God wants us to care for the blessings we've been entrusted

God entrusts us with much. Talents. Family. Friends. A good mind. Time. Money. Possessions. A vocation. And many more blessings that aren't listed.

God wants the best for us. God wants us to be so much and do fulfill our purpose. Through the Bible we can read about 500 verses on prayer, and fewer than 500 verses on faith, but there are more than 2,500 verses about money and possessions. God wants to guide us on how we should handle the things with which we've been entrusted.

Take a look in the good book if you need help in discerning how to manage your blessings--it's a wonderful guide!

I never realized just how many scripture verses deal with money and possessions. God will provide for our needs, we just have to trust and have a completely balanced life of Stewardship!

L.i.n.c.

How do we spread love at home in our community and even outside of our community?  

Anyone that has ever given a gift to someone else has probably felt love through the excitement of the recipient, though a gift is not necessary for spreading love. A smile. A high-five. A compliment. Even a conversation. All of these can spread love to others and also be a way for us to be Christ to others. Share the gifts and talents God has entrusted to you with others that are in need!

l.i.n.c. is a non-profit organization that stands for Love in Neglected Communities. The mission statement as provided via their website states, "We aim to provide neglected youth with the support needed to alleviate hardships, promote well-being, and facilitate growth, giving them the chance to not only survive, but to truly live, love and thrive."

This ministry has developed through the hard work of several young professionals. Currently they are working to raise enough funding to build a new home for a community of orphaned children in Nairobi, Kenya, to provide them a safe environment with access to water, food and education.

How can I help to spread love outside of my own community?
Easy! You can easily donate straight to l.i.n.c. or you can enjoy a fun at their inaugural golf outing, which will directly impact the orphanage project. The golf outing is planned for Saturday, August 10, 2013 at 2:00 pm at Paradise Lake Country Club (1900 Randolph Rd. Suffield, 44260). Tickets include 18 holes of golf and cart, drinks, lunch and steak dinner.

Maybe you don't have the funds to attend this event, but you'd still like to spread happiness--so consider volunteering. Erin is organizing this event and would gladly share the volunteer needs that she has, send her an e-mail: erin@lincworldwide.org. 

Maybe this isn't the right way for your to share love in neglected communities--so find your own way to do so, but if it is a just right fit for you, complete the registration information! 

Giving of our First Fruits

Have you ever stopped to think how you spend the 24 hours in a day?

What do you allot your 24 hours for each day? This week I'm taking time to take notice of what I'm spending time on so I can become more aware of where I'm wasting time and how I might allot more time to God. Time for God should really be like time for sleep. If you take the 24 hour day, most people would try to allot 6-10 hours for sleeping (some people need more and some less). That's kind of automatic. If we have a job we probably automatically allot 7-10 hours for work (depends on the day, right?).

After I factor in sleep time and work time I'm left over with between 7-9 hours of time to spend on other things...think about how your days are broken up and what are you giving FIRST to God before scheduling in tv time or "play time."

What  are some of the things you give a high priority to? Does prayer time rank there? Just take time to ponder!

Giving to God this Summer #3

Give of your TIME to Christ:

Spend time in Eucharistic Adoration from 10:00 am to 10:00 pm in the church on the first Wednesday of each month or every other Wednesday of the month from 10:00 am to 8:00 pm in the Reservation Chapel. This is a wonderful way to answer Jesus' own question: "Can you not keep watch one hour with me?"

Contact Carissa Young to commit to a specific hour each week: 330-867-1055 ext. 202 or cyoung@sthilarychurch.org or stop in as you're able

All men, 16 and older: consider attending the Men's Group on the second Saturday of every month. This is a wonderful way to deepen spirituality as a Catholic Man as well as a way to develop community with other men of the parish.

Contact RJ Bradner for more information about becoming involved with this ministry: 330-666-8940 or rjbradner@yahoo.com 

FOR WOMEN ONLY: join the women of the parish for a program on the 5th Monday of months with a 5th Monday, Journey Women. Spend time in prayer, journaling, reading and sharing at Sand Run Park at the Shady Hollow Pavilion. Next opportunity is July 29, 2013 from 9:00 am-2:30 pm.

