Throughout the year, I have heard a number of people asking a question similar to one of these two:

What if I haven't been giving of my time, talent, or treasure?

Each of us is called to understand and respond to the principles of stewardship which I have summarized over the last few months. Each parishioner is responsible to be a good steward of his or her own resources, and to encourage that same stewardship within the Parish. In order to best understand our individual role in the continuing efforts to be wise stewards, we must periodically submit ourselves to God's Will via prayer – either before the Lord Present in the Blessed Sacrament, or in another quiet prayer time – listening and discerning what God would have you give of your time, your talents, and your financial resources.

It is easy to dismiss the stewardship model as a “gimmick” because it runs contrary to our human tendency to see our resources as “our resources”. By laying the issue at the feet of Christ in prayer, we are allowing God to change us and mold our relationship to Him. If each of us will discern ways to unite ourselves in the stewardship of God's abundant gifts, we will strengthen our Church.

I give, but would like to give more. How do I find a way to do that?

Again, through prayer, begin to discern ways to find more time to give, discover additional opportunities to utilize your talents for the betterment of the Church, or uncover additional financial resources which could be given to build and strengthen our local congregation. Opportunities to give abound here at St. Joan of Arc. Ask God to help you take advantage of the opportunities offered.

Every decision we make requires us to set priorities in our lives. The stewardship model is an attempt to help us define those priorities in light of what God expects from us. Making God the first priority in the areas of time, talent, and treasure isn't easy, but nothing that is good comes easy. The most powerful shift in thinking within the church comes when each of us make time for other things after we have returned our thanks to God, rather than be content to find ways to “squeeze” God into our busy schedules.

There is a brochure titled Stewardship, Tithing, and Sacrificial Giving: Our Response to the Gifts God Has Given Us located in the book rack near the kiosk area of the church. Please take one as a handy way to review the principles of stewardship. Also there, you will find a small blue card. On one side is the printed Prayer of Stewardship, and on the other side a “Examination of Conscience” for stewardship-related matters.

During Advent and the Christmas season, let us each pray that in the new year every parishioner will find ways to give a little more, stepping up toward the expectations God holds for each of us.