Pledging Our Time and Talent

Why should we pledge our time and talent yearly? Ken Luebbering Lay Ministry Coordinator

As we begin a new calendar year, I am very thankful to the Grace Stewardship Team and parishioners who brought the old liturgical year to a close with a very successful pledge campaign.  Our communal willingness to pledge our financial support and our participation for the coming year is vital to the mission and ministry work to which Grace Church is called.

      The practice of an annual financial pledge is long-established at Grace, so it seems normal to us.  An annual Time and Talent pledge may require some explanation, however.  It may seem obvious that having an expression of people’s interests and willingness to help with events and programs makes it easier for church leaders to plan.  It is probably less obvious why this ought to take the form of a pledge, and why it ought to be part of our annual drive.

      The primary reason why the Grace Stewardship Team asks us to pledge our Time and Talent is that we are asked to consider our call to participate, to serve, as an important part of our lives as members of a sacred community.  When we join a professional, social, or service organization, we are expected to accept the terms of membership - that is, to be active members.  As members of the church, however, we can easily drift along, attending church on Sunday (sometimes), helping out with events (if we are asked), and maybe even agreeing to serve on a committee (if it isn’t too inconvenient).  It’s easy to not think too much about any of this until it becomes “too much.”  What a Time and Talent pledge asks of us is that we consider what it means for us to be a part of the church, a part of God’s kingdom, a part of Grace Church.  What are the terms of membership?  For each of us, the gifts we have been given are unique.  What a pledge asks is for us to consider, to “discern” both what those gifts are and how we might best use them in the service of God.

      And why pledge each year?  Just as our financial situation may change from year to year, so do the factors that shape the time and talents we are able to pledge.  Changes in work or family responsibilities, health issues, or new skills learned may affect what we can contribute.  As this year’s vestry priorities illustrate, the needs of the church can change as well.  Based on such a clear statement of priorities by our vestry, many of you have offered to serve in capacities that were not available to you last year.  Consequently, it is important that we consider these pledges anew each year, both as a community and as individuals.  Doing so means that we open ourselves to listening to God’s call, as individuals and as a community.  Thus, an annual pledge of time and talent can provide an opportunity for renewal and growth.