Contact Beth Rado if you're interested in deepening your spirituality with the women of the parish: 330-867-1055 ext. 206 or brado@sthilarychurch.org

Join a Small Christian Community to pray, share life experiences, grow in faith, and be a source of support to one another. These small groups of 8-12 people usually meet in parishioners' homes once per month.

Contact Pat Schnee for details or to find a Small Christian Community that will fit your schedule and style: 330-867-5008 or patschnee@gmail.com

Giving to God this Summer #2

Be WELCOMING through the sharing of your gift in the following ways:

Volunteer as a Greeter and/or Minister of Hospitality (Usher) at any Mass. Greet parishioners and visitors as they arrive to and leave from Mass.

Contact Tom Peltier if you'd like to share your welcoming gifts: 330-836-6123 or akronbobcat@gmail.com or Contact Paul Heil to share your welcoming gifts: 330-665-1082 or hileyd@frontier.com

Join the Welcoming Ministry and meet new parishioners and help them become acclimated with the parish. Getting to know new people and introduce them to the parish and other parishioners is a great way to share your talent for being welcoming.

Contact Jim Kilcoyne if you'd like to share your welcoming gifts in this way: 330-929-7431 or jimkilcoyne@aol.com 

Greet families that are having a child baptized and help their child through the Baptism day. As a Baptism Greeter you represent the entire parish community by helping families feel at home in the parish and in the ritual of the Sacrament of Baptism.

Contact Beth Rado if you're interested in greeting families for Baptisms: 330-867-1055 ext. 206 or brado@sthilarychurch.org

Giving to God this Summer # 1

Share your MUSICAL talents in one of the following ways

 Sing or accompany at the ALIVE Mass by attending practices from 4:00-5:30 Mass begins.
Contact Stephen Garchar to join this ministry: 330-788-5537 or ssgarchar@sbcglobal.net
 

Sing or accompany at the 9:00 Sunday Mass through the sharing of your talents in the Contemporary Ensemble led by LuAnne Toth. Stop up and talk to ministry members after Mass to join in.  

Cantor at Mass. You would get the honor of leading the congregation in song throughout the Mass. Contact Carissa Young if interested in this ministry: 330-867-1055 ext. 202 or cyoung@sthilarychurch.org

  

Perform music at the Creekside Farmer's Market on Thursdays from 4:00-6:00 pm in Copley.

Contact Carin LeSeure if you'd like to help: 330-221-4510  

http://www.copleycreeksidefarmersmarket.com/index.html

If you're musical consider sharing your gifts and talents 

with others this summer!

Giving of our first fruits is often difficult!

First fruits of time, talent, and treasure. What are first fruits? Giving of what we have before we start divvying it up to give and/or spend in other ways. If we get 24 hours in a day, how much of that time will be spend with God?

We're called if we think about tithing to give 10% of what we have to God. Are we willing to give 144 minutes per day to God. Then we can subtract out however much time we need for sleeping and work/school. Whatever is left is ours. Maybe 10% seems a bit much, so even just giving 1% means giving God 14 minutes each day. Do you give God 1% of your time every day?

What about giving our talents. We may have many gifts and talents, which are given to us to use to glorify God. How can we give of those talents to the building of God's kingdom? We should somehow return gratefully what we have to God.

Lastly, our treasure. Check out this video  and think about what you need versus what you want...

Child See, Child Do!

As children learn to do things they observe those around them and see how they do things. Many children learn to talk, eat with silverware, and do so many important things through the use of observation. Set an example that you will be proud to have your child follow.

I would strongly recommend that everyone teaches their children through their actions.

Stewardship is something that children will (hopefully) learn through the examples around them.

Fr. Patrick Peyton, who was involved with the Family Rosary Crusade, once said, “A family that prays together stays together.” As a child my family used to gather in one bedroom to pray before bed together. Whoever's bedroom we prayed in was the person who was allowed to choose which prayers we would say. I learned about the importance of having a dedicated prayer life from the example and the importance my parents placed on that time every single night.

Who is working behind the scenes?

