Stewardship at St. George's

Stewardship 2012

Direct this holy endeavor at every stage and disturb us if we fail to dream large enough or hold low expectations of what you might do for us and through us.

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Letter from the Rector

September 24, 2011

Dear Friends,

We are in the midst of a seventeen month period in our parish life that has seen very generous financial giving to St. George’s Church.  Therefore, I pause before writing this letter seeking your monetary support of the church operating budget for the upcoming year. Our annual stewardship campaign commences Sunday, October 2nd.

Since the Flood of May, 2010, you have been asked to contribute to our parish in many ways.  Already you have helped us achieve 80% of our goal for the “Living Waters” capital campaign to renew and restore the church. Last fall your stewardship giving propelled St. George’s to a slightly increased budget for this current year that has enabled us to remain on our trajectory of robust growth and dynamic ministry.  And you continue to volunteer with your time, energies, and personal talents in record numbers and new ways.  

Thus, I take a “deep breath” before appealing to you once again for a generous pledge of support to St. George’s.  This hesitation is exacerbated by still-ongoing economic troubles that have affected every one of our church households, perhaps making our decision-making about such contributions more challenging. And yet I am confident enough in the blessings that arise from giving to the church to make this appeal to you.  In the name of God, I ask you to participate in this year’s stewardship campaign and even to consider increasing your level of giving in ways that might stretch you anew as a spiritual gift and discipline. 

The simple and straightforward theme for this year’s stewardship campaign is “Giving in Faith.” I am profoundly thankful that Barby and Govan White have accepted the role as stewardship co-chairman, two vital members who so lovingly embody the words of our Lord that “it is more blessed to give than to receive.”  We are members of St. George’s at an incredibly exciting time.  Our membership is thriving; our facilities are in excellent shape; our parish operations are well-run and carefully overseen; and we are in the process of developing an updated Strategic Plan that envisions St. George’s flourishing as one of the very healthiest parishes in the Episcopal Church. But in order for these realities to continue into the future, we need ongoing – indeed more – financial support of our day-to-day ministries.

I invite you to consider what “giving in faith” would look like for you this year.  Acknowledging again your generous past support and aware of these uncertain times, what might God do for you to inspire greater financial commitment to the work of Christ through St. George’s? I myself will be asking these questions in the coming days, and I thank you in advance for joining me in that exercise. The church is unlike any other organization you may be called on to support. We give not under compulsion but voluntarily, indeed joyfully, as a response to the One who has so extravagantly given to us.  And while it is imperfect, the church is the community through whom the very saving work of God in Christ has been conferred.  How could we not respond by giving generously in faith?

Yours in Christ,

            The Rev. R. Leigh Spruill