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What Is Stewardship?

 

Stewardship is about making choices, as individuals and in community.  It is more than giving money to the church. Stewardship is about being faithful disciples, caring for and managing all that God has given us. Stewardship is not just one part of Christian discipleship; it involves every aspect of life in all the stages of life.

 

Stewardship is the grateful response to God’s grace and goodness.  It requires a consideration of how our choices affect us and others, of how we can be good caretakers of the created world, and of how we can best serve God as disciples of Christ.  So, what is Stewardship?  Stewardship is everything you do after you say yes to Jesus Christ!

 

 

2012 Offering Envelopes

 

Offering envelopes for 2012 are now available.  Look for the push cart on the patio after worship to find your box.  You can also pick up your envelopes in the church office during the week.  Please call the church office at (714)544-7070 if you need for us to send the envelopes to you by mail.  Your gifts serve God's work.  Thank you for your continuous support.

 

 

Your Offerings at Work

  • Did you know that the Rose Window and the leaded glass side windows were created when the Sanctuary was built in 1929? In the late 1970’s, the original side windows were replaced with the current stained glass windows that depict scenes from the Old and New Testaments. A campaign is currently underway to raise money for the restoration of these beautiful and historic windows. The donations for refurbishment will assure that these unique windows will continue to grace this cherished space for decades to come.

  • Habitat for Humanity constructs home for low-income families. TPC has a long history of contributing funds to build Habitat homes and now has also provided labor to assist in building them. Thirteen TPC members have added their own “sweat equity” to home builds in Fullerton and San Juan Capistrano. TPC’s Youth Group joined in by making lunch for all the participants at last year’s build. We plan to continue our participation by putting your mission dollars to work and inviting those interested to join in the hands-on Habitat construction. It feels good to “do mission!

  • Tustin Presbyterian Church members work hard to get the most use out of our buildings to help defray the $80,000 annual facility expenses.  Various organizations, such as charter schools, a pre-school and the Taiwanese congregation use the facilities when not needed by TPC, and they chip in with funds to help share the cost. Also many of our church members volunteer their time and skills in various ways, such as work days, supervision of contractors and service providers, negotiation of agreements, and other ongoing Property Committee functions.

  • Before its recent restoration, the Youth Lounge languished in a woefully rundown condition for many years. The non-functioning restrooms were returned to working condition and spruced up.  The Lounge was cleaned, painted and made attractive again.  Now, as some of our longtime members admire the remarkable renovations, they recall bygone years when this space served as the vital social hall for the church as well as the community.  Wedding receptions and lively events for all ages were common occurrences.  However, the newly working restrooms soon revealed a troublesome unknown fact: the Sanctuary building plumbing was still connected to an original, long-forgotten septic tank, and not the city sewer system.  Requiring an immediate fix, over $75,000 had to be borrowed from the church’s limited reserve funds on short notice to resolve this major problem.

 

Something to "Stew" On

 

We live in a world where the gap between scarcity and abundance grows wider every day. Whether at the level of nations or neighborhoods, this widening gap is polarizing people, making each camp more and more suspicious and antagonistic toward the other. But the peculiar thing, at least from a biblical perspective, is that the rich - the ones with the abundance - rely on an ideology of scarcity, while the poor – the ones who are suffering from scarcity – rely on an ideology of abundance. How can that be? The issue involves whether there is enough to go around – enough food, water, shelter, space. An ideology of scarcity says no, there’s not enough, so hold onto what you have.  In fact, don’t just hold onto it, hoard it. Put aside more than you need, so that if you do need it, it will be there, even if others must do without. An affirmation of abundance says just the opposite: Appearances notwithstanding, there is enough to go around, so long as each of us takes only what we need. In fact, if we are willing to have but not hoard, there will even be more than enough left over. The Bible is about abundance.

 

From “Enough Is Enough” by Walter Brueggemann
Professor of Old Testament at
Columbia Theological Seminary

 

 

Stewardship Quote

 

‘Tis the season to be jolly…the Lord loves a cheerful giver!

 

2012 Per Capita

 

Every Little Bit Helps!

 

Each year each congregation pays the Presbytery a modest sum per member.  This "per capita" payment helps with the administrative costs of Presbytery, Synod, and General Assembly.  For 2012, the amount per member is $25.23, a total of $7,190.55 for TPC.  We ask that all active members contribute this amount at the beginning of the new year.  Those with offering envelopes have a "per capita" envelope in the front of their boxes.  When you pay your per capita, you are making those funds available to the General Mission of TPC.  Thank you for your generosity.

 

 

Restoration of Sanctuary Windows

 

Many of you have been asking about our Judson windows and plans for restoring these treasures.  Good News!  The last of our Window Restoration project has now been completed. Randy Montour and his crew have finished painting and even painted the inner sanctuary doors.  Many thanks go to all involved. 

 

Many thanks also to all who have agreed to support this project financially.  Everyone in our church family has been invited to take part as they are able.  We are ready to receive your gifts; simply make a note in the memo line of your check.

 

 

Endowment Fund News

 

Session has recently reestablished the Endowment Committee and updated its charter and responsibilities.  The principal responsibilities of the Endowment Committee are to manage the Endowment Fund and to supervise the disbursement of income from the fund.  All gifts to the Endowment Fund are invested; the principal remains in the fund in perpetuity and the income is distributed annually.  The members of the Endowment Committee are Sue Currie, Janette Ditkowsky, Bill Groves, Gerry Herter and David Young.  Rebecca Prichard serves as an ex- officio member.  Attend the adult education class on May 22, watch for the article in the next issue of the Parish Press, or talk to any member of the Endowment Committee to learn how you can contribute to the Endowment Fund.

 

 

 

 

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225 West Main Street, Tustin, CA 92780-4319  (714)544-7070  www.tustinpresbyterian.org