Stewardship of Thanks

Have you ever thought about who does the behind the scenes work at St. Hilary? When there's a funeral and flowers die--who makes sure they are disposed of? For parish meetings, who takes care of the set up and tear down after? Who makes sure there are little papers and sharpened pencils in the pews for those who are new or forget their envelopes or need new information about St. Hilary?

Since today is Thankful Thursday I'm going to recommend that we take time to notice who does these things and say thanks--even if it's only once in a while. Say thanks if you notice someone preparing something. Send a note to someone that you notice does a great job, whether they're a volunteer or not. We all take pride in what we do more when it's noticed and attention is called to it!

Who disposes of dead flowers?
A variety of people tend to this, but mostly people that have a few extra minutes to compost the flowers and break down the arrangement. Some will pull out the dead flowers and leave the rest until it's no longer salvageable, other times the arrangement is broken down, composted as it's able and disposed of. Special thanks to Meg Hopp, who has been caught most recently helping with this task.

Who takes care of the set up and tear down for meetings?
This is a question is usually answered with the names of our maintenance staff: Wayne Weber, John Morris, Ryan Bisheimer, Adam Glaus, and/or Chuck DeWitt. 

Occasionally groups have it worked out to clean up or set up for themselves. One great example is the Charismatic Prayer Group that neatly stacks their chairs after they finish on Tuesday evenings to prepare for Catechesis of the Good Shepherd that meets on Wednesday mornings.

 

Who makes sure there are little papers and sharpened pencils in the pews for those who are new or forget their envelopes or need new information about St. Hilary?
Usually this task is done, lovingly, by three dedicated parishioners: Connie Donateli, Shirley Frater, and Lynda O'Neil. Every week Connie, Shirley, and Lynda meet and check the tiny pew card holders to be sure they are stocked with information and sharpened pencils. That's definitely a job that's important, but probably goes unnoticed most of the time. The pew card holders were donated several years ago by the Parish Foundation, so special thanks to them too!

Givng at the Right Moment is Important: Talent Tuesday

All talents are equally important and beneficial in bringing glory to God.

 

Yesterday's explosions at the Boston Marathon were extremely sad and unexpected. It's important not to let the terrible overshadow the goodness that came from the terrible. A friend of mine, Debbie, ran in the race and finished before the explosions. A second woman I know, Roberta was still running and was about half a mile from the finish line when the explosions occurred. Both are safe, but the amazing story is that Debbie ran the additional couple of miles back to the hotel to get her things and in hopes of meeting back up with Roberta. Roberta was picked up by a kind Boston couple and taken to the hotel where the couple waited outside and drove Debbie and Roberta to the airport so they could catch their flight back to Ohio. Both women offered to give them money for the ride, but the Boston couple said they just wanted to make a bad experience a little bit better for the Ohio-bound ladies.

There were many awe inspiriting stories from yesterday's tragedy.

I heard multiple stories of residents of Boston that picked up strangers because taxis weren't picking anyone up and other means of public transportation weren't running. These Good Samaritans were helping others in need during a crisis situation for their community.

I heard of runners that crossed the finish line and continued running to the hospital to give blood to those who were harmed in the explosions.

I heard a story of a former NFL football player, Joe Andruzzi  (of the New England Patriots) carried a woman to safety after the explosions. 

I heard a story of a runner that was worried for her husband who was ahead of her in the race at the time of the explosion and could have been in range, but how fellow runners pulled together to aid a woman that spoke little English and was scared and confused.

People helping people. That's what I would say was the theme of yesterday's event. People were there to lend their cell phones, their calls, their shoulders to strangers. All brought together by this one event. It takes a special talent to leave your own worries behind, trust in God's goodness and offer your help to neighbors in need. 

Consider, on any given day, slowing down enough to notice when a stranger might need your help and take the time to offer it.  You don't have to be talented in many ways, as Jean de La Bruyère, a French writer once said, “Generosity lies less in giving much than in giving at the right moment.”

Ministry Monday

Congratulations to the St. Hilary Adult Choir! 

It's Ministry Monday and the St. Hilary Adult Choir is certainly deserving of a fanfare. This ministry shares their gifts for music with the parish. Holy Week is the peak of their liturgical year--as they perform at the Evening of Sacred Music and Dance on Palm Sunday evening, Holy Thursday's Mass of the Lord's Supper,Good Friday, and at the Easter Vigil. Stewardship of talent is shared freely by the parish music ministries.

