God Gives the Growth
“I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth.”
A Prayer for Stewardship
Gracious God, You remind us that faith the size of a mustard seed can move mountains and that even the smallest seed, when planted, grows into a tree that offers life and shelter. Plant within us the seeds of generosity, trust, and hope. Bless the gifts we offer, no matter how small they may seem, and use them to grow your kingdom here at St. Peter’s Church and beyond. May our stewardship bear fruit that reflects your love, strengthens our community, and brings glory to Your name. In Jesus Christ we pray, Amen.
Dear St Peter’s Friends,
As we come to the conclusion of our annual Stewardship Campaign, we are enclosing pledge cards for the coming year and inviting you into prayer about the journey you make with our congregation. We are all companions to one another as we navigate the ups and downs of our shared lives. We take this walk of love with each other and with God.
Throughout the year we have seen and been inspired by the many ways you accompany each other on our walk. We have witnessed the way you care for the sick and those in need not only in the congregation but in the community as well. We have eaten at the table with you as you shared recipes and efforts for our community meals, fellowships, and potlucks. We have watched as you supported each other when one was struggling or needed a hand or shoulder. Without reservation, you have helped us in so many ways when we too needed it. This is what it means to be in a community with each other and what walking in love looks like.
We each have so many gifts to share here, gifts of time, talent, and treasure that we freely give to sustain our ministries and plant the seeds of love, caring and support in our community. And with God’s gift, we get to see the wonderful work that happens as the seeds we’ve planted grow. But we do not share our gifts out of a sense that we will get back what we give or sow, we share because we are simply motivated by love.
Certainly, this is what we do when we place our gifts on the altar – we bring our whole selves and share the best part of our love and labor. Your pledge materials are enclosed. Will you join us on November 2 for our combined service and potluck brunch? As you consider what you will share with St. Peter’s this coming year, we invite you to give thanks for the many people who have walked with you, supported you in your faith, and shared their gifts with you. And to give thanks for God’s gift of growth that has allowed us to see so many amazing things grow from what we have planted.
Walking beside you in faith and love,
Candy Cooper Lynne Stokes
Rector’s Warden People’s Warden
The Power of Pledging
by Theresa De Furia
St. Peter’s serves not only as a place of worship but also a place of welcoming, healing, celebration, and joy – a crossroads of life in our community. Our ministries stretch far beyond Sunday services—feeding the hungry, comforting the grieving, mentoring our youth, maintaining sacred spaces, and reaching those in need. At the heart of sustaining these efforts is the generous giving of our parish family. While every act of giving is deeply appreciated, making a pledge holds particular significance for the health and planning of our church’s mission.
A pledge is a personal, prayerful commitment to contribute financially to the church over a set period, typically a year. It is not a contract or obligation, but a faith-filled promise made between the giver and God, often made in recognition of the blessings one has received.
Pledge materials have been mailed out and will be available online
starting October 29.
Stewardship Witnesses
Pledge Ingathering - November 2 - One service only at 9:30 AM
The saints of Freehold celebrate All Saints Sunday as we offer
our pledges for the coming year and gather for a festive potluck brunch afterward!
Pledge materials will be mailed the week of October 20.
Click the button below for the Pot Luck Brunch Sign-Up Genius.
Sunday 9 a.m. Bible Study / All Saints Conference Room
October 12 - Genesis 1:1 - 2:4
Creation and our Partnership with God
October 19 - Matthew 13
Little things make a big difference
October 26 - 1 Corinthians 3:5-9 & 1 Corinthians 12
One plants, one waters, God gives the growth
Visio Divina - Praying with Word and Images
A new part of this year’s Stewardship program is Visio Divina, a spiritual practice of praying with words and images. Each Sunday, a new prayer card will be available featuring an image, a passage of Scripture, and reflection questions helping us to see ourselves as stewards of God’s gifts. Collect all five! If you miss a Sunday, the cards are linked below (they print 2 to a sheet/front & back).
October 5 - Genesis & Caring for Creation
October 12 - Loaves and Fishes
November 2 - Yes, you are a Saint!
Check back regularly as we add new materials throughout the season
“Almighty God, whose loving hand has given us all that we
possess: Grant us grace that we may honor you with our
substance, and, remembering the account which we must one
day give, may be faithful stewards of you bounty, through
Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.”