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A Introduction
Purpose of This Program.................................................1
Celebration Sunday.........................................................1
Leaders..............................................................................2
Communication Materials...............................................2
Including Children and Youth ........................................2
B Preplanning
Introduction.......................................................................3
Committee and Coordinators .......................................3
Week-by-Week Details....................................................4
Communications .............................................................4
Prepare your Materials....................................................4
Narrative Budget..............................................................5
Resources and Supplies..................................................5
Celebration Sunday.........................................................5
Guides & Checklists
Preplanning.................................................................6
Week 1.........................................................................7
Week 2.........................................................................8
Week 3.........................................................................9
Week 4.......................................................................10
Week 5: Celebration Sunday..................................11
Weeks 6, 7, 8.............................................................12
Checklist of Expenses and Required Supplies..........13
Sample Logo...................................................................14
Sample Poster ................................................................15
Letter of Invitation for Board/Council Meeting.........16
Letter Enclosure: Program Timeline............................17
C Week 1
Materials........................................................................... #
Children’s Time ................................................................#
Week 1 Minute Message: General Introduction ........#
Week 1 Bulletin Insert......................................................#
Week 1 Letter to Congregation.....................................#
Week 1 Letter Enclosure: Luncheon Invitation ...........#
D Week 2
Materials........................................................................... #
Children’s Time ................................................................#
Week 2 Minute Message: Golden Windows...............#
Week 2 Bulletin Insert......................................................#
Week 2 Luncheon Reservation
Phoning Instructions .......................................................#
E Week 3
Materials........................................................................... #
Children’s Time ................................................................#
Week 3 Minute Message:
Mission and Service Dialogue........................................#
Week 3 Letter to Congregation.....................................#
Week 3 Letter Enclosure: Steps Chart,
Percentage Giving Guide, and
Pre-Authorized Remittance (PAR) Flyer ........................#
Week 3 Letter Enclosure: Narrative Budget.................#
Table of Contents (i)
CELEBRATE STEWARDSHIP
A Five-Week Congregational Program
The United Church
of Canada
i TABLE OF CONTENTS
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F) Week 4
Materials........................................................................... #
Children’s Time ................................................................#
Week 4 Children’s Estimate of Givings Form
(ages 9 to 12) ....................................................................#
Week 4 Children’s Stewardship Letter .........................#
Week 4 Minute Message: Funding Our Mission.........#
Week 4 Bulletin Insert: Brochure....................................#
H) Week 5 Celebration Sunday
Materials........................................................................... #
Children’s Time ................................................................#
Week 5 Minute Message: Celebration Sunday ..........#
Week 5 Bulletin Insert: Brochure....................................#
Week 5 Estimate of Givings Form A ............................#
Week 5 Estimate of Givings Form B .............................#
Week 5 Estimate of Givings Form C.............................#
Week 5 Estimate of Givings Form D.............................#
Week 5 Invitation to Fill Out and
Dedicate Estimates of Givings.......................................#
Week 5 Celebration Sunday Estimate of Givings ........
Summary Report Form....................................................#
J) Week 5 Celebration Sunday
Materials ...........................................................................#
Week 6 Follow-Up Letter to Those
Who Did Not Attend.......................................................#
Weeks 6, 7, 8 Follow-Up Phone Call Guidelines ........#
Weeks 6, 7, 8 Bulletin Insert:
Celebration Sunday Update ..........................................#
Weeks 6, 7, 8 Thank You Letter:
Designated Givings.........................................................#
Weeks 6, 7, 8 Letter Enclosure:
Pre-Authorized Remittance............................................#
Weeks 6, 7, 8 Thank You Letter: Unified Budget.........#
Weeks 6, 7, 8 Letter Enclosure: Unified Budget..........#
Week 8 Report Back to Guest Speaker
and Conference Office ...................................................#
K) Resources.........................................................................#
Table of Contents (ii)
CELEBRATE STEWARDSHIP
A Five-Week Congregational Program
The United Church
of Canada
ii TABLE OF CONTENTS
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CELEBRATE STEWARDSHIP
A Five-Week Congregational Program
The United Church
of Canada
A Introduction
Purpose of this Program / Celebration Sunday
God gives
to us and
we give
to God.