Music and Liturgy Minister, Carissa Young submitted an entry for the 2013 Jubilation! and the St. Hilary Adult Choir was selected as one of six finalists!

Jubilation! will take place on May 9th and 10th at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist at the corner of East 9th and Superior in downtown Cleveland.

The St. Hilary Adult Choir  will perform a 20 minute program on either May 9th or May 10th (as soon as we know the date we'll let you know).

Each of the two evenings will include music from 3 of the finalist groups and an audience favorite will be selected by those in attendance at each performance as well as one overall winner, selected by a panel of judges.

Save the date for this exciting event.  

Thanks to all Music Ministries & Ministers!

Special thanks Phillis Hilkert, pictured below playing the organ, for all of the hard work she put in to practicing for the Holy Week musical performances. 

Many thanks, always, to our beautiful music ministries at St. Hilary for always providing a phenomenal musical environment for the liturgies: the 9:00 Contemporary Ensemble under the direction of LuAnne Toth, The ALIVE Music Ministry under the direction of Stephen Garchar, The Hand Bell Choir, the St. Hilary Adult Choir, and St. Cecilia Singers' Youth Choir under the direction of Carissa and Jacob Young. Thanks also to each and every music minister that contributes to the many musical ministries of St. Hilary with voice, accompaniment, and/or instrumental.

 All photos in this post were taken by parishioner, Victor Howe, at the Evening of Sacred Music & Dance on Palm Sunday, March 24, 2013.

SIDE NOTE: May is less than a month away and it's also National Bike Month. Consider challenging yourself to show your stewardship by riding your bike over driving to nearby destinations. Check it out.

Charles

Holy Thursday. What a powerful message. Jesus serves his disciples through the washing of their feet. Their sinky, dirty, gross feet. Jesus strives to teach us to serve one another. He was the prime example of what it means to be a steward throughout his entire life. How can we continue to stretch ourselves as a steward, with Him as our model?

Photo taken by Carol Malick, 2011 Holy Thursday Mass of the Lord's Supper

At the Holy Thursday Mass I attended at St. Anne's in Rittman, OH I heard a story. A very uplifting and beautiful story of a truly ecumenical effort by the many churches in the city. A man named Charles lives in the area and is not well-to-do. He had very little, but strived to stretch himself.

He would visit the churches and talk with the ministers/priests. After visiting St. Anne's several times he left 7 pennies on the altar. Another time he left two sets of 7 pennies, still other times he would leave 3 or 4 sets, all the way up to 7 sets of 7 pennies. Charles felt that 7 was a powerful number.

Charles has a mental health disorder of some kind and has been hospitalized due to it. Instead of the church folks in Rittman feeling relieved that he is getting help and that "he's not our problem anymore" they pitched in and different churches have taken up different collections to help when he gets back into his home. One church was able to cover the cost of a new water heater, another has been able to supply people to re-paint his home. Still others have been cleaning or purchasing a new appliance or two. This community has come together to ensure that when Charles gets home he will have a safe place to live and will not have to worry whether important appliances are going to sputter and die out in the near future.

In the Holy Thursday Gospel (John 13: 1-15) Jesus says"If I, therefore, the master and teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash one another’s feet. I have given you a model to follow, so that as I have done for you, you should also do."Jesus wants us to do for others what he has done for us. He has given us a model to follow, how will we choose to follow it?

He died for us. He purchased for us eternal salvation. He wants for us to do for others...



On Saturday, April 13 the Journey Together for Justice Ministry through St. Hilary and Faith Lutheran is sponsoring a Day of Service. This is a follow up to the Lenten Speaker Series that was sponsored by the two churches to encourage parishioners to Live the Gospel Message of Matthew 25: The Lord calls us to give food to the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, welcome strangers, clothe the naked, care for the sick and the imprisoned.  Jesus says: "Amen, I say to you, what you did not do for one of these least ones, you did not do for me." Consider whether you are able to give some of your valuable time for the least of God's people on this day of service. Sign up online, now!

