Stewardship + Giving
“... whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.” -II Cor. 9:6-8
A steward cares for something that does not belong to them. An accountant cares for funds which belong to another, a teacher cares for the children of others and a police officer protects the peace of a whole community.
From the very beginning Christians have viewed themselves as stewards of God’s gifts. In Genesis we are charged with the stewardship of a world that we did not create. In the New Testament we are charged to steward the message of God’s grace which is by definition unearned. Christians throughout the ages have looked at their possessions as gifts of God to be well managed and shared rather than achievements to hoard.
At St. James’ a major part of our life in Christ is the spiritual examination of what we have and the desire and commitment to spend our resources of money, time and ability for the glory of God and the support of others. This spiritual exercise takes concrete form in pledging a significant portion of our income to the mission of the church and giving a substantial amount of time for the work of ministry.
As St. Paul writes in II Cor. 9 we make these sacrifices and commitments not under compulsion, but cheerfully and in the expectation that the God who blesses us so richly will bless the lives of others through our mutual sacrifice and commitment. We continually experience the spiritual truth that sowing bountifully leads to reaping bountifully; that it is part of God’s script for life that “it is more blessed to give than to receive.
In August we have a ministry fair, which is an opportunity to join the many missions and ministries of the church. Every October the yearly Stewardship Campaign invites every member of the church to make a financial pledge for the coming year. Also, there are many opportunities to serve and give throughout the year. We hope that you will join us in this mutual life and that our church will continue to “abound in every good work.”
The Annuel Giving Campaign
The Stewardship Campaign looks at the way the community of St. James’ makes use of its collective time, talent, and treasure for the work and glory of God. This committee hosts a yearly vision for future programs and Commitment Sunday. There are approximately 30 member volunteers who help with making phone calls to fellow church members. The phone calls are organized to follow-up after the mailing of annual pledge cards.
The Endowment
The Endowment focuses on the future of the ministry of the church. This group is involved in helping inform the parish concerning opportunities for giving that benefit both the church and the giver. People skills as well as finance and legal talent are needed for this committee.
Finance & Budget Committee
There is a real ministry for those who want to utilize the church’s resources for service to God. The Finance & Budget Committee is a group of men and women who meet 4 or 5 times a year and make recommendations to the Vestry concerning the fiscal policies of our parish. A wide variety of experience is welcomed and needed.
Read More on the budget process +
If you have questions about pledging or are interested in any of these ministries, please contact Judy Johnson or you may call the Church Office, 601.982.4880
ST.J’ Members on Giving
WHY WE GIVE TO THE CHURCH
Hello St. James’ Family, I have been an Episcopalian for 68 years, at St. James in Greenville and then here at St. James’ in Jackson for 45 years. I grew up sitting on the front row. Grandchildren have made me move to the back rows. I’m thankful they come to church and the back row is where we belong.
I love our church and our church family. I am blessed to be a part of our wonderful church. We have so many opportunities to get involved at our church. I pray you will pledge this year and help our church and community to stay strong and caring.
St. James’ has so many opportunities for you to grow. We have the best Sunday School programs, EYC for the youth, Wednesday night suppers, the Children’s Garden, a great choir, and Foyer groups to meet more parishioners.
If you want to get involved you should volunteer to help at the annual St. James’ rummage sale. Raising $32,000 in one week for our Outreach program speaks volumes. Our church will be able to give and allow our Outreach programs to stay strong and thrive again.
Please pledge! Everyone has a talent that makes St. James’ what it is today. Be a member of our “giving” family.
Peace,
Suzie Adcock
WHY WE GIVE TO THE CHURCH
Dear friends,
As Stacy and I sat down to write this we expressed the differences in our upbringings and perspectives on giving. Stacy grew up in a large Baptist church with parents who demonstrated great giving attitudes, and in an environment wherein giving was a priority and a privilege. It was part of life and every Sunday. My upbringing at St. Andrews Cathedral and then St. James’ taught me a great deal about involvement and giving of self through outreach, grace and acceptance. The church has been a life-long part of the fiber of my being from baptisms to funerals, through spiritual struggles and God-led recovery.