Introduction
This manual provides details for a five-week stewardship
program that builds up to a Celebration Sunday on the fifth
Sunday.
On Celebration Sunday, the congregation fills in Estimate of
Givings forms during worship and is invited to stay for a
thank-you luncheon.
Then there are an additional three weeks of follow-up and
wrap-up work.
£ The Celebrate Stewardship Committee develops and
leads the five-week program, while the follow-up work is
done through Finance Committee or Stewardship
Committee volunteers and administrative staff, who help
with recording givings.
Purpose of This Program
The intent of this program is to focus on a theology of
stewardship that highlights the abundance of God’s love for
us and our desire and need to respond abundantly to that
love. We sum it up in this short sentence:
God gives to us and we give to God.
There is also an understanding that our faith in God gives us
the knowledge that we live a life of abundance simply
because God is generous. Our response to this generous
God can be none other than abundant living and abundant
giving.
You will notice that we do not talk about a specific financial
goal in this manual. The financial material that is presented
(weeks 3 and 4) highlights the ministry programming your
church offers rather than asking people to give to meet a
targeted amount.
Celebration Sunday
The sermon on Celebration Sunday highlights the
stewardship theme. Usually an outside leader is asked to be
the speaker. The speaker also extends the invitation to
return Estimates of Giving at the end of the service.
A luncheon on Celebration Sunday is an integral part of the
program, providing an immediate thank you to those who
are there and a time to report the new commitments that
have been offered that day. As well, consider celebrating
members’ other gifts with a talent show or concert after
lunch while waiting for the summary report.
3-week
follow-up &
wrap up
Celebration
Sunday &
Luncheon
5-week
stewardship
program
1
Week Week Week Week Week Week Week Week
2 3 4 5 6 7 8
see financial
material:
weeks 3 & 4
see Celebration
Sunday material:
week 5
see Leaders page✔
✔
✔
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✔
CELEBRATE STEWARDSHIP
A Five-Week Congregational Program
The United Church
of Canada
Leaders
The program is led by a Celebrate Stewardship
Coordinator working with a Celebration Luncheon
Coordinator and an ad hoc Celebrate Stewardship
Committee of three or four additional people.
If you work with consultants or an outside leader, these
people will work with you three times:
• They will meet with your committee
at its first meeting.
• They will speak at the Board/Council special coffee and
dessert (or dinner) meeting.
• They will preach and extend the invitation
to fill in the Estimate of Givings forms
on Celebration Sunday.
Communication Materials
Mailings and other communications are an integral part of
this program.
Sample materials for your Celebrate Stewardship program
are provided in this manual. [ see pp # link » ] They may be
photocopied (where this is feasible) or retyped and adapted
to your church’s needs.
The materials are also available as RTF files that accompany
this manual, so you can adapt and shape them to your
specific congregation’s needs. [ see pp # link » ]
These materials include:
• a weekly guide and schedule to help you plan your
Celebrate Stewardship program;
• Sunday morning bulletin inserts and Minute Messages
highlighting the theology of the program, promoting the
Mission and Service of the national church, and
providing information about ministry programming;
• letters to the congregation;
• letter enclosures;
• brochures;
• narrative budgets explaining how the congregation’s
money is spent in various areas of ministry programming;
• eEstimate of givings forms (pledge cards);
• and more!
Include Children and Youth
• Remember to include children and youth in your
Celebrate Stewardship program. This is an ideal time to
teach values around money and about sharing with
others.
• Each of the weeks 1–5 sections in this manual include
stewardship suggestions for Children’s Time, written by
Amy Crawford, Children’s Ministries. An I Can Give, Too!
