This fall we have the opportunity to reflect on all the ways we have been blessed during the annual stewardship campaign. The campaign’s theme, “Journey to Generosity”, reminds us of the source of our gifts and that giving is one aspect of our relationship and ongoing conversation with our Creator. Just as God blesses us, we in turn express our gratitude for those blessings by passing on a share of them to do the work we are called to do as members of the Body of Christ.
Through a series of dinners held in the homes of our parishioners over the summer and fall, we have celebrated God’s gifts to us through the Saint Mark’s community in which we live and minister and to those outside our parish to whom we reach out and lift up. The gift of this work gives life and it is part of the work to which Christians around the world commit themselves every day. In sharing our blessings we have looked not only to past blessings, but shared our hopes and dreams for what God may be calling us to do in the future. This year our rector and stewardship chairs have asked us to respond to being on a journey to generosity in the letters that are linked here:
The Stewardship Season for 2018 began with the “Beating of the Bound”s on Sunday, October 8. This ancient Anglican custom ensured that members of the parish knew where its boundaries met the boundaries of the next parish so that everyone could be properly cared for as the body of Christ. Today “Beating of the Bounds” reminds us that our “boundaries” extend into the community and the world at large with a responsibility to serve all of God’s people we may meet.
In the weekly bulletin, we found reflections written by Episcopal stewardship leaders across the country relating to the gospel reading of the day. Prayers of the people during those services reflected stewardship themes of “Journey to Generosity”.
For the first time this year we received a special letter from the treasurer sharing information about the day to day funding of the parish – from the utility costs to ongoing maintenance expenses. You may read that letter HERE.
On October 29th, we will celebrate Commitment Sunday, when pledge cards were completed and offered as an act of worship and in response to all that God has provided.
As we move through 2018 we will be reminded that it is never too late to make a commitment
if we have not done so, and that all gifts help empower the ministry of Christ through Saint Mark’s.
This fall we have the opportunity to reflect on all the ways we have been blessed during the annual stewardship campaign. The campaign’s theme, “Journey to Generosity”, reminds us of the source of our gifts and that giving is one aspect of our relationship and ongoing conversation with our Creator. Just as God blesses us, we in turn express our gratitude for those blessings by passing on a share of them to do the work we are called to do as members of the Body of Christ.