St. James’ married us and has fed us and our faith in many ways. We talk often about the beauty of the liturgy and the Eucharist. We both believe that these parts of our services feed our faith and provide connection to God through sincere worship. From Christopher Powell’s “it’s all true” to Minka’s red boots to Elizabeth’s invitations for children to closely witness communion preparation, there are countless ways that St. James’ speaks into our faith. It is home and a place for us to walk with God.
To us, giving is about time, talent, money and opportunity. It is a way to think outside of ourselves and be outside of ourselves. In Luke 12:48 we are reminded “from everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.” We are blessed in countless ways, and are truly grateful for the opportunities to support all that the church is and will be. We are gifted the ultimate Grace, and also are given the privilege and priority to pour back into the church and its people in thanksgiving.
Chris & Stacy Bates
WHY WE GIVE TO THE CHURCH
-Because the Lord commands it
-To help spread the Good News
-Our wonderful facilities and beautiful grounds
-Making a real difference in the community with all the various outreach programs
-The Children’s Garden
-The great staff and clergy
-Wednesday night suppers with friends and family and the delivery of meals to those in need
-All the fun gatherings and parties throughout the year like Shrove Tuesday, the Halloween party, and the crawfish boils
-To recruit the next Rector to lead St. James’ for years to come
-The flowers on the altar Dunkin Donuts after church and the sugar highs that follow
-To welcome visitors and newcomers
-Weekly communion
-Being moved by seeing parishioners devote their time and talents to the many projects and events
-To pay the bills (the Treasurer has to say this)
David & Anna Adcock
OUR CHURCH
Dear Fellow St. James’ Parishioners,
I have been reading these letters about why people give to the church, and I could simply say, “I agree” and be done with it. But, there is one more reason that I want to talk about, and that is the connection that develops between us and the church. When we first started coming to St. James’, we had a little difficulty finding our place and feeling connected. At first, it was just a church “where we sometimes went.” It all seemed to happen at once, but we started giving and we started volunteering at church. Once we did that, we immediately felt more connected to the church, and it became “Our Church."
Giving to the church is not just a matter of fulfilling a duty; it is an expression of our faith and commitment. Each contribution we make is a tangible way to support the work of the church, ensuring that our doors remain open to all who seek solace, guidance, and a sense of belonging. It is through our collective generosity that we can maintain our beautiful worship space, support our clergy and staff, and fund the many programs that serve our congregation and the wider community.
More importantly, giving deepens our personal connection to the church. It reminds us that we are an integral part of something much larger than ourselves. Each donation is a testament to our belief in the mission and values of our church. It is a way for us to participate actively in the life of the church, to contribute to its growth and flourishing, and to help build a future where our community can thrive.
We now walk through the halls of St. James’ comfortable that this is “Our Church” and looking for further ways to help and further the church’s missions.
Barber & Elizabeth Boone
WHY I GIVE TO ST. JAMES’
Why do I give to St. James’?
• David Elliot’s sermons
• Tuesday morning Eucharist with 7 or 8 folks in attendance and then eating breakfast standing up in the kitchen
• Shrove Tuesday and the parade of little ones
• The Liturgy that moves me, comforts me, heals me, forms me, and tells me God forgives me
• Music that soars to the rafters
• Christmas Eve services and finally, finally getting to sing Christmas carols
• Funerals that are done the right way
• Thursday morning Bible study that is so good the Methodist minister in the neighborhood attends every week along with a retired Bishop
• Three generations of families worshipping together
• Finding and keeping lifelong friends
• Being stretched and encouraged to grow
• Community and all that conjures up in your mind
• Forgiveness that comes from true and honest confession
• Common ground where red and blue can come together to share the core values of faith
• Being Episcopalian and unstuffy—at the same time
• Smiling little faces looking for momma and daddy when they come in from the nursery
• When Michael Beattie goes full throttle with the pipe organ
• Stewpot
• Habitat
• Carrying the cross in on Good Friday services
• The Saintly Chefs
• Vergers trying to look serious when their kids want to walk out with them during the recessional
• Catfish on Wednesday nights
Tommy Shepherd