Stewardship is the free and joyous activity of the child of God and God's family, the church, in managing all of life and life's resources for God's purposes.

Time (Eph 5:15, 16; Col 4:5)
Talents (Rom 12:3-8-Cor 12; Eph 4:11-16)
Treasure (1Tim 6:6-18; 18-19; 2Cor8:3-14; 9:7,8)
For the Glory of God (1Cor 10:31; Col 3:23, 24; 1Peter 4:10; 1Cor 6:19,20)

A Stewardship Prayer
(from Office of Parish Stewardship Diocese of Rockville Centre website):

Generous God,

I give thanks to you for the gifts you have given me -my life, my family, my friends - time, talents, and material possessions.  
All that I have comes from you.  
Help me to remember this and rejoice in your goodness.Walk with me, my God.
Help me on my spiritual journey, so that I may constantly renew my relationship with you and all the God's people in our surrounding area.  Renew in me your Spirit.
Give me the strength and courage to become a better follower of Jesus, and to be a devoted disciple.
Help me hear the call to "Come, Follow Me."I give glory to you, my God, as I make stewardship a way of life.

Amen.

 

 

What does it mean to be a Christian Steward?

More Give to Live

Source : More Give To Live - How Giving Can Change Your Life by Douglas M. Lawson, Ph.D.

If you want happiness for an hour - take a nap

If you want happiness for a day – go fishing

If you want happiness for a month – get married

If you want happiness for a year – inherit a fortune

If you want happiness for a lifetime – help someone else ( Chinese Proverb )

 

People come to life – become fully alive, aware and joyful – when they help others.

 

First – We need a purpose fit to live for

Second – We need to become comfortable with and accept who we are (be selves fit to live with…)

 Finally – We need a faith fit to live by

 

There are measurable, proven benefits one gains fromgiving

 Spiritually, we have a greater connection to our God, more receptivity to spiritual guidance, stronger involvement in charitable activity, heightened sense of appreciation and acceptance of others, sustained peace of mind and an overall enhanced quality of life.

JESUS FIRST

OTHERS SECOND

YOURSELF LAST

 

When we lose joy, we lose some of our freedom, some of our sense of community. We sense the loss and try to recapture it. We long to experience lives of purpose and value.

 There is a wonderful mythical law of nature that the three things we crave most in life, happiness, freedom, and peace of mind, are always attained by giving them to someone else.
Peyton Conway March

 

 You can change by helping others. To be with people, to be involved in a cooperative effort, to lose our self-awareness to a task or mission is the idea of how to truly benefit from giving and sharing.

 However, the only way to take advantage of the benefits of sharing and giving is to find time to do it.

We must not only give what we have; we must also give what we are.
Desiré Mercier

 There is little hope for democracy if the hearts of men and women in democratic societies cannot be touched by a call to something greater than themselves
Margaret Thatcher

Do all the good you can,
By all means you can,
In all the ways you can,
In all he places your can,
At all the times you can,
To all the people you can,
As long as you ever can.
John Wesley

 

 …to learn more about

GETTING INVOLVED

ALL AGES CAN GIVE

PERSONAL POWER: ACTING ALONE AND TOGETHER

EMERGENCE OF GLOBAL ISSUES

NATIONAL AND GLOBAL RESPONSE

VOLUNTEERS FOR THE PLANET

ACTING FOR THE FUTURE

TREADING THE GIVING PATH,

This resource can be loaned out from BAUMC Lightner Library.

Principles for a Life of True Fulfillment

Source: The 33 Laws of Stewardship by Dave Sutherland and Kirk Nowery

The temptation is to think that abundance is found in possessing life’s benefits, when it’s discovered in stewarding life’s blessings.

Think of yourself as the manager of a trust

Think of each day as an opportunity for service and stewardship

Think of money as a means to an end, not the end itself


How can we be rich toward God? The answer is of inestimable value because it can lead to the fullest life one can possibly experience.

Richness toward God comes through seeing everything as a gift from His hand

Richness toward God comes through seeking His direction before settling on decisions

Richness toward God comes through caring more about giving than getting

 

They had just seen the evidence of a spiritual law at work – the Law of Miraculous Multiplication. God had transformed their measly bread crusts into the best meal they had ever enjoyed.

 When faced with a major need, express confidence in the Need-meeter

When faced with a major need, follow the directions (obedience to God’s Word)

When faced with a major need, brace for a great adventure

Don’t allow worry to control your thoughts – Don’t give in order to get

Stewardship and Finances, God's Way - Mar. 2007

The Motivation of Stewardship - Apr. 2007

The Attitude of Stewardship is Gratitude - June 2007

The Perspective of Stewardship - Sept. 2007

A Prosperity Wheel for the New Year 2008

Withholding our Substance from God -Mar./Apr. 2008

Bel Air United Methodist Church is electronically up-to-date in the 21st century. We have the ability to provide any family or person with Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT). This will allow anyone to easily send their tithes and offerings without the need to physically write a check, along with the time needed to place it in an envelope and bring or physically mail it to church.

If this appeals to you to also save the 41-cent stamp cost and join BAUMC in the electronic age of ease, please print out a copy of the Electronic Funds Transfer Form, or request a form from William Groseclose, Bookkeeper. Complete the information along with signature and attach a void check or deposit slip. Then, please turn these into the church office in a sealed envelope marked to the attention of William Groseclose.

Should the need arise for discontinuance of the EFT method, it is as easy as filling out a second form with the checked box: Discontinue Electronic Giving, with a signature.

If you have any questions about the process or wish to speak with someone, please call our church office: 410-838-5181.


Stewardship
BAUMC – October 2007

If you are considering Tithing, print this certificate and keep for your personal communication with God, or ask our Lead Pastor to affirm with a signature.

…A HARVEST CANNOT BE REAPED, WITHOUT SOWING SEEDS…