Living on Mission
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Click on a topic on the left and scroll down for reflections, resources, stories, and more:
- Living on Mission
- Time
- Talent
- Treasure
- Consider our personal plans
- Commit our intentions to Jesus
- Receive the Commission to enter the new year on mission
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What is Living on Mission?
Fr. Fons and Kari Edwards, our director of development and special projects, introduce this new initiative and explain it's importance.
Download their letter:
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Time
When God gave us life, He gave us His precious gift of time. As heirs to the kingdom of heaven, we have also been given the high calling to live on mission as disciples of Jesus Christ. The ways in which we spend our time reflect who we are and who we want to become.
To be good stewards of time means making use of each day, spending time with God, with family, in work or study, with our parish and community and renewing our own spirit through recreation and leisure.
Click below to learn more and for simple ways you can use your time well in these five areas:
Get started:
40 Days for Life
More ways to steward your time are listed in each Friday's Parishnote newsletter.
If you are not receiving it and would like to, please contact Christy Whiting at StMary.Christy@gmail.com
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Talent
When we stop and consider the various skills, talents and abilities God has given to us and those around us, we can clearly see His extraordinary generosity and goodness at work. Stewards of talent recognize that our skills and abilities are meant to serve God by serving others. Good stewards not only discover and cultivate their own gifts, but also help those around them to identify and share their unique talents as well.
For more perspective and ways to use your talents, click here:
Jordan and DJ McDowell have been using their talents with our Life Teen ministry, to help our teens to develop and use their talents.
Discover your talents and gifts
There are many programs and services available that can assist you in identifying your unique gifts and skills.
Contact Christy Whiting at stmary.christy@gmail.com to set up a time to explore your gifts and talents and how you might share them to build up the kingdom.
Spiritual Gifts Inventory- a questionnaire-style, self assessment that you can print out and complete for free.St. Mary Spiritual Gifts Inventory
Joyfully Gifted version for youth- a printable version of the Spiritual Gifts inventory intended for use with teenaged disciples. Also offered for free.Joyfully Gifted spiritual gifts discernment for youth
Called and Gifted- a more in-depth, online, self study, offered by the St. Catherine Siena Institute is available for purchase. Click here for details.If you have questions about how to discern your spiritual gifts or would like to talk with someone about how to use them, contact Christy Whiting, our Director of Discipleship and Evangelization: stmary.christy@gmail.com, 517-655-2520. She'll walk you through the discernment process and how to develop your gifts.
Explore ministries in the parish and community to share your talents
In the coming month, you will be invited to learn more about the many ministries and volunteer opportunities available at St. Mary to get more involved.
You can start by looking through the sections on our website to learn about the different ministries we offer.
Next, start thinking and praying about your personal plan:
Living on Mission Personal Plan
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TreasureEveryone has a responsibility to answer the call to live on mission and develop the gifts they have been given by sharing them with family, in the workplace, the community and with the church. One very important ancient manner of answering the call to live on mission as stewards of God’s treasure is to tithe.
Read the reflection to learn more about what Jesus actually asks of us (you may be surprised!) and for do-able ways to develop your stewardship:
At St. Mary School, John and Anna Thelen's family has experienced blessings through exercising stewardship - both giving and receiving.
Read their story here:
Thelens' story
Ways to share your tithe
Weekly EnvelopesWe are incredibly appreciative to those who continue to faithfully use the weekly donation envelopes. If you would like to request envelopes, contact Sarah Spangler at stmary.sarah@gmail.com.
WeShareMany have found that using our secure, online donation site, WeShare, has been a great way to give easily and consistently.On it, donation preferences can be adjusted at any time. Click below:
WeShareScan the QR code below or call the church office if you would like assistance setting up an account:
Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God,
serve one another with whatever gift
each of you has received.
1 Peter 4:10
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Consider our personal plans
Please continue to prayerfully consider your intention to grow in the stewardship way of life in the coming year. Use this sheet as an individual or family to plan the ways you intend to share a greater portion of your time, talent and treasure in love of God and neighbor.
More ideas and resources may be found throughout our parish website; feel free to explore!If you have questions about how to discern your spiritual gifts or would like to talk with someone about how to use them, contact Christy Whiting, our Director of Discipleship and Evangelization: stmary.christy@gmail.com, 517-655-2520. She'll walk you through the discernment process and how to develop your gifts.
St. Mary Spiritual Gifts Inventory
Joyfully Gifted spiritual gifts discernment for youth
Living on Mission Personal Plan
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Commit our intentions to Jesus
Thank you for considering the ways you can renew your commitment to live out the stewardship way of life in the coming year!
Please take a moment to share those intentions with St. Mary so that we may support you and your family in your call to live on mission.
Print and return this commitment form to the designated box in the gathering space or mail/drop off at the parish office beginning next week. Retain your “personal plan” for future reference.
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Receive the Commission to enter the new year on mission
Lord, 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 we thank You for Your great power and your tender, faithful love.
Everything we are and everything we have is Your gift, 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, that in His Spirit we may be bonded together into a community of faithful disciples. In the Name of Jesus, we commit ourselves to be good stewards of the gifts entrusted to us, to share our time, our talent and our material gifts as an outward sign of the Treasure we hold in Jesus. Amen.
Download a .pdf of this prayer:
Commissioning Prayer
