Stewardship Letter

 November 17, 2024

26 Pentecost

 

Dear St. Stephen’s family,

 

Today is, of course, Stewardship Sunday—the day when we pray about and ponder our financial pledge cards and our pledge of time-and-talent. As we do so, it is good to ask: “what is this pledge package we are receiving?”

            My answer is a fairly simple one. Your pledge is a way to say,

 

“St. Stephen’s is important to me. I love what it stands for. I love its uniqueness. I love that St. Stephen’s has accepted me when I needed acceptance. I love that it accepts others who need acceptance. I love that St. Stephen’s offers me a community at time when ‘community’ is uncertain, when many of us feel ostracized and marginalized.  St. Stephen’s is so important to me I am willing to support it with my creativity, my energy and my financial resources.”

 Everyone knows we at St. Stephen’s are welcoming. But there are many “welcoming” churches. We however, work hard to be fully-accepting. We are a fully-inclusive congregation in a community in which fully-inclusive churches are few and far-between.  To be this kind of a congregation, we are definitely not push-overs. We are also very committed to our being who we are and what we are. And when we stand up for something, we truly STAND UP. And speak out. Which is needed in this time and in this place.  

This is how we follow Jesus. This is how we live as children of God in this sometimes scary and uncertain world that needs radical goodness, radical acceptance, radical love.

Your pledge makes sure we continue to be the congregation we have always been. Your pledge helps us to continue to be a radical, loving and safe place for all. 

I have said it many times before: if you want to see the Episcopal Church of the future—it is right here. We are it. St. Stephen’s is what it means to be alive and vital as Christians. We are what it means to be all-inclusive, even if that means being inclusive to a fault. We are what it means to accept everyone—no matter their sexuality, their color, their gender, their political party, no matter if they are spiritual skeptics -- everyone is welcome here and fully ACCEPTED here. This is who we are.

And in the face of whatever may come, socially, government-wise, if the skies turns dark and the moon falls into the ocean, it is vital for all of us to have a safe community, in which we can find a safe place where we know we can still be who we are and what we are, without fear. St. Stephen’s is always going to be that place.  

That is what your pledge supports—providing a safe community for everyone in uncertain times.  

Please return your pledge package any time before Sunday, December 8 for our ingathering.

Your financial offering is essential for us to continue to be who we are. We cannot be the inclusive, outspoken, accepting congregation we are without your help and support.

More than anything, please know how grateful and humbled I am to be serving as your priest. I am truly blessed by God to be serving a congregation that is genuinely excited about what it is doing, that is renewed by its energy and committed to its following of Jesus. Thank you for all you have given to me.

 

-peace,

Fr. Jamie+

 

Prayer for St. Stephen’s during Stewardship Time

Lord God, surround us with your love. Be present in this congregation of St. Stephen’s as you have been since our beginning. Let us know your presence among us—in the sacrament, in your Word and in those who have gathered here in your name. Let your Spirit be present with us and in all we do. Open our hearts and our minds to the goodness you are doing here through us. And let us respond appropriately. Bless St. Stephen’s with abundance and with the resources needed to do the ministries we do here.  Let us, in turn, do good. Let peace reign here with us, even as wars and rumors of wars rage about us. And let your words of assurance to us to not fear anything calm our hearts and souls so that we can do what you have called us to do.  In the name of Jesus your Son, we pray in confidence. Amen.