Estimate of Givings form for children aged 4–8 can be
downloaded from www.united-church.ca (search for “I
can give”). [ see pp # link » ]
• Get youth involved in your program by sending the
congregational letters in this manual to every teen,
giving them their own Estimate of Givings forms, asking
them to volunteer to help collect RSVPs to the luncheon,
and so on.
Remember !
The samples in this
manual are generic!
Adapt them to suit
your congregation
and your program.
Where your
treasure is,
there will
your heart
will be also.
Matthew 6:19
A Introduction
Leaders / Communication Materials
RTF files and
other downloads
click here www
RTF (Rich Text
Files) means the
typed material
can be imported
into most apps
and programs
without retyping
(e.g. Word, Pages)
and edited,
adapted,
reformatted as
desired.
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CELEBRATE STEWARDSHIP
A Five-Week Congregational Program
The United Church
of Canada
B PREPLANNING
Committee and Coordinators
Introduction
Preplanning can start months ahead of the actual
Celebrate Stewardship program, but count on needing
at least three weeks before starting Week 1.
ORGANIZE THE Committee &
ENGAGE THE Coordinators
One meeting of the Celebrate Stewardship Committee can
accomplish all the preplanning. Follow these important
steps:
£ Invite five or six faithful members of the congregation
to participate in the important work of an ad hoc
Celebrate Stewardship Committee for a term of about
two months.
These people understand stewardship as a spiritual
issue. Their own life decisions (including their offerings)
reflect their relationship with God.
£ Designate a Celebrate Stewardship Program
Coordinator and a Celebration Luncheon Coordinator.
Having coordinators to manage the details of the
program and the luncheon can make a big difference in
how smoothly the committee works on the individual
parts.
£ Have the Celebrate Stewardship Program Coordinator
read through this entire manual.
There is a logical flow to the materials, and it is helpful to
see that before working through the details week by
week.
£ Involve ministers in the planning. Ministers are an
integral part of raising and keeping excitement and
interest flowing during this stewardship program.
You will be working closely as a team.
£ Include the financial secretary: During the preplanning
phase, the person who records givings in the
congregation prepares financial statistics.
This person will be a valuable member of the Celebrate
Stewardship Committee.
£ PARTY MEETING - Raising awareness with your church
Board/Council is very important and can be done
effectively at a coffee and dessert party or dinner with
this group of people mid-program.
Set the date for such a meeting in consultation with the
Chair of the congregation.
£ INVITATIONS & LETTERS - Send out the Letter of
Invitation (page ##) and include the Letter Enclosure:
Program Timeline (page ##).
£ SUNDAY CONNECTIONS - Consider inviting the
person who will be your preacher on Celebration Sunday
to come to this meeting and speak on the theme
“Celebrating Stewardship as a Way of Life.”
£ KEY LEADERS - One church invited other key leaders to
this Board/Council meeting so others would become
excited about and involved in the build-up to
Celebration Sunday. Some churches invite life partners
to make this event a family affair.
Remember !
All handout materials
in the Celebrate
Stewardship program
are downloadable
as RTF files
(Rich Text Format).
You can import .rtf files
into most any app or
program you may
using and amend/
adapt the text
to suit your
congregation’s
particular situation.
The downloads
are online here »
www.####
TO DO LIST
see preplanning list
on page ##
SAMPLE LETTERS
see sample invitation
letters on page ##
STEWARDSHIP
AS A wAY OF LIFE
see resources for
reading up about
this here - ##
✔
✔
✔
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MINUTE MESSAGES
see samples on page
##
BULLETIN INSERTS
see samples on page
##
CONGREGATIONAL
LETTERS
see samples
on page ##
✔
✔
✔
CELEBRATE STEWARDSHIP
A Five-Week Congregational Program
The United Church
of Canada
B PREPLANNING
Week-by-Week / Communications
Week-by-Week Details
See the Weekly Guide (a to-do check list) on page ## for a
list of communication pieces provided in this manual.
