What Exactly is The Joy of Giving?

By Carolyn Dicer, Stewardship Commission

"I begin with an understanding that Stewardship is all that we do to live out the promises we make in our Baptismal covenant," writes The Rev. Kirk Alan Kubicek in the current issue of the TENS (The Episcopal Network for Stewardship) newsletter. You know what is he referring to... "strive for justice and peace in the world, continue in the apostles teaching and fellowship, seek and serve God in all persons, proclaim the Good News of God in Christ and resist evil. In his sermons Kubicek relates these promises to daily living believing that when this occurs generous living will always follow.

Another Stewardship twist Kubicek offers comes from his reflection on the Catechism in the Book of Common prayer, pages 855-856. The questions there focus on Mission and Ministry reminding us of the Mission we are called to live out and the shape of lay ministry in particular. "The ministry of the laity....is to represent Christ wherever we may be....and according to the gifts given to us carry on Christ's work of reconciliation in the world." This acknowledges that we are all given gifts necessary to do the work Christ began. None of us is asked to do any more than we have already been equipped by God to do. The challenge is in the idea that we are expected to do no less than we have been equipped to do. The life of faith and the life of the Steward revolves around discerning those gifts and finding ways to put them to work. The joy of Stewardship is discovering that there is never too much that we can give away.

Your Will....Don't Leave Life Without One!

Who needs a Will?

Everyone does! Regardless of age...whether or not there are children or other dependents... and whether assets are great or modest! The Book of Common Prayer directs clergy to "instruct all persons to make Wills, while they are in health, arranging for the disposal of their temporal goods, not neglecting, if they are able, to leave bequests for religious and charitable uses." p. 445 BCP

If you do not have a will or a trust in place your affairs are settled by the state. The state will decide who will administer the estate, who will get any assets and who will have custody of any minor children etc. etc. etc.

Your will is the most important document you will ever sign. Why not use this very powerful document to bear witness to the most important thing about you — your Christian faith? Why not make a Christian Will? You can add a Christian testimony to your Will and/or leave a bequest that can help fund future ministry in your local congregation, the Diocese or any other charity. A bequest is a powerful act of faith and thanksgiving for all the blessings of this life and for the eternal life that lies beyond. A bequest does not have to be large to be important and deeply appreciated.

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