Stewardship 2025

Luke bookends his Gospel with the witness of two women named Mary. Early in the narrative, Mary, the mother of Jesus, encounters the angel who tells her she will bear a child who will change the world, and she responds with joy in the words of the Magnificat: “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior” (Luke 1:46–47). At the end of the Gospel, another Mary—Mary Magdalene—comes to the tomb, finds it empty, and is sent by the Risen Christ to tell the others. She jubilantly takes this Good News to the disciples.

Centuries later, the great hymn writer Timothy Dudley-Smith captured Mary’s song in the hymn “Tell out my soul! The Greatness of the Lord!” Our theme for this year’s pledge campaign borrows Dudley-Smith’s paraphrase, echoing Mary’s joyful witness. At its heart, stewardship involves taking our place in God’s great story, telling out the greatness of the Lord with faith, gratitude, and generosity.

Our Tell Out My Soul campaign invites each of us to share the joy that fills our hearts. Stewardship is our response of gratitude—expressed in prayerful giving that supports worship, discipleship, outreach, and the many ways Christ’s love takes shape among us. Every pledge, large or small, is both an act of faith and a declaration of hope as we seek to make disciples and serve in Augusta. Our “Ingathering Sunday” is November 2, but you may return them sooner than that if you wish by mail or in the offering plate. You can also give electronically and securely by clicking on the link below.

Tithing is a spiritual discipline more than it is a financial consideration. The best way to reach the tithe (10%) is through intentional incremental progress – for example, committing one percent more annually or quarterly. Stewardship is a discipleship commitment, not simply funding the church budget, and is best approached as a joyful response to the grace of Jesus at work in our lives.