The Weekly Schedule (a to-do check list) on pages ##–##
provides more week-by-week detail. Put specific dates in the
first column. Make sure you check what is to be done each
week and make plans for volunteers to carry out these tasks.
This manual also includes a section for each week of the
Celebrate Stewardship program. staring on p # [link »]
Communications
£ Choose a Logo and a “look”.
Choosing a logo can be fun. Feel free to use the graphic
provided in this resource (see the Logo files available
with this manual here link »), or create your own image
for the Celebrate Stewardship theme.
This can be a great way to involve children and young
people or an artist in your congregation. You will be
using this logo on all your materials so they become
recognizable parts of the program.
See the sample logo and sample poster on pages ##-##
for ideas.
£ Choose a colour to be your “stewardship colour” this
year. Use paper in this colour for bulletin and mailing
inserts.
Prepare Your Materials
Read through this manual and adapt every sample
document to reflect how you do things in your
congregation: time of worship service, dates, Official Board
or Church Council, program name, and so on.
Use the RTF files that accompany this resource to save
yourself some typing [ link to RTF »]
Remember to remove all instruction boxes and editorial
directions from any handouts you create.
Minute Messages are an integral part of the program.
Choose the volunteers as indicated on each Minute
Message, and ensure they have the sample so they can
work with it and make it their own.
Bulletin inserts are used each week as important
information-sharing tools. You can prepare all these
inserts and reproduce them at one time to have them
ready for the appropriate Sundays. The samples in this
manual include two inserts per sheet.
congregational letters - these are self-explanatory.
£ Note who signs which letter.
£ Prepare the enclosures to go with the letters,
and include them in the order they appear in
this manual.
£ Address congregational letters to all members
and adherents. Usually the list you use for a
newsletter is the most complete one for this
purpose. Letters, with address labels, can be
handed out on the designated Sunday. Mail any
remaining letters no later than the following
Monday morning.
Remember !
The samples in this
manual are generic!
Adapt them to suit
your congregation
and your program
The downloads
are online here »
[www.####]
God gives
to us and
we give
to God.
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IMPORTANT! re:
the Celebration
LunCH
• Members are not
to pay for the meal,
as this is a thank-
you to them.
• Members are not
to prepare the
meal or clean up
after it. The idea is
to let everyone
have fun and
enjoy!
✔
CELEBRATE STEWARDSHIP
A Five-Week Congregational Program
The United Church
of Canada
B PREPLANNING
Committee and Coordinators
NARRATIVE BUDGET
The Finance Committee and minister prepare the narrative
budget. [See the sample in Week 3 p ##
- link » ]
For instructions for converting a linear (line-by-line) budget,
use The Narrative Budget: Telling Your Congregation’s
Mission Story, a brochure available from United Church
Resource Distribution [See Resources on pp ## - link » ].
The person who records weekly givings prepares:
£ The Steps Chart in Week 3. This will be used as the
congregational letter insert and also in a brochure for
Week 4. [See p ## - link » ]
£ The personal Estimate of Givings forms in Week 5. Four
sample forms are provided. [See p ## - link » ]
Choose and modify the form that best reflects how your
congregation gives money: separate designations for
mission and service and local uses, unified budget,
pre-authorized remittance (PAR), and so on.
Resources and Supplies
The minister, Celebrate Stewardship Coordinator, or church
secretary places an order for resources from United Church
Resource Distribution [See Resources on pp ## - link »]:
£ The Narrative Budget: Telling Your Congregation’s
Mission Story
£ Current Mission and Service bulletin insert for use in
Week 3 [See p ## - link » ]
£ pre-authorized remittance (PAR) brochures and
authorization forms [See p ## - link »]
£ special worship bulletins for Celebration Sunday, if you
wish [See p ## - link » ]
Ensure that you also have:
£ envelopes for three mailings to the entire congregation
£ church letterhead or other stationery for the letters
£ coloured paper in your “stewardship colour” for letter
enclosures and bulletin inserts
Celebration Sunday
Begin initial plans for the Celebration Sunday worship
service and luncheon.
