Less is more! This phrase may strike you as a strange way to begin considering we urge you to make generous, sacrificial gifts of time, talent and treasure, especially during our annual Opportunity Knocks pledge drive. However, the " Less is More" initiative that was undertaken earlier this year brought home to all of us the benefits of a more thoughtful and careful use of our limited resources as a parish. Our lives are too scattered, too hectic, and we are often stretched so thin that we do not have time for the truly important things in life. In that spirit, we urge you to be particularly prayerful as you discern where best to offer your time and talents in the service of our community. Our understanding of stewardship as a way of life similarly calls us to be wise in how we manage the gifts God has entrusted into our care. It is in no one's best interest for a small group of parishioners to experience "burn out" trying to do too much, while others fail to participate as they are able.

God asks us to give generously, even sacrificially, as a way of expressing our gratitude for the many, many blessings of time, talent and treasure that we have received. If each and every parish household were to do that, no one would be stretched beyond their limits. The Lord has surely provided our community with all that it needs to build up the Reign of God in this time and place.

An invitation: At our monthly gatherings to welcome newcomers to our parish, we invite them to consider becoming registered members of our community. However, we make it clear that we look for committed belonging from those who choose to register in a formal way. Here at St. Rose we challenge one another to participate actively in the life of our community, to get involved in various activities and service ministries, and to make sacrificial gifts of time, talent and treasure according to the vision expressed above. The links below will put you in touch with some of the ways that we look for your support and participation in our community life.

Our annual Opportunity Knocks pledge drive is always an important opportunity to put flesh on our commitment to embrace stewardship as a way of life. Your participation in this effort is essential if we are to remain a beacon of hope in a world of so much darkness. The vitality of our community depends utterly on your generous gifts of time, talent and treasure. On the financial side, it is clear that our offertory income must continue to increase above the cost-of-living if we are to be able to build and pay for the new church we so desperately need. Similarly, our programs and activities cannot continue to flourish.

Use our Opportunity Knocks booklet as a resourse to help you discern how the Lord is calling you to share your blessings with others, make commitments of time, talent and treasure that are truly sacrificial, yet that represent the kind of wise stewardship that the Lord commands in the Gospel. We invite everyone to come forward and participate. You'll find throughout the Opportunity Knocks booklet you can find a variety of different ministries that need your help.