for tomorrow St Cuthbert's Sterwardship Campaign 2001 Issue # 1

Welcome to the first issue of For Tomorrow, the newsletter of the St Cuthbert's Christian commitment programme. Hopefully once you have read this, you will have a better understanding of the aims of the programme and what you can contribute to its success.  

By way of introduction, we ask and answer six questions which sum up the essence of the programme. 

Question 1: What's it all about? 

Stewardship programmes have been implemented at St Cuthbert's in the past. Put simply, such programmes invite members of the congregation to consider their God-given resources of time, ability and money and to ask how best they can be mobilised in the life and work of the Church.  

If we can harness all our collective talents creatively and enthusiastically, think how much energy we could unleash! This is an exciting opportunity for us all to build a Church for the 21st Century. That is why the Kirk Session and the Congregational Board decided to promote a renewed Christian Commitment Programme at St Cuthbert's.  

Question 2: What are we trying to achieve? 

All of us have a role to play in shaping the St Cuthbert's of tomorrow. The broader the base, the more stable the structure.  

The three central themes (in no particular order) are time, ability and money. As a group we are looking to introduce some concrete targets - that way it will be easier to measure the success of the programme.  

Some of these goals will be easy to measure, whether we can find people to work in this or that area or we can achieve certain financial targets. Others are harder to measure - but by working together we give ourselves a bigger chance of success. 

But wouldn't it be great if we could help to generate a new sense of common purpose at St Cuthbert's. Only with better communication can we hope to achieve this. 

There are several things we are not trying to do. We do not want to bully or cajole people into doing something they would prefer not to do, nor are we trying to force square pegs into round holes. Each of us has our own skills and interests and fortunately we are not all the same. Rest assured, we will stress this diversity as we work towards our common goals. 

Question 3: How does it work? 

A planning group has already been meeting for a couple of months, working with Gillian Paterson who specialises in this area for the Church of Scotland. We have been thinking about the goals of the programme, the timetable and the planning. We have put communication at the centre of our mission and you can expect lots of updates from us.  

The heart of the programme is a structured series of visits. For that we need team leaders and visitors who are willing to reach out into the congregation. Proper training and encouragement will be provided. 

Question 4: What is the timetable? 

So as you can see, there's a lot of work to be done. The first step is the recruitment of team leaders. Perhaps you would like to put yourself forward or know of someone who would like to get involved.  

Question 5: So what can I do? 

Good question - this is all about participation.  

At each stage of the programme there will be a need for different forms of activity and support. At this point we ask your support in three different ways: 

1. Pray
   Support through prayer sits as the cornerstone of our project. Watch out for the prayer cards we will be sending out, or come to our monthly prayer meeting after one of the Sunday morning services.  
2. Think
   Think about what you want the programme to achieve, and ways in which you would like to contribute.  
3. Talk
   Talk to us about any ideas or concerns you might have, and spread the word about the programme.  

Question 6: Who can I talk to?  

Hopefully anyone and everyone - we have the greatest chance of success if we are all pulling in the same direction. 

Please direct any feedback or questions to the following e-mail address: mailto:[email protected]. 

Don't be shy - your idea could make all the difference!  

And remember we all have a part to play… 

Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, also those having gifts of healing, those able to help others, those with gifts of administration, and those speaking in different types of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? But eagerly desire the greater gifts. (1 Corinthians, 12: 27-31)