£ Make the worship service special. Consider including
extra music, and involve children and youth [see the
Children’s Time suggestions for Week 5 - p# link »].
This kind of planning and communication with the
appropriate leadership needs to take place well before
the beginning of the program.
Invite a guest speaker, and ask him or her to suggest
some hymns and scripture passages for the sermon.
£ The Celebration Luncheon is a thank-you to everyone
for how they contribute to being part of the church
family. Make arrangements to have this luncheon
prepared by someone outside the congregation.
Consider what kind of meal you need to make this event
a celebration, then think about how to provide such a
meal. It may be a catered affair, which may require
approval from your administrative body, it may be
provided on an exchange basis by another nearby
church, or it may take some other form that suits your
needs.
Above all else, enjoy yourself! Stewardship can be fun -
make it so!
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CELEBRATE STEWARDSHIP
A Five-Week Congregational Program
The United Church
of Canada
C GUIDES & CHECKLISTS
The when do’s, to do’s & who do’s
u Preplanning
Week 1
Week 2
Week 3
Week 4
Week 5
Celebration
Sunday &
Celebration
Luncheon
Followup:
Weeks 6, 7, 8
PREPLANNING
Communication
Pieces
£ Weekly Schedule
£ Checklist of Expenses and Required Supplies
£ Sample Logo
£ Sample Poster
£ Letter of Invitation for Board/Council Meeting (with Program Timeline)
£ Letter Enclosure: Program Timeline
Important Dates Event What
Celebrate Stewardship Committee meeting
Communication pieces:
£ Week 3 - Letter Enclosure:
™ Steps Chart,
™ Percentage Giving Guide, and
™ PAR flyer
£ Week 3 - Letter Enclosure:
Narrative Budget (if using)
£ Week 5 - Estimate of Givings forms
Celebrate Stewardship Coordinator convenes whole committee.
£ Choose logo.
£ Divide up tasks.
£ Plan for Board/Council coffee and dessert party or dinner
and Celebration Luncheon.
£ Celebrate Stewardship Coordinator orders resources, including Mission
and Service bulletin inserts for Week 3.
£ Person who records givings starts preparing Steps Chart,
Narrative Budget (if using), and Estimate of Givings forms.
£ Letter of Invitation to Celebration Sunday
Committee members and Board/Council
members
£ Letter Enclosure: Program Timeline
£ Celebrate Stewardship Coordinator signs Letter of Invitation for Board/
Council meeting.
£ Decide whether to mail or hand out addressed letters on Sunday.
If handing out, mail any remaining letters on Monday.
£ If you are using a consultant or guest speaker for Celebration Sunday,
invite this person to the Board/Council coffee and dessert party or dinner.
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CELEBRATE STEWARDSHIP
A Five-Week Congregational Program
The United Church
of Canada
C GUIDES & CHECKLISTS
The when do’s, to do’s & who do’s
Preplanning
u WEEK 1
Week 2
Week 3
Week 4
Week 5
Celebration
Sunday &
Celebration
Luncheon
Followup:
Weeks 6, 7, 8
WEEK 1
Communication
Pieces
£ Week 1 - Minute Message:
General Introduction
£ Week 1 - Bulletin Insert
£ Week 1 - Letter to Congregation (signed by minister)
£ Week 1 - Letter Enclosure: Luncheon Invitation
Important Dates Event What
Communication pieces:
£ Week 1 - Minute Message
£ Week 1 - Bulletin Insert
£ Week 1 - Letter to Congregation
£ Week 1 - Letter Enclosure: Luncheon Invitation
Sunday: Celebrate Stewardship Coordinator presents Minute Message.
£ Church secretary makes copies of bulletin insert.
£ Minister signs Letter to Congregation, with personal notes as appropriate.
£ Decide whether to mail or hand out letters on Sunday. If handing out, mail
remaining letters on Monday.
