This weekend we celebrate what we call “Commitment Sunday.” It is an opportunity for each member of the parish community, both new and old, to reflect on the ways in which they will be dedicating their time, talent and treasure this coming year.
We do this for several reasons, beginning with the biblical. We are told in the first letter of Peter that all we have is a gift from God, and that we should be good stewards of God’s varied gifts to us. Stewardship means using those gifts in service of the community. The Church is OUR Church, not my Church nor the church of the few. This means that we all have a responsibility to support the Church. That leads us to the next reason, a much more pragmatic one.
There are things which need to be done within the parish for it to function, and even more, to grow and fulfil its mission of bringing people to a relationship with Jesus.
After all, our parish mission statement invites people to:
“Come and experience Christ’s love through our worship, service and community!”.
Neither I, nor the PPC, nor the PFC, can do everything that needs to be done, and even if we could – we shouldn’t. A very important reason for inviting people to take this up this call to stewardship or commitment is to help parishioners become connected to the parish community, that is, to one another. When we work alongside each other, when we serve each other, we get to know one another at a deeper level.
This will help us to have “skin in the game”.
The dedication form has three columns: liturgical ministry / service and community groups / PPC Support. The first column is for those who want to volunteer for a role within the liturgy or in a supporting role for the liturgy. The second column are for people that want to participate in groups or teams that are responsible for various
aspects of our common life, or who would like to join a group like the CWL or St Anne’s.
The third column is for those who don’t want to or can’t at this point of their lives commit to anything but want to help on an ad hoc basis. You can tick the areas you would be prepared to offer occasional assistance in. The PPC member who has that responsibility will call meetings to discuss that portfolio and together you can work on an implementation plan for that portfolio.
The last item on the commitment form is your treasure, the financial support you can commit to this coming year. It’s an opportunity to take stock of your life and reduce your commitment if you are experiencing more financial pressure due to retirement or unemployment, or increasing your commitment if you have had a salary increase, or there are fewer financial demands on you this year than last year.
As always, I am humbled by your enthusiastic and generous support. Thank you.
