By Michael Paradise, Stewardship Team Lead
More than 20 members, friends and neighbors gathered in the Garden of Eatin’ for a happy hour on Sunday, September 25th to enjoy being together and to think about stewardship: how we share our time, talents and treasure.
“The air was cool and a bit damp Sunday evening and it was just lovely discussing our lives, love for the community and the future of our church,” said Peggy Wagner, Fellowship Team lead.
Pastor Annemarie talked about our stewardship themes from last year and this year: Hope Starts Here and Hope Grows Here.
“Last year our Stewardship program was Hope Starts Here. We planted some seeds last year and those seeds required some tending, watering, mulching,” she said. “We are now working on tending those sprouts in the Garden of Hope so that they can grow with our time, talent and treasurers.”
Pastor Steve Holm talked about his experience as a pastor in a town in northern Wyoming.
“I was in a little congregation in northern Wyoming and was taught a big lesson in stewardship. A member named Paul took me aside and said, ‘I want you to know that in this congregation you never get a $ (dollar) sign confused with the Cross of Christ.’ His message was you just never talked about money in that church,” he said. “However, Jesus spent a lot of time talking about money. I learned in that congregation that generous giving is crucial, and that giving is always our response to what God has already given to us.”
Over the next two months, you will hear voices from the congregation, and you will see first-hand videos about giving Time, Talent and Treasure, all in preparation for Pledge Sunday on Sunday, November 21, 2021. A pledge form can be found at www.myesperanza.org/pledge and pledge forms will be mailed in mid-November to each household. For more information on your Stewardship Program visit www.myesperanza.org/hope-grows-here/
