For many, Stewardship is something associated primarily with the fall: pledge cards, campaigns, and budgets. For some, by the time February arrives, it can feel as though Stewardship work is “done” for the year.
And yet, the next three months, February through April, offer some of the richest opportunities we have to deepen Stewardship in our congregations.
It’s not about doing more for its own sake. It’s an invitation to look at what is already on the calendar and ask how these moments might support the Stewardship hopes we have for our parish. For some, that may mean building on existing practices. For others, it may mean trying something new.
The coming months are filled with occasions when people are already attentive, reflective, and open: Ash Wednesday, Lent, Holy Week, and Easter. Alongside the liturgical calendar, you may also be preparing for your annual meeting, and parochial reports (due March 1). These all invite reflection on purpose, priorities, and shared ministry, which lie at the very heart of Stewardship.
Beginning with Intention
Before diving into specific dates or ideas, it can be helpful to pause and ask a few simple questions:
- What do you hope will be true about Stewardship in your parish by next fall?
- What do you want parishioners to understand, feel, or do differently?
- Where is the calendar already opening doors for these conversations?
Holding these questions as you look at February, March, and April allows Stewardship to be shaped by intention rather than urgency. What follows are some ways the calendar itself can help move those intentions forward.
Liturgical Moments as Stewardship Teachers
The liturgical season ahead is already rich with meaning. Lent, in particular, invites reflection on priorities, practices, generosity, what really matters, and the legacy we are shaping with our lives and our resources. It is a natural time to help people connect faith, life, and giving.
Rather than treating Stewardship as a separate topic, you might consider weaving Stewardship themes into what is already happening. Brief reflections in newsletters or sermons can draw gentle connections between Lenten disciplines and the ways we share our resources. During Holy Week and Easter, leaders might name how parish giving supports the ministries that make these services possible, including music, hospitality, outreach, and formation.
Lent and Easter also open the door to conversations about legacy giving. These seasons naturally raise questions about meaning, hope, and what we leave behind. For churches interested in beginning or strengthening planned giving ministries, this can be a gentle and faithful entry point.
To support this work, a series of two Zoom workshops focused on faith formation around legacy giving will be offered on Thursday evenings, March 19 and March 26, followed by an in-person event in April. These free workshops are designed to help churches reflect, learn, and discern next steps at a pace that feels right for their context. Click here to register for the first of this series.
Making Pledges Visible and Meaningful
Many churches have recently completed collecting annual pledges. The months ahead provide an ideal opportunity to help those who pledged see what those pledges are doing.
This does not require detailed financial reporting. Instead, it might look like sharing one ministry story each week during Lent, tying budget line items to real people and real impact, or using the annual meeting season as a moment for storytelling as well as accountability.
With parochial reports due March 1 and many annual meetings taking place in late winter or early spring, churches already have occasions to reflect on the past year. These moments can help reinforce the connection between generosity and ministry, reminding parishioners that their giving matters.
This season is also a good time to plan for quarterly giving statements. Preparing a first-quarter statement to be sent shortly after Easter can be another way to reinforce gratitude, transparency, and connection to mission.
Stewardship Is More Than Financial Giving
While financial Stewardship is essential, it is only one part of a larger picture. Stewardship also includes the sharing of time and talent, gifts that often come into focus naturally in the spring.
As ministries resume or new opportunities emerge, churches might ask:
- Where do we need help right now?
- How are we inviting people to offer their gifts?
- Are we telling stories that honor volunteers as well as donors?
Highlighting time and talent alongside treasure can help broaden the Stewardship conversation and affirm the many ways people contribute to the life of the parish.
Stewardship Includes Who We Invite
Stewardship is also about welcome. The coming months include several moments, from Shrove Tuesday and Ash Wednesday to Lent, Palm Sunday, and Easter, when newcomers may be actively looking to visit a church.
Think through what you look like online. Your website should be clean, and feature up-to-date, current photos. Worship times should be easy to fine, clearly visible on the home page. Clear, simple communications that say “you are welcome here,” encouragement for parishioners to invite friends and neighbors, and attention to first impressions reflect a broader understanding of Stewardship as hospitality.
An Invitation, Not a Checklist
What might change if you approached the next three months not just as a busy season, but as a series of Stewardship opportunities?
Sometimes, the most faithful work is not adding something new, but seeing more clearly what is already before us.
