Dear People of Grace,
We have reached the half-way point in our annual stewardship campaign, with the hoped-for goal of receiving all the pledges by All Saints’ Sunday on November 5. I wanted to send this note to encourage you to prayerfully consider how you can share in this vital aspect of our community’s life.
Currently, we are at 37% of our pledge goal for the 2024 budget, so we are off to a good start!
I always remember that a budget is never just about raising money; rather, it is an embodiment of what we value and how we see the Spirit at work in our lives. Just like in our families, we all invest in what we value.
You may remember a couple of Sundays ago, when we gathered responses to help us revise the parish’s vision statement. Those responses are already helping us see what we value as a community. Your willingness to share your hopes and dreams continues to shape the way we structure the many aspects of this parish’s life. You’ll see the “word cloud” above, which I hope you find meaningful.
Now, we see how the budget can help the vestry and staff nurture our discernment and spiritual imagination!
May we all continue to give thanks to God for the many ways the Spirit is present in our lives. In such uncertain and anxious days, we realize once again how much it matters to support and participate in a compassionate, embracing Christian community that shares Christ’s love in a struggling world.
Blessings, always,
The Rev. Dr. Stuart Higginbotham, Rector
Sonja McLendon, Senior Warden