By Ginny Heckel, Stewardship Commission Member

Storytelling is one of the MOST impactful things we can do around stewardship.

The stories we share tell who we are as a parish and who we parishioners are as people of God.

We tell stories about our parish—about the history of our church and of the people in the parish, the ministries and mission of our parish, and how we serve our neighbors. We tell stories about what is going on in our parish as we reach beyond our doors. And we tell stories about our lives—our personal stories about God’s generosity in our own lives and our response of gratitude to God.

Telling a story—simply telling, or hearing a story—draws us into a relationship with another. Our stories describe our passion and commitment to God’s imperative for us to serve others. Those who listen often feel a connection with the story.

Stories have an impact on stewardship.

Through our stories, we invite people to learn something about the people of our parish—we are building relationships. Our stories attract seekers who want to know about us—who are we as people of God? What is our mission, and what are our ministries? How do we use our stewardship dollars to fulfill God’s call to serve others?

Through our stories we reach out to others. Someone may read about one of your ministries in your local newspaper or monthly magazine; or someone in a quilting group spoke about a church ministry and how they might help.

Our Stories are a way to share the good news of what God is doing in our lives and in the life of our parish.

Here are four basic kinds of stories:

HISTORY stories

What is your church’s history? What are some facts about it? These are for visitors and parishioners alike. We cannot assume that everyone in the parish knows about our history.

Facts like …. how long has the church been a church?

How did it come to be in this place – this town, this neighborhood?

You might tell a story about the early days of the formation of your church. Or stories about the banners that hang in the sanctuary. Or about the stained-glass windows.

MINISTRIES & MISSION stories

How does your church seek to serve others?

Tell a story about some of the ministries in your church – about how your parish has responded to God’s imperative to “seek and serve others.”

Craft a story that draws people in; one that makes them think, “I could help with that,” or perhaps “I want to help with that.”

Your members will learn how their pledge dollars are used to reach out to their neighbors—right across the street, down the road in town, or even far beyond their borders.

You may hear. “I have an idea…. what if we started a…., or I want to contribute financially to this ministry.”

PERSONAL STORIES

What is God doing in my life?

Telling stories of God’s presence in our lives can be a way to respond with gratitude to the goodness we have received.

Personal stories will remind those listening to think about what God has done in their lives, and the gratitude they have to God. And then when making their stewardship pledge, it will resonate.

The WE NEED STORIES

The WE NEED stories in our parishes.

It is common to ask for help in the parish by saying “WE NEED.” It is a little like a help-wanted ad.

There are lots of “We Needs” in parishes.

We need a new member of the altar guild.

We need someone to bring food for coffee hour. Or food to be delivered to a member who has experienced a health challenge or has just returned from a few weeks in rehab after an injury.

We need someone to serve on Sundays as a Lector – or as an Usher – or as a Eucharistic Minister.

We need choir members. ALWAYS

We should change the word NEED to INVITE.

We invite you to join the Stewardship Committee.

Consider asking a current choir or altar guild member to tell their stories. Ask ushers, lectors, and others who are or have served to tell their stories about serving. They might tell how they felt called to do this or talk about the reward they feel when they serve. Or they might tell a more personal story about how serving has made them feel closer to God.

At the end of the story, this question might be asked:

What is God inviting me to do?

Someone is going to hear themselves be invited, and will raise their hand, or type an email, or pick up the phone and say CHOOSE ME.

THESE STORIES ARE INVITATIONS INTO ALL OUR STORIES

WHO HEARS OUR STORIES?

Our church members and visitors who join us for worship on Sunday…or read our newsletter. Our neighbors might catch a glimpse of the story as they drive by. Our community – local and beyond.

WHERE TO TELL THE STORIES?

In church worship services, in meetings, in the parish newsletter, the church website; through social media; your local paper; the diocesan news. In our diocese (The Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta) through Connecting. Our diocese is always looking for stories about the churches, and its people, and their mission; and how they answer to what God is asking.

WHAT ARE YOUR STORIES?

Share your stories with the Commission on Stewardship via email.