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Stewardship
 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.
Stewardship Offering
 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.
Our God is Patient
  I have been a Christian all my life. I went to Sunday School taught taught Sunday School; joined a youth group, went to a Lutheran College, married a Lutheran boy, and brought my kids to Sunday School; I thought God was good; knew Jesus loved me and tried to follow the golden rule. But...,when it came to giving offering, I actually had a bitter heart. My husband and I were pretty poor in our early days, My husband's job did not pay well. I had to work at a job I hated; and our kids ate generic mac & cheese for years. Every Stewardship Sunday, requests for money or talk of tithing would stir up the bitterness in me. We've given enough of ourselves to the church . . . We don't have any extra to give. I have to work at a job I hate just to eat generic mac & cheese. This bitter attitude went on for years - all the while attending and being involved in Church, Sunday School; Bible Studies, etc. I think the change started when I was at a low point. I had just been laid off; was spiraling into more self pity and financial despair. During that time, a friend, one of those friends from Church shared with me about her practice of doing a gratitude journal. WOW! What a powerful tool! Instead of focusing on what I didn't have, this practice helped me focus on what I did have. All the blessings I had been taking for granted. Amazingly, God opened my heart to see pages of blessings each day. This practice prepared my heart to actually listen during a stewardship retreat. I heard about how none of this is "mine," that I had done nothing to deserve any of it, it is all a gift, and about God's nature of generosity. He wants to give us every good thing. By tithing, we are telling God thank you for the other 90% (which we didn't deserve). We are also telling Him that we truly trust Him for our daily needs. For me, tithing is a matter of trust. When I tithe, I recognize my dependence on God. I recognize the many gifts already given, and I trust His promises for daily bread and all His other promises. For me Thankfulness leads to Tithing which leads to Trust which leads to Peace, and the Joy of knowing that you are held in the hands of a loving and generous God. Sincerely,
A Thankful Tither Submitted to our Synod's ECHO by the Rev. Robert J. Newpher
Stewardship Specialist of the Evangelical Outreach and Congregational Mission Unit
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
Stewardship Committee
Wes Hill
Chairperson | The Stewardship Committee consists of the following members: Alex Frantz, Jack Dewar, Marilyn Foringer, Tom Kelly, Pam Zatchey, Butch Zatchey, Sally Patton, Norman Amsler, and Cindy Morris. Council liaison is Wes Hill. 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. 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.
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Stewardship News
Your Building Stewardship Committee members are Jack Dewar, Donna DuPont, Alex Frantz, Cindy Morris, Carol Nicoletti, Debbie Vidovich and Pastor Eric Reimer.
We have chosen the theme: Building on Blessings – A Home For All
Our goal is to be able to build/renovate with the blessings the Lord has given to us, a Rehoboth Lutheran Church that can and will continue to be “A Home For All.” Our “home” needs some major structural work.
Through prayer and scripture reading, we will be guided through the process of a capital campaign by Pastor Kathy Haueisen, our Stewardship Key Leader. You will be receiving information on the process and the campaign in the next few weeks.
Please talk with any of the committee members at any point with your comments, suggestions, and questions. We realize that this is a tremendous undertaking. Remember that as a congregation of over 100 families the power of prayer is awesome. We can do this!
Rehoboth Evangelical Lutheran Church 2800 Conway Wallrose Road Baden, PA 15005 724.869.2806 church-office@rehobothlutheran.com
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