£ Phone calls to CS Committee and Board/
Council and members about coming to Board/
Council coffee and dessert party or dinner.
£ Celebrate Stewardship Coordinator phones CS Committee;
£ Committee helps phone Board/Council members.
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CELEBRATE STEWARDSHIP
A Five-Week Congregational Program
The United Church
of Canada
C GUIDES & CHECKLISTS
The when do’s, to do’s & who do’s
Preplanning
Week 1
u WEEK 2
Week 3
Week 4
Week 5
Celebration
Sunday
Celebration
Luncheon
Followup:
Weeks 6, 7, 8
WEEK 2
Communication
Pieces
£ Week 2 - Minute Message:
Golden Windows
£ Week 2 - Bulletin Insert
£ Week 2 - Luncheon Reservation Phoning Instructions
Important Dates Event What
Communication pieces
£ Week 2 - Minute Message
£ Week 2 - Bulletin Insert
£ Week 2 - Luncheon Reservation Phoning
Instructions
Luncheon reservations taken before
and after church.
Sunday: Celebrate Stewardship Committee member presents Minute
Message.
£ Church secretary makes copies of bulletin insert.
£ Celebrate Stewardship Coordinator and Luncheon Coordinator ensure
plans for Board/Council dessert and coffee or dinner meeting are in
place.
£ Committee members prepare a signup sheet for luncheon reservations
or a container to drop reservation cards into.
£ After worship, Luncheon Coordinator prepares lists of those who have
not reserved for luncheon, with contact information.
£ Dessert and coffee or dinner meeting with
Board/Council and Celebrate Stewardship
Committee members.
£ This meeting may alternatively be held during
Week 3.
£ Consultant/guest speaker (if you are using this person) leads discussion
on stewardship at Board/Council dessert and coffee or dinner meeting.
£ Luncheon Coordinator hands out and explains to Board/Council
members the Week 2 Luncheon Reservation Phoning Instructions and
list of names to phone.
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CELEBRATE STEWARDSHIP
A Five-Week Congregational Program
The United Church
of Canada
C GUIDES CHECKLISTS
The when do’s, to do’s who do’s
Preplanning
Week 1
Week 2
u WEEK 3
Week 4
Week 5
Celebration
Sunday
Celebration
Luncheon
Followup:
Weeks 6, 7, 8
WEEK 3
Communication
Pieces
£ Week 3 - Minute Message: Mission and Service
Dialogue
£ Week 3 - Bulletin Insert: Order Mission and Service
inserts and Pre-authorized Remittance (PAR)
brochures from United Church Resource
Distribution (see Resources at end of manual).
£ Week 3 - Letter to Congregation (signed by Board/Council chair)
£ Week 3 - Letter Enclosure: Steps Chart, Percentage Giving Guide,
and PAR Flyer
£ Week 3 - Letter Enclosure: Narrative Budget (if using)
Important Dates Event What
Communications Pieces
£ Week 3 - Minute Message (drama)
£ Week 3 - Bulletin Insert: MS insert
£ Week 3 - Letter to Congregation
£ Week 3 - Letter Enclosure: Steps Chart, Percentage
Giving Guide, and PAR Flyer
£ Week 3 - Letter Enclosure: Narrative Budget
(if using)
SUNDAY: People who represent Mission and Service work present
Minute Message.
£ Use Mission and Service bulletin inserts ordered from UCRD
in the Preplanning phase.
£ Chair of Board/Council signs Letter to Congregation.
£ Luncheon reservations taken before and after
church.
£ Letter to Congregation and Letter Enclosures sent
to all members and friends of the church.
£ Celebrate Stewardship Committee members prepare
a signup sheet for luncheon reservations or a container
to drop reservation cards into.
£ Decide whether to mail or hand out letters on Sunday.
If handing out, mail remaining letters on Monday.
£ Follow up by phone with those who have not made
luncheon reservations.
