Dear People of Grace,
When I was a child, attending at Egypt Missionary Baptist Church where my family went (ask me about this sometime and I’ll tell you amazing stories), I would often sit next to my grandmother. Grandy had one of those leather Bible covers with the outside zipper pocket, and I knew she kept peppermints in there. Since the preacher really gave long sermons, I would inevitably reach in that pocket and start eating her peppermints.
I learned after a while that Grandy also kept her loose change in there, and she began giving me quarters out of that pocket to put in the offering plate. Even as a child, I recognized that this was not “my” money, per se. It was my grandmother’s money, but I felt deeply connected to the community by contributing something.
Our little church also had a tradition where, on the first Sunday of every month, anyone who had a birthday would walk forward and put an offering in a little white, plastic church that sat on the altar. When August came around, I took my place walking forward to put my money in the little church, recognizing very early on that celebrating my birthday had much more to do with giving thanks than receiving gifts (although I still loved the gifts).
Each and every one of us has gifts and strengths that we can share. All of these gifts matter, and we weave them together to make up the whole community at Grace. Everyone counts, because the Spirit is present within each and every person.
As we begin this year’s Annual Stewardship Campaign, we will look for a projected budget based on what we see this community planning to commit for 2023. This is our “pledge,” as we call it, and it is our way of saying, “I am looking ahead and making a commitment to this shared life that means so much to me.”
We are a Connected Community, and I am deeply grateful to share this life with you. I hope you will take a moment and reflect on what this parish means to you and take your place in making a commitment for next year. And you can come by my office any time to get a peppermint—or chocolate.
Blessings always,
Stuart +
Pledge cards will be mailed to member homes and extra copies are available at church. You also have the option to submit your 2023 pledge electronically.