Each Sunday, we hear Fr. Tom say the phrase, “All things come of thee, O Lord,” and the congregation responds, “and of thine own have we given thee.” The prayer signifies that our gifts (money, talents, time) are not truly ours but are gifts from God that we are giving back to Him. In the Book of Common Prayer, it is used during the offertory when the collection is brought forward, acknowledging that the gifts being offered are actually God’s. It’s a reminder that all we have is from God, and our offering is a return of what was entrusted to us. It serves as a central theme for stewardship, reminding believers (us!) that they are giving back to God from the abundance He has provided. The prayer is based on a biblical passage from 1 Chronicles 29:14, where King David acknowledges this truth while making a great offering of his own treasure for the temple.
At Holy Family, we believe that all that we have, is from God. As part of our calling as Christians, it is our blessing and responsibility, to use all that He has given us to His glory. This is done in myriad ways and no one is exactly the same. Time is given by attending at the Eucharist, serving in ministries and on committees, volunteering in our community, washing windows, working with the children. Talents could mean welcoming newcomers, comforting the sick or grieving, making various dishes and snacks for coffee hour, lending their voice in song. Treasure could be a making an annual pledge to support our budget, supporting an outreach endeavor, donating items for the blessing box. The ways and means are endless, but the truth in the end is, when we join our various gifts together, God magnifies them for His glory, and they become more than enough. We are joined together in the Body of Christ! What a magnificent gift!
One tool we use at Holy Family is the Annual Pledge Campaign. It is a time of prayer and discernment where each parishioner is asked to reflect on their many blessings, and respond by making a pledge for the coming year, in ways that they can use their time, talents and treasure. At the end of the campaign, all pledges are brought together, blessed, and we ask God to use them in our work in the coming year.
Holy Family Episcopal Church 