Stewardship 2010

Stewardship Month
September 27 - October 18, 2009

To raise awareness about Cathedral ministry, maintenance and operations, we are launcing an annual stewardship program, beginning this year with Stewardship Month from September 27 to October 18.

The objective of Stewardship 2010 is to bring a focus to Christian Stewardship. We'd like you to be involved:

Think about what "Christian Stewardship" means to you and how you can strengthen your faith through becoming or growing as God's steward
Read the narrative budget booklet where the Cathedral's main revenue sources and expenditures are explained
Prayerfully consider making an annual commitment for maintenance offerings for 2010
Bring your commitment on October 18

Week Three

It is hard to tell when Thanksgiving was first recognized formally. In the early pages of the Old Testament we see the Israelites sacrificing their first fruits to God in gratitude. Here in Canada, in 1587, Martin Frobisher celebrates a formal thanksgiving for a safe voyage from England. Today, we celebrate Thanksgiving by having dinner with family and friends.

What do we give thanks for?

At this Thanksgiving we want to thank God for all he has given us, and we want to share out that abundance with others, with our church, with our community.

We have probably never lived in times of greater wealth and plenty, and, despite these recent troubling times, we still have much to be thankful for. We have each other and the caring company of this Cathedral congregation.

All of our worship is focused upon thanksgiving to God. Think today, as we celebrate the Eucharist, that in fact, the Greek word eucharisto means “I give thanks.”

- Marie DunSeith

The New Testament suggests that giving should be:

Cheerful (2 Corinthians 9:7)
Proportional to one's income (1 Corinthians 16:2; 2 Corinthians 8:12)
Consistent (1 Corinthians 16:2)
Sacrificial (Mark 12:43-44; 2 Corinthians 8:2-3

Download Commitment Card (PDF)

Download Narrative Budget Document (PDF)

"For the last three weeks during this stewardship campaign you’ve heard about money and how to give it. We somehow find it difficult and almost distasteful to talk about money in church.

"We shouldn’t be afraid to talk about money, for that money, so generously given by so many of you, results in wonderful things happening here at St. James Cathedral.

"We come to church to worship God.

"You may ask: How does my financial support directly affect that worship?

"Your financial gifts support an array of activities, many of which are carried out by people sitting in the pews today:

"(I don’t want to embarrass anyone but I’d like to refer to specific people to illustrate what I mean)..."