"Ask, Thank, Tell" January Stewardship Emphasis

Stewardship emphasis during 2007 will be based on Charles R. Lane’s book entitled “Ask, Thank, Tell: Improving Stewardship Ministry in Your Congregation”. The Stewardship Team recently adopted a new mission statement which was endorsed by Congregation Council: “To help God’s people grow in their relationship with Jesus through the use of time, talents and finances that God has entrusted to them”.

Hosanna members will receive a letter with further information during December regarding the January Stewardship emphasis.

Here are the key dates:

December 31, 2006 – Distribution of Ask Thank and Tell packets to each household in the narthex. Remaining packets will be mailed January 15.

January 14, 2007 – Tell Sunday. Darryl Brown and Pastor Tart will preach a dialogue sermon describing the wonderful work we at Hosanna do together.

January 21, 2007 – Thank Sunday. David Vroom and Pastor Tart will preach a dialogue sermon describing ways our congregation acknowledges with appreciation the generous responses of each person who supports the ministry we do together.

January 28, 2007- Ask Sunday. Rev. Jon Boldt, Stewardship Leader of our synod will preach about ways God asks us to give God’s gifts of time, money and possessions to God’s mission in the world. On this Sunday we ask that you return your “Covenant Card” (see below) and share in one of our wonderful “Sides and Deserts” potluck meals ( we will provide the main course”). Please begin signing up for one of the dishes in the narthex beginning December 31.

This year we are introducing the concept of “Covenant” to our annual stewardship emphasis. Covenanting is much more than a contract between you and God. Instead, covenanting is about a relationship of trust, dependence and cooperation. In short, covenanting is about God being our God and we being God’s people. In particular, God promises to be our God by providing, saving and directing us and we in return promise to be God’s people by working and sharing our gifts so that we can bring God’s plan for the world to reality. This plan is one of peace, joy, freedom, wholeness, healing and unity. God’s plan for the world is what we at and through Hosanna commit to doing.

Thus, instead of having pledge cards we will have covenant cards. This covenant card is not about the church’s need for money, but our need to be in covenant relationship with God. See returning the card as an act of worship and devotion and not as fund raising. We will record your covenant as a way to help you remember your commitment.

As always, we respect and honor everyone’s right to pass and not use the covenant card and respond to God as God calls them. Certainly our relationship with God is deeper than a piece of paper.


We thank you for your participation and look forward to growing Hosanna’s Stewardship response using our new mission by actions of asking, thanking and telling.

Hosanna Stewardship Giving Team