Congregational Stewardship

Mike Bryant Turquoise fired wash basin and bowl

God the Artist

By Betsy Schwarzentraub | April 12, 2016

“Great work, God!” called out Dr. Don Adams, prompting the conference audience to give a standing ovation in response to God’s artistry as Creator. That was many years ago, but I’ve never forgotten it, both because of its spontaneity and also because of its view of God as the ultimate Artist of life. Years ago…

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The Morning-After Net

By Betsy Schwarzentraub | April 9, 2016

It’s doubly hard when a dream turns to dust, when people who have gone through a dramatic life event (a significant relationship, a turn-around experience) see all the goodness vanish. The dream dies, our new life doesn’t pan out, loved ones drifts away. Unsure of what to do, we ask ourselves, Can I go back…

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Author Chat

By Betsy Schwarzentraub | April 4, 2016

I invite you to a free, online “Author Chat” with me on April 26, 2016 at 11 a.m. Pacific Time, sponsored by the Ecumenical Stewardship Center. I am looking forward to it! In the first half, I’ll talk (live) over some Power Point slides about what I’ve learned so far through work with churches and…

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Johann Sebastian Bach, gospel steward

By Betsy Schwarzentraub | March 31, 2016

Today, this year, March 31st is the 331st anniversary of the birthday of Johann Sebastian Bach, one of the greatest composers of all time, whose musical works expressed the very height of baroque music. Doing some research, I discovered that the term baroque refers to an irregularly-shaped or oddly-colored pearl. This word led to the…

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Go Digital With Your Stewardship Campaign++

By Betsy Schwarzentraub | March 7, 2016

Written for “Live Free” issue of Giving: Growing Joyful Stewards in Your Congregation                                    Republished in Ecumenical Stewardship Resources e-newsletter 6/26/2015 500 million people use Facebook, half of them logging in every day. Facebook and emails are most popular among Baby Boomers (people born between 1946 and 1964) in the U.S and Canada, and Baby Boomers…

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The Gift of Extra Time

By Betsy Schwarzentraub | February 28, 2016

The following was spoken by Heather Linsley, Worship Leader on February 28th, in my home church. I share her words and prayers with her permission.     – Betsy Schwarzentraub Written by Heather Linsley For those of us who have secretly (or not so secretly) wished we had just one more hour in the day in which…

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John Wesley’s Simple Rules for Money

By Betsy Schwarzentraub | February 23, 2016

James A. Harnish, Abingdon Press, 2009 Written for the “Live Simply” (2016) issue of Giving: Growing Joyful Stewards in Your Congregation published with permission In Simple Rules for Money, James Harnish offers Methodist founder John Wesley’s guidelines for financial living, still strikingly appropriate for us today. “Wesley’s rules are not about fund-raising for the church,”…

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Kids, Money & Values

By Betsy Schwarzentraub | February 22, 2016

By Patricia Schiff Estess and Irving Barocas, Betterway Books, 1994 Written for the “Live Simply” (2016) issue of Giving: Growing Joyful Stewards in Your Congregation published with permission It’s no surprise that Kids, Money & Values is still in print: it gives practical ideas and exercises for parents and other adults to use with children.…

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Ways to Share Your Narrative Budget++

By Betsy Schwarzentraub | February 17, 2016

Spread your good news! Plan the strategy for sharing your congregation’s narrative budget over the year. Consider any of the following ways of telling or sharing your good news: Use posters and bulletin inserts that proclaim the ministry. Highlight one ministry area a month, or feature a ministry area in weekly bulletins. Have first-hand testimonials…

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Creating a Narrative Spending Plan

By Betsy Schwarzentraub | February 15, 2016

How can we build a Narrative Spending Plan, or Narrative Budget? Church leaders and pastors are familiar with the process of establishing a line-item budget, but a Narrative Budget is done a different way. It starts by forming a small group of church leaders who are familiar with the church’s current ministries, including the pastor.…

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