What is Stewardship?

Stewardship is a foundational aspect of the Christian life. We are stewards of the mysteries of God, of one another, and of the world in which we live. It calls for the faithful management of all resources in a way that honors God and furthers His Kingdom.

Stewardship is our personal response to God’s generosity in the way we share our resources of time, talent, and money. Being God’s people, and accepting His blessings, we are called to respond with every aspect of our lives: our faith, time, energy, passion, skills, and our money. Stewardship is a way of life.

At St. Mary’s, we are blessed with a church and other buildings to care for. As individuals, we are entrusted with the responsibility to ensure the appropriate management of its property, funds, and equipment. While stewardship is more than simply contributing money, this is a crucial factor that allows St. Mary’s to share our financial resources to sustain our parish and help others in our community and the world. However, our responsibility also includes contributing our time and talents, so that we can be God’s hands and voice to each other and to the community.

However you practice stewardship, thank you for the generosity of the time, skills, and financial support that you bring to the mission of St. Mary’s. Please know that it is recognized and appreciated by all who are affected by it!

How Can I Practice Stewardship?

1. Share in the community of the faithful by attending worship services. Attending worship services regularly is an expression of your love for God and is a powerful way to build your spiritual strength. Attending services provides a place of belonging, gives hope and a sense of peace, and a community of people to help you through challenging times. While your physical presence is most valued, If you are unable to attend in person, the Sunday services are available on Facebook.

2. Become active in one or more ministries, committees, and other activities. There are many opportunities at St. Mary’s that welcome your time and talents. By becoming involved in parish life, you can reap the rewards of selfless giving and make connections with others. Some of these ministries can be found on this website under the Community tab, but other opportunities to volunteer are listed in the weekly bulletins. If you are interested in learning more about one of the above ways to get involved, or to offer your ideas, please contact the parish office, the rector, or one of the church leaders. Your skills will be put to good use, and others will benefit from your involvement.

3. Annual Pledge. Responsible and disciplined financial stewardship, or giving back to God a portion of what God has given us, is critical to spiritual health. Your pledge assists the church in financial planning. Regular contributions in fulfillment of that pledge allow for the internal running of the parish and serving our Church family; and externally, in the in/outreach ministries. Whether the pledge is the Biblical 10% or another amount, your generous financial support of the church family sustains St. Mary’s mission.

Pledges are made annually; and contributed weekly, monthly, quarterly, or annually. The pledging process is simple, with individual pledge amounts kept confidential. Annual statements are sent to assist with tax declaration. Look for your Pledge card in November through the mail, in church, or make your pledge and contribute at any time via Online Giving.

4. Planned Giving. St. Mary’s is one place where God’s work and worship is done. We have benefitted from the resources left by those who came before us, including our beautiful building and our rich history. Our planned giving program ensures that resources will be available to fund important ministries in the future.

Bequeathing money or other property in your will is an excellent way to sustain our church for many years to come. Please consider adding St. Mary’s to your will or establish a trust to benefit the endowment during your life (which may benefit your own income and estate planning). The most common gifts are cash in the form of a specific amount or a percentage of your estate, and stock or other securities. It is also possible to make a gift of almost anything of value that you own, including life insurance policies, annuities, and real property. You should consult your attorney and accountant for details.

Gifts to any of the following funds at St. Mary’s qualify for the maximum allowable federal and state income tax charitable deduction. Your attorney or other advisor can explain the particular tax benefits. All gifts are for the benefit of the parish. An unrestricted gift can be used at the discretion of the Fund to assist in the ministries of St. Mary’s Episcopal Church. If you wish your gift principal to be retained through time so that distribution from earnings will be available in perpetuity, you may alternatively choose to direct your gift (in all or part) to one or more of these funds:

• The Endowment Fund – which supports the general expense
• The Churchyard Fund – for the perpetual maintenance of the cemetery
• The Chancel Guild – which maintains the chancel and sanctuary
• The Capital Fund – which maintains New and Old St. Mary’s and the Guild House

We are grateful to past generations of parishioners whose pledges, bequests, and gifts supported St. Mary’s Church since its beginning in 1702. Today’s members bear responsibility to future generations of our faith community, and we are appreciative to our parishioners who sustain us daily and will carry St. Mary’s mission as an act of Christian charity of faith and hope that St. Mary’s Church will continue into the future and beyond their own lifetimes.

The information provided herein in no way constitutes legal advice. Donors are urged to consult their attorney, accountant, financial and/or tax advisor about their gift plans.