STEWARDSHIP
Mission statement:
To permeate parish life and activity so that the faithful recognize the call to be Christian stewards and act on it. A Christian Steward is one who receives God’s gifts gratefully, cherishes and tends them in a responsible and accountable manner, shares them in justice and love with others, and returns them with increase to the Lord.
Stewardship Committee Minutes
The Stewardship Committee met on November 17, 7:00 p.m. Present: Barb Johnson, Dawn Milligan, Elaine Bergan, Lavon Fye, Margaret Burkett, Peg Seifried, and Connie Frana. Absent: Fr. Ament, Bridget Christopher, Janet Fortman, Mary Ann Conway and David Gosch.
Barb Johnson called the meeting to order and the group watched a portion of the
presentation from the recent Stewardship Conference in
Barb shared a reflection on gratitude she had received via email. The group decided that would be a good way to reach people with stewardship reflections. How to get people’s email addresses was discussed. It was decided to use the parishioner email addresses we currently have through school and Rel. Ed. Wendy and Mary Jane will be asked if this would be o.k. An email account will be set up in the name of “Notre Dame Stewards”. A reflection will be send periodically. There will be a notation on the email asking people to forward or to let us know if there are others who would like to receive these as well as a way to discontinue receiving the messages. We will also ask for email addresses through the bulletin and on the Time and Talent Sheets. The committee members will bring reflections to the meeting for the group to determine which ones to send out.
A Stewardship bookmark that had been handed out in the past will be made available again to the parishioners during Advent.
Margaret will be in charge of the Giving Tree. The office will be receiving names. The tree will try to be located. Lavon volunteered to help. Barb will check with the confirmation students to see if any of them would like to help as well.
Barb will also check with the confirmation students regarding posters for the food pantry boxes and banners for Easter. Margaret is checking on wooden holders for the banners.
The next Stewardship meeting will be to attend the Circles of Faith potluck on Dec. 15 at 6:00 p.m. followed by Karla Klimesh speaking on hospice. The Stewardship committee will meet again on Jan. 19. Treats can be brought to share to celebrate the New Year.
Notre
Dame Parish Stewardship Activities and
Ideas:
ACTIVITIES:
Stewardship
Committee member also on parish council to report to the council of activities.
March,
2004 Gratitude Banner for
all to sign with caption: “Jesus
calls us all by name. If you are
grateful, sign your name”
April,
2004 Banner
for all to sign with caption: “Alleluia!
Alleluia! With Joyful Heart
Share What You are Grateful For. . .”
May,
2004 Incorporated
items listed on banner in weekend prayers of the faithful.
June,
2004 Banner
for all to sign with caption: “Many
of your prayers are answered each day. Name
the favors that came your way.”
June,
2004 Changing
our Book of Petitions which is available for people to write their prayer
requests to the Book of Petitions and Blessings and encouraging people to write
their blessings as well as petitions.
Began
July, 2004 and continues Attitude of
Gratitude to parish volunteers. A
box in the
bulletin to recognize a different group of volunteers
each week with the number of people participating in each activity.
Aug.,
2004 Operation
Crayon Donations by parishioners of school
supplies and money to the children of
Oct,
2004 Get
Well cards and letters to our injured servicemen in
Dec.,
2004 Giving
Tree during Advent including items to be given to Community Action as well as
items to the parish in relationship to Jesse Tree symbols (i.e.
Manna = altar breads)
Jan.,
2005 Pop
can tabs for Ronald McDonald House.
May,
2005 Shoes
for children in
July,
2005 Article/picture in "Witness" about pop tab
collection project.
Sept.,
2005 Support
community donations to Hurricane Katrina
Dec.
2005 Giving
Tree during Advent including items given to Community Action in Howard and
Winneshiek Counties
March, 2006 Stewardship Prayer Cards distributed. Banners for people to list items they are thankful for.
April, 2006 "Thoughts to ponder" column in bulletin sharing stories about stewardship and requesting responses to questions pertaining to the article
Dec. 2006 Giving Tree during Advent including items given to Community Action in Howard and Winneshiek Counties
2007 Emphasis on prayer in individual lives; committees; parish.
Dec. 2007 Giving Tree during Advent including items given to Community Action in Howard and Winneshiek Counties
Feb., 2008 Ministry Fair
May, 2008 Inviting St. Bridget Parishioners to Notre Dame Parish