£ Celebrate Stewardship Committee members and Board/Council
members use Week 2 Luncheon Reservation Phoning Instructions
to follow up with those who have not made luncheon reservations.
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CELEBRATE STEWARDSHIP
A Five-Week Congregational Program
The United Church
of Canada
C GUIDES CHECKLISTS
The when do’s, to do’s who do’s
Preplanning
Week 1
Week 2
Week 3
u WEEK 4
Week 5
Celebration
Sunday
Celebration
Luncheon
Followup:
Weeks 6, 7, 8
WEEK 4
Communication
Pieces
£ Week 4 - Minute Message:
Funding Our Mission
£ Week 4 - Bulletin Insert:
Brochure
Important Dates Event What
Communications Pieces
£ Week 4 - Minute Message
£ Week 4 - Bulletin Insert:
™ Brochure describing programs and
™ Weekly Giving Guide,
™ Steps Chart, and
™ PAR
SUNDAY: Chair of Finance or “finance-friendly” person respected
by congregation presents Minute Message, a positive financial
“story.”
£ Church secretary makes copies of bulletin insert
£ Board/Council members report results of phoning to
Celebration Luncheon Coordinator.
£ Celebration Luncheon Coordinator
™ gathers final luncheon reservation numbers for the caterer,
™ arranges setup details for Saturday, and
™ finalizes plans for entertainment, if any, after lunch.
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CELEBRATE STEWARDSHIP
A Five-Week Congregational Program
The United Church
of Canada
C GUIDES CHECKLISTS
The when do’s, to do’s who do’s
Preplanning
Week 1
Week 2
Week 3
Week 4
u WEEK 5
Celebration
Sunday
Celebration
LUNCHEON
Followup:
Weeks 6, 7, 8
WEEK 5 - CELEBRATION SUNDAY CELEBRATION LUNCHEON
Communication
Pieces
£ Week 5 - Minute Message: Celebration Sunday
£ Week 5 - Bulletin Insert: Brochure
£ Week 5 - Estimate of Givings Forms A–D
£ Week 5 - Celebration Sunday Estimate of Givings
Summary Report Form
£ Week 5 - Invitation to Fill Out and Dedicate
Estimates of Givings
Important Dates Event What
Communications Pieces
£ Week 5 - Minute Message
£ Week 5 - Bulletin Insert: programs/ Weekly Giving Guide/Steps
Chart/PAR brochure
£ Week 5 - Estimate of Givings Forms A–D with personal records
for last year
£ Week 5 - Invitation to Fill Out and Dedicate Estimates of Givings
£ Week 5 - Celebration Sunday Estimate of Givings Summary
Report Form
£ Week 5 - Invitation to Fill Out and Dedicate Estimates of Givings
SUNDAY: Celebrate Stewardship Coordinator presents
Minute Message.
£ Estimate of Givings forms are prepared by person who
records givings.
£ Hand out individual forms in sealed and addressed
envelopes before the service. Put them in alphabetical
order to make things easier!
£ Church secretary makes copies of bulletin insert
£ Guest speaker gives stewardship sermon and leads
invitation to fill out Estimate of Givings forms.
Luncheon!
£ Celebration Sunday - Estimate of Givings Summary Report Form
£ Week 6 - Follow-Up Letter to Those Who Did Not Attend.
Include a personalized Estimate of Givings form and Week 5
£ Celebration Luncheon Coordinator organizes luncheon
setup.
£ Person who records givings presents the givings summary
after lunch.
£ Minister leads final benediction and hymn. All of this has
been worship!
£ Person who records givings completes “Good News
Update” at top of Week 6 Follow-Up Letter to Those Who
Did Not Attend.
£ Mail letters to those who did not attend. This is the last task
for the Celebrate Stewardship Committee.
