Dear Friends,

 

We who love St. James have continued to enjoy the many blessings that go with being part of the church. You, members of the St. James congregation and community, have been a source of deep joy and connection.

 

As the saying goes, however, “out of challenge comes opportunity.”  St. James has taken the opportunity to look at our strengths and challenges — as we have prepared for our search for a new part-time priest.  We have had deeply meaningful conversations to rediscover the blessings of our community. We are once again ready to sow the seeds of a bountiful future.

 

As members of our congregation, you are the ones who plant these seeds. You do it above all by trying to live your lives as Jesus would have us live them – marked by love, kindness, generosity, and forgiveness. This is what makes St. James so special. In a more practical sense, you do it with your stewardship – your pledge of time, talent, and treasure each year.  St. James depends on these for its existence.

 

We can talk too much about money, as important as it is to helping our church thrive. But stewardship also involves pledges of time and talent.  Worship leaders, eucharistic minister, reader, greeter/offertory, the altar guild, counter, flowers – these are just a few of the volunteer activities that contribute to the quality of life in St. James.  Above all, remember that stewardship is a spiritual enterprise.  We begin each stewardship season by examining the quality of our spiritual lives and the role St. James plays in them. As you consider your pledge, that’s the place to start.

 

What you pledge will create the budget for 2024 and will determine our ministries and the impact we have in sharing the good news. Stewardship is not just about money and budgets - stewardship is a way of thanking God for His blessings, and trusting in His grace, and thereby giving back to God a portion of what He has given us. Please prayerfully consider your giving.

 

Click on the form below to download and print. Please complete and return the form to the address listed above. 

 

Faithfully,

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The Vestry of St. James Episcopal Church