Stewardship

A Letter from Stewardship Co-Chairs, Emma Knowland and Ian Nelson

Friends and Members of St. Monica and St. James,

As we begin this year’s Annual Pledge Campaign, we want to first thank you for your presence at St. Monica and St. James Episcopal Church. We are blessed by all who walk through our doors and hope that our services and fellowship nourish and support you in your faith journey.

This year’s annual giving theme, Great Thanksgiving, focuses on the powerful relationship between being thankful for all God has given us and being a good steward. As we recall in our Eucharistic Liturgy, “All things come of thee, O Lord, and of thine own have we given thee.” It is out of a thankful heart that we can approach God and each other to encounter Christ in our midst. We have so much to be thankful for at St. Monica and St. James: Fr. David’s new rectorship, a successful transition season with lay leaders emerging at every step of the way, and a time to envision the mission and vision of our parish.

During the coming year at St. Monica and St. James Episcopal Church, we seek to grow with thankful hearts as we look towards this next phase of our life together. We are a vibrant, growing parish with lots of opportunities for worship, fellowship, and service. Nearly all of our parish members make an annual financial pledge. Some members tithe, committing ten percent of their income to the missions of our church. Others give proportionally by committing a certain percentage. Still others give as they are able. Growing as a disciple includes supporting the entire community in the form of a financial pledge.

The time, talent, and treasure that you give to our parish in the coming year will be crucial in our ability to accomplish our goals. We know that it is not enough to simply thank God with our words, but that we must steward all that he has given us. You already do this all the time, in so many ways. We ask that you prayerfully consider how you will contribute.

You will find pledge cards for 2025 in Frances Perkins Parish Hall. We ask for your financial support so that St. Monica and St. James Episcopal Church can continue to bear joyful witness to all that Jesus is doing in our midst. Please fill in the pledge card and place it in the pledge form box in the parish hall.

If you have any questions, or would like to further discuss making a financial pledge to St. Monica and St. James Episcopal Church, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

Faithfully,

Emma Knowland and Ian Nelson

Stewardship Co-Chairs

Great Thanksgiving Charlie Brown!

Leaving out Charlie Brown, “Great Thanksgiving” is the theme of St. Monica’s and St. James’s 2024 Stewardship campaign. This is the time of year that I, as your new Rector. ask each member of SMSJ to consider your gratitude to the God you have met here in this beautiful and loving church. And from that gratitude, I hope you will offer something back to God by way of a pledge of financial support to this parish in the coming year.

The very name of our worship service – The Holy Eucharist – is grounded in thanksgiving. The Greek eucharistia means to give thanks, and the prayer of consecration is called The Great Thanksgiving. Every Sunday, we re-present the saving acts of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who has reconciled us to God the Father, and who feeds us with his very self and nourishes us with eternal life. So, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s possession for ever. What greater reason could we have to give thanks for this church?

You might have noticed the Offertory Sentence I’ve been giving every Sunday: “All things come of thee, O Lord, and of thine own have we given thee.” That is King David speaking from the Book of 1st Chronicles, reminding us that everything we have earned has come from God in the first place. God has given us whatever talents and skills that we have made good use of. And wherever we have caught a break, or someone took a chance on us, God’s grace was behind that.

In this month of Thanksgiving, I ask you to reflect on all that you have been given. In the first week of Advent, you will receive a pledge card from our Stewardship co-chairs, Emma Knowland and Ian Nelson. I hope that you will prayerfully take into account your particular circumstances, and then pledge some level of support to that part of the Eucharistic Body of Christ known as St. Monica and St. James. And please know how grateful I am to God for having brought us together.

Gratefully Yours,

Fr. David

The Rev. David P. Kendrick, Rector

Parish of St. Monica and St. James