Stewardship Spotlight: Divine Echo

Our message series, Divine Echo – Hearing the Heartbeat of God, encourages us to pause and to listen with focus and intention. We are encouraged to take an honest measure of ourselves:

• Do we fully recognize and use the gifts that God has given?
• What new or different blessings have been revealed to me?
• What opportunities and joy do they bring me?

These questions also apply to the stewardship of our financial resources. At Saint Helen, we steward parish resources and strive to clearly communicate with our parish family. For our financial reporting, we have come to realize that our weekly snapshots of income and expenses presented an accurate, but top-level summary of a complex budget. By many measures, we are doing well. This is due, in great part, to money received through bequests. However, we face challenges due, in great part, to increased utility rates, insurance, and a large church complex.

As we continue to journey together, we ask each parishioner and family to take time this Fall to review their own financial stewardship and support of Saint Helen. You may reflect upon:\

• What are my financial responsibilities and priorities – to myself and to my family?
• Which current expenses cause me stress…or bring me happiness?
• Where does support of my faith and parish rank in my budget?

Over the coming weeks, we encourage you to reflect more deeply about the abundance of gifts that the Lord has bestowed on you, and how you share that abundance with others.