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CELEBRATE STEWARDSHIP
A Five-Week Congregational Program
The United Church
of Canada
C GUIDES CHECKLISTS
The when do’s, to do’s who do’s
Preplanning
Week 1
Week 2
Week 3
Week 4
Week 5
Celebration
Sunday
Celebration
Luncheon
u FOlLOW-UP
WEEKS
6, 7, 8
FOLLOWUP: WEEKS 6, 7, 8
Communication
Pieces
£ Week 6 - Letter to Those Not at Church on Celebration Sunday
(with enclosures)
£ Weeks 6, 7, 8 - Follow-Up Phone Call Guidelines
£ Weeks 6, 7, 8 - Bulletin Inserts: Celebration Sunday Update
£ Weeks 6, 7, 8 - Thank You Letter: Designated Givings
£ Week 6, 7, 8 - Letter Enclosure: PAR
£ Weeks 6, 7, 8 - Thank You Letter: Unified Budget
£ Weeks 6, 7, 8 - Letter Enclosure: Unified Budget
£ Week 8 - Report Back to Guest Speaker
and Conference Office
Important Dates Event What
Communications Pieces
£ Week 7 - Follow-Up Phone Call Guidelines
£ Finance or Stewardship Committee makes the follow-up
phone calls to those who haven’t returned their Estimate of
Givings form.
£ See the suggestions in the Follow-Up Phone Call
Guidelines. Board/Council members may be asked to
help.
£ Weeks 6, 7, 8 - Bulletin Insert provides weekly updates of
estimate of givings results and encourages givers to return their
forms.
£ Weeks 6, 7, 8 - Thank You Letter (two versions) is personalized
and given in appreciation to each person/family who filled in an
Estimate of Givings form.
£ Weeks 6, 7, 8 - Letter Enclosure (two versions) is mailed to new
PAR givers.
£ Person who records the givings prepares the updates on
givings.
£ Church secretary makes copies of bulletin inserts.
£ Person who records the givings prepares the thank you
letters.
£ Week 8 - Report Back to Guest Speaker and Conference Office £ Person who records the givings prepares the report and
sends it to stewardship consultant or guest speaker.
£ Consider sending it to Conference stewardship staff, too.
Table of Contents | UCC Stewardship websiteSection C • page 12 Quick Links
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CELEBRATE STEWARDSHIP
A Five-Week Congregational Program
The United Church
of Canada
C GUIDES CHECKLISTS
The to do’s and who do’s
Checklist of Expenses and
Required Supplies
Consultant/Guest Speaker Fees
£ Check with your Conference for guidelines on speakers’
fees and travel expenses.
Meals
£ Board/Council coffee and dessert or dinner meeting:
Any expenses for this can be paid for by those
attending. Some churches see this as an opportunity to
say thank you to congregational leaders by covering the
costs.
£ Celebration Sunday Luncheon for congregation
Stationery
£ Coloured paper: Choose one colour and print all your
materials on that colour throughout the Celebrate
Stewardship program.
£ Poster paper/Bristol board in the appropriate size for
your advertising posters
£ Envelopes for the mailings
£ Name tags for the Celebrate Stewardship Committee
members to wear on the five Sundays of the program
and for all who attend the Celebration Luncheon
£ Address labels as indicated below
Mailings
£ Two full congregational mailings. You’ll save on postage
if you hand out as many letters as possible on Sunday
mornings.
£ Two partial mailings to those who aren’t at church, and
for thank you letters for estimates received
Resources
£ For electronic version of the handouts that you can
adapt for your church, see the RTF files that accompany
this manual.
£ Order resources from United Church Resource
Distribution (see Resources at the end of this manual):
£ The Narrative Budget
£ Mission and Service bulletins and bulletin inserts
£ Pre-Authorized Remittance (PAR) brochures
Letterhead and Logo
£ Create your own special logo or use the one shown in
this manual, available in the image files that accompany
this resource. A good logo is a visual reminder of the
program every time people see it. It should go on all
materials you print for your stewardship program.
£ Create letterhead that includes your logo. Use your
church letterhead and simply add the logo wherever it
fits best.
Table of Contents | UCC Stewardship websiteSection C • page 13 Quick Links
