Stewardship is not a program, not a fall campaign for the budget, not a one-shot learning experience. Stewardship is "everything I do after I say I believe." Congregations have long equated stewardship with only money. It does begin there, but it must continue on.

We begin with an opportunity for members to make an estimate of their giving, a pledge or faith promise.

We consult the scriptures. Jesus used parables to teach, and more than half of these are about money or possessions.

You will be informed about mission opportunities throughout the year and our congregation's financial status in the bulletin each month.

When people become excited about the mission and ministry of the church, they want to be involved.

What else can we do besides give money? Each week, we profess:

we offer with joy and thanksgiving what you have first given us - our selves, our time, and our possessions, signs of your gracious love. Receive them for the sake of him who offered himself for us, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

Do you have time to help out with the church? Do you have talents that can be shared with the body of Christ? Consult our Time & Talents page to find out about various opportunites to serve.

If you would like to learn more, consult a member of the stewardship committee.

Our offering is an act of worship. Like the ancient people of God in the Old Testament, we bring into our congregation the "first fruits" of our labor. As they brought grain and animals, today we bring money to offer, and we make our offering right in the middle of the worship service. In our worship, we seek to love and honor God. We express our love and devotion by sacrificing something of value. We make our offering as an act of liberation. We know the temptation only too well, of permitting money to hold sway over our lives. In the face of that temptation, we nevertheless break the hold of money and release it - lightly, freely, and with joy. We are not those who seek to die with the most toys. We are free from that. We make our offering as an act of community. This is about ministry that is beyond you and me, ministry that is shared with all the people of God. Our offering is released into the care of the wider congregation, and so our offering becomes part of our ministry, an expression that our identity is now part of the Church. We make our offering in imitation of Christ. We are generous because Christ is generous, in his work and in laying down his life, and we want to be like him. We bear the baptismal cross on our foreheads, in memory and in imitation of the cross that Christ bore. Our offering proclaims to all who care to know: we follow Christ.

Rehoboth Evangelical Lutheran Church 2800 Conway Wallrose Road Baden, PA 15005 724.869.2806 church-office@rehobothlutheran.com