Together in Christ
for the Greater Glory of God
for the Greater Glory of God
Stewarding the gift of our Prayer
Giving back time to the Lord begins by spending time with Him each day in prayer. Stewardship of time, according to the U.S. Bishops in their pastoral letter on stewardship, "…should include setting aside periods for family prayer, for reading of Scripture, for visits to the Blessed Sacrament, and for attendance at Mass during the week whenever this is possible."
Giving top priority to God through a daily life of prayer is especially important for Christian stewards, since to many Christians, stewardship means a life of service. And, indeed works of service are the eyes and ears, arms and legs of a stewardship way of life. However, the heart and soul of stewardship is prayer. Through prayer, Christian stewards place themselves in God's hands so that He can direct their hands to serve according to His will.
The Stewardship Prayer
Lord God, you alone are the source of every good gift, of the vast array of our universe, and the mystery of each human life. We praise you and thank you for your great power and tender, faithful love. Everything we are and everything we have are your gifts, and after having created us you have given us into the keeping of your Son, Jesus Christ. Fill our minds with His truth and our hearts with His love, and in His spirit may we be bonded together into a community of faith, a parish family, a caring people. In the name and spirit of Jesus, we commit ourselves to be good stewards of the gifts entrusted to us, to share our time, our talent and our material and spiritual gifts as an outward sign of the treasure we hold in Jesus.
Giving back time to the Lord begins by spending time with Him each day in prayer. Stewardship of time, according to the U.S. Bishops in their pastoral letter on stewardship, "…should include setting aside periods for family prayer, for reading of Scripture, for visits to the Blessed Sacrament, and for attendance at Mass during the week whenever this is possible."
Giving top priority to God through a daily life of prayer is especially important for Christian stewards, since to many Christians, stewardship means a life of service. And, indeed works of service are the eyes and ears, arms and legs of a stewardship way of life. However, the heart and soul of stewardship is prayer. Through prayer, Christian stewards place themselves in God's hands so that He can direct their hands to serve according to His will.
The Stewardship Prayer
Lord God, you alone are the source of every good gift, of the vast array of our universe, and the mystery of each human life. We praise you and thank you for your great power and tender, faithful love. Everything we are and everything we have are your gifts, and after having created us you have given us into the keeping of your Son, Jesus Christ. Fill our minds with His truth and our hearts with His love, and in His spirit may we be bonded together into a community of faith, a parish family, a caring people. In the name and spirit of Jesus, we commit ourselves to be good stewards of the gifts entrusted to us, to share our time, our talent and our material and spiritual gifts as an outward sign of the treasure we hold in Jesus.
(The Catholic Way of Life' Instruction on Stewardship)
Amen
(Saint Therese of Lisieux)
. . . .prayer is a surge of the heart, it is a simple look towards Heaven, it is a cry of recognition and of love, embracing both trial and joy.
