Stewardship Echoes in the Liturgy

A stewardship walk through the Mass

Penitential rite

“…in what I have done, and in what I have failed to do…”

Gloria

“We praise you, we bless you, we adore you, we glorify you, we give you thanks…”

Niceno-Constantinopolitan Creed

“I believe in one God…maker of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible…”

Preparation of the gifts

“Through you goodness we have received the bread we offer you…”

“Through your goodness we have received the wine we offer you…”

Dialogue before the Preface

“Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.”/ It is right and just.”

Preface for Sundays in Ordinary Time V

Father... you laid the foundation of the world and have arranged the changing of times and seasons; you hve formed man in your own image, and set humanity over the whole world in all its wonder, to rule in your name over all you have made and for ever praise you in your mighty works…”

Eucharistic Prayer I

Beginning – “To you... most merciful Father, we make humble prayer and petition through Jesus Christ your Son: that you accept accept and bless these offerings, these holy and unblemished sacrifices.”

End - “Through him you continue to make all these good things, O Lord; you sanctify them, fill them with life, bless them, and bestow them upon us. ”

Eucharistic Prayer II

“It is truly right and just, our duty and our salvation, always and everywhere to give you thanks, Father most holy,  through your beloved Son, Jesus Christ.”

Eucharistic Prayer III

Beginning — “You give life to all things and make them holy… You never cease to gather a people to yourself, so that from the rising of the sun to its setting a pure sacrifice may be offered to your name…Therefore, Lord... make holy these gifts we have brought to you for consecration…”

Eucharistic Prayer IV

“Father most holy... you are great and you have fashioned all your works in wisdom and in love.  You formed man in your own image and entrusted the whole world to his care...”

Lord’s Prayer

Acknowledges God as Father, as Provider and Source of all we need. We pray for the coming of the Kingdom knowing that we have a part to play. God has given us all the gifts we need to do the work to which he calls us, not alone, but together. “Give us this day our daily bread…” We ask the Lord for what we need, just for today, and to free us from whatever impediments keep us from serving him with our whole hearts. For, ultimately, we know that everything is and was and ever has been God’s –“the kingdom, the power, and the glory.”

Dismissal dialogue

“Go in peace, glorifying the Lord by your life.”—Urges us to use our gifts in service.

“Thanks be to God!”—We will, in thanksgiving for God’s gifts.

Gifts-A Stewardship Meditation on the Eucharist*

(Refrain based on 1 Chronicles 29:14) Sharon Hueckel

We bring you these gifts, Father, of bread and wine. And even as we offer them, we know that they are your fits to us, not ours to you!

Everything is a gift from You, oh Lord. We can only give back what is yours already.

Yours are the springtime and harvest, sunshine and rain, and the precious promise of life hidden deep in each grain of the wheat.

Everything is a gift from You, oh Lord. We can only give back what is Yours already.

Yours, too, all who labor to plant and to gather, to mill the flour and shape the loaves-all whose efforts combine in this bread which we bring to the altar.

Everything is a gift from You, oh Lord. We can only give back what is Yours already.

They also belong to you who grow the grapes and press them lovingly into wine, waiting with patience of the time of its perfection.

Everything is a gift from You, oh Lord. We can only give back what is Yours already.

Truly, Father, they are your gifts and the work of other hands, offered now as the gift of ourselves-the bread of our everyday to be food for our souls, the wine of our glad times to save us from sin.

Everything is a gift from You, oh Lord. We can only give back what is Yours already.

Simple gifts, Lord-and yours, not ours! Even so do we offer them and ask that you make them worthy of yourself.

Everything is a gift from You, oh Lord. We can only give back what is Yours already.

But, oh, Lord, if you will but bless our gifts-your gifts-with your own spirit, infuse them with yourself!

Everything is a gift from You, oh Lord. We can only give back what is Yours already.

“This is my body!” you said. “This is my blood!” If you will bless and be present, Lord-now as at that first Eucharist-then, only then, will we have a fit offering for the Lord, the King of the Universe!

Everything is a gift from You, oh Lord. We can only give back what is Yours already.

Oh Lord, you are Gift and Giver! With wonder and awe we give you thanks-our love and gratitude the only fits that are ours to bring. And of these, too, we humbly say,

Everything is a gift from You, oh Lord. We can only give back what is Yours already.

All: Thanks be to God!

A Steward’s Act of Contrition

Oh my God, I am heartily sorry for these and all my sins, those spoken aloud and those buried, unremembered, in my heart. I know that you have given me all that I am and have, that it is your love only that holds me in being. I am sorry for having misused your gifts, for having presumed on your love. Forgive me for Jesus’ sake and, with the help of your Holy Spirit, I will sin no more. Amen.

*Adapted from the original in Pray Always and Never Lose Hear, a collection of stewardship prayers available from the National Catholic Stewardship Council, Inc. 1275 K. St, N.W., Suite 980, Washington, D.C., 20005-4006, or by calling (202) 289-1093

Sharon Hueckel from the International Catholic Stewardship Council has generously given us permission to share her notes on the Eucharist and Stewardship.