Venturini
Excerpt from "The Steward's Harvest" from the Office of Development and Planning, Catholic Diocese of Columbus

I found this excerpt quite interesting. Maybe it's because I grew up listening to my dad read "A Christmas Carol" each year, or maybe it is because I see such a significant lesson of Stewardship in Dicken's timeless classic. Either way, what a powerful thought for this blessed season of giving.

Holiday Stewardship - Part 7

7. Remember the True Meaning of Christmas

It may sound like a cliche, but remembering "the reason for the season" can help you put things in perspective. Christmas is about remembering God's greatest gift, His only Son, and helping to bring Christ's love into the world. When you're feeling overwhelmed by holiday task consider asking yourself: "Is this a fitting way to remember Jesus' birth?" or "Will this help to bring God's love into the world (or to my family, parish or community)?" Keeping this focus will help make Christmas both a giving experience and a deeply fulfilling one.

I think that speaks for itself.

From all the staff at Resurrection: May your holy day be very blessed by the greatest Gift of all. Merry Christmas!

Holiday Stewardship - Part 6

6. Include Nonmaterial Gifts When Giving to Family Members, Close Friends, and Children

Children can give their parents coupons for extra help with household tasks. You may wish to make a donation to charity in honor of the person rather than buying them a gift.

In addition to being good stewards of our financial gifts, this is a good way to be stewards of our time and creative gifts. Parents, this is not only a great way to check off some of the shopping items, but also can be a great way to kill an afternoon at home with the kids. Cardstock, stickers, and crayons can be a fun way to create cards and coupons for all members of the family.

If you are interested in different local opportunities to give, Resurrection's Human Concern committee is involved in many different outreach opportunities. A phone call or visit to the parish can provide you with an education in our different outreaches and contact information about how to help. Some of our projects include; St. John's Homeless Shelter, Ecumenical Partnership for Housing, St. Therese parish in Okolona, Mississippi, Friends of Haiti and many more.

Also, for those looking for a charity or more global outreach, there is a really neat project called the Heifer project. It is a giving program that supports sustainable living opportunties in other countries. You can purchase a flock of chicks, a goat, a trio of rabbits, or even shares of a heifer in order to help families in developing countries feed themselves and provide a sustainable source of income. It is very unique opportunity!

Their website is: www.heifer.org

Holiday Stewardship - Part 5

5. Donate Time or Talent to Your Parish

Consider volunteering to help with parish events, such as charitable outreaches or special decoration for Christmas. Are there family members with muscial talent who may want to partcipate in special music for Christmas Masses? Due to hectic holiday schedules and parishioners who are out of town, parishes are sometimes short of ministers during the holidays to serve as lectors, altar servers and Eucharistic Ministers.

How did they know? Here are Resurrection we are still looking for ministers for our holiday masses. For our needs, please call the parish! If you are interested in becoming a more regular part of our ministries ask for the Stewardship Coordinator and she can connect you!

Holiday Stewardship - Part 4

4. Plan family acts of charity

Take some time out as af amily to hlep those who are less fortunate. This may mean helping in a soup kitchen or collecting and sorting items for a local food or toy drive. Many parishes have "gift trees", where families can choose a needy child or family and pruchase a specific item that has been requested. You may wish to choose a child who is close in age to your child, and involve your child in shopping for the requested items. You can also sort through outgrown clothing and toys for items to donate to shelters or local drives.

Resurrection annually hosts the "Tree of Giving". This project was completed at last weekend's masses, but that doesn't mean that there aren't still opportunities to give. Paul's Pantry here in Green Bay is always looking for donations of food, especially during and after the holidays. Also, Resurrection's faith formation will be assisting St. John's Homeless Shelter during the month of January. Their needs include nuts, snack size treats, hand and foot warmers, bus tokens, decks of cards, gas cards, socks, reading materials and large ziplock bags to package all of these items in. This is another great option for family giving.

Holiday Stewardship - Part 3

3. Count Your Blessings

At a time of the year when budgets get tighter and wish lists get longer, it's tempting to focus on what you lack, rather than what you have. At the dinner table or in family prayer time, consider taking turns naming blessings God has given your family.

This is also great activity for riding in the car.

Here are some specific questions for you to reflect on:

1. What special new people or creatures has God blessed our lives with this year?
2. What new things have we learned about God or our faith this year?
3. What gifts of health has God given us this year?

4. What challenges has God allowed us to face that have made us stronger this year?

Holiday Stewardship - Part 2

2. Make Time for Family

We think of the holidays as family time, yet practical preparations can sometimes take a toll on quality family time. Consider changing some holiday "chores" (such as decorating or shopping) into family events, in which everyone shares int he task. Schedule some downtime to spend together. Prioritize family meals, making sure to sit around the table together at dinner time.

Holiday Stewardship - Part 1

For the next few days I will be posting excerpts from an article out of the Diocese of Columbus on holiday stewardship.

During the Christmas season we all think about giving gifts. But as Christians we are called to be stewards, and stewardship goes beyond giving objects. It entails giving gifts of the heart and mind and soul, as well as prayer, service, and sharing. This year help your children - and yourself - understand what it means to be wise stewards.

1. Emphasize the Spiritual.
Take some time out of the hustle and bustle of holiday preparations to prepare spiritually. Many parishes have special reconciliation services during Advent. Consider going as a family. Make it a point to do some spiritual reading. Take some time to pray together as a family, perhaps at the end of the day before everyone goes to bed.

Resurrection will be hosting a reconciliation service at 6:00 tonight in the church. We will also be participating in a joint reconciliation service at St. Matthew's parish on Tuesday, December 18th at 7:00.

Resurrection is also offering the Advent "Blue Books" that contains 6-minute daily reflections for the entire season.

Consider using these resources as well as many others to focus on your preparation for the birth of our Lord.