Having an Attitude of Gratitude

How often does someone ask you "How are you?" and you answer "Fine" even when you aren't fine? What if instead of always answering, "fine" or "good" we always answered "blessed!" No matter what time of day, how lousy you're feeling, or how happy you might be-"blessed" is always a true response about how you are!

I listened to a lecture recently about Stewardship from the Diocese of Witchita and this was one of the ideals that were focused upon. We must be thankful recipients of the gifts God has given us. We also must remember to share our thanks and those gifts with others. 

We are all gifted and talented in a way that God designed for us.  Proudly share the gifts and talents God has given you! Since we're not supposed to be just like anyone else, you have to celebrate what makes you gifted and talented in a different way than your neighbors. Then we can all share with one another to glorify God.

"I assure you, as often as you did it to one of My least brothers, you did it to Me."

From Matthew 25:40, what a challenge. It sounds so cliche, but it's really a tall order to treat everyone as you would treat Jesus. 

I was asked to speak with the junior high youth group members about almsgiving, an important part of Lent that we hope goes deeper than giving of money--to giving of time in prayer, sharing of talents, and also sharing of treasure.

The focus of my sharing with the junior high youth was to discuss and (hopefully) dispel the misconceptions of panhandlers on the street.

I shared with the youth about a column I read back in June, written by Bob Dyer of the Akron Beacon Journal. He had been contacted by fellow Akronites with claims of all sorts of things about panhandlers around the area. Claims included that the panhandlers were dishonest and wouldn't accept an honest day of work when offered it. He set out to write a column proving these claims to be true--he went out with a landlord to find panhandlers and ask if they would like to work doing odd jobs like painting and simple landscaping.

They found five panhandlers--how many do you think would work for the landlord?

::Read on to find out::

The first man they met was in his 30s and eagerly came up to their car. After the landlord explained why they were there the man said he could do cleaning, cooking, and just about anything else.

The second man was a shaggy looking fellow near the University of Akron campus. When approached he said he would also like the opportunity to work: he could paint.

Third, in Montrose, the men saw a woman sitting in front of a gas station. She said she could not work due to a disability, BUT she quickly offered that her husband was great at maintenance jobs and would work for the landlord.

Fourth, they met another man who told them his availability would be limited because he only panhandles on his days off from a menial job at a restaurant, but he was willing and able.

Last, a woman with a limp due to rheumatoid arthritis said she too could lend a hand, she referred to herself as a "jack of all trades."

Moral of the story-don't believe everything you hear, often times we make assumptions based upon generalizations and/or stereotypes. Also, if you are still leery to be generous with a panhandler- consider directing your generosity to different local agencies that support those in need. Then you can feel helpful when you direct people you encounter to different agencies in the Akron area.

A few agencies that can use volunteers and/or monetary support for their missions include:

• Springtime of Hope 
• Akron-Canton Regional Food Bank
• OPEN M 
• Haven of Rest
• International Institute of Akron
• South Street Ministries
• Habitat for Humanity
• Nazareth Housing

11 Exemplary Definitions of Stewardship

 

         Prayer,

        Service &

              Sharing

          Living a way of life that is grateful and responsible for all that God has blessed you with and generously giving of your time, talent, and treasure.

 

                                                                                 

"Having an

attitude

of gratitude"

  

 

       Stewardship is
responding to your
own need to give!

 Stewardship is a way of life,
honoring God in everything
we do with all His gifts.
Living life in a God-centered way,
rather than a self-centered way,
thinking of God first,
before our own wants.

 

       Stewardship is a life-long faith journey that brings us ever closer to Jesus Christ; following the path He so perfectly laid out for us through His life example.

 

Receiving, thanking, 

sharing and praising God 

for the gifts we 

have received.

    

       Stewardship:
Rooted in Gospel
Realized as Gift
Returned in Gratitude

Stewardship is about

our relationship

with God.

    Stewardship is living life with the understanding that someday God will ask each and every one of us what we did with all of His varied gifts.

Stewardship is...
to receive gratefully 
to nurture responsibly
to share justly and charitably 
and to return abundantly.



If you're interested in reading more about what the Bishops of the United States said in their Pastoral Letter on Stewardship, check it out! It's a quick read and gives more specifics pertaining to all of these definitions and MORE!