rooted in abundance
Stewardship 2024
December 2023
Dear Chapel friend,
Our annual stewardship campaign is called Rooted in Abundance, and it is a reminder to us that we are inspired to give because so much has been given to us. The Chapel of Saint John the Divine, our spiritual home, is important to our rootedness. We are each part of this parish family. The Chapel isn’t THE CHAPEL without every single one of us. We are also part of a larger family of kin that includes all that God has made. That kinship in this parish family, and beyond, places us in relationship that is about mutual responsibility to care for one another.
When I think of abundance, I am certain we have everything we need among us. We have enough money to do the work God is calling us to do and grow our outreach beyond the parish. And yet, that money is still in our pockets. We are blessed by God. All that we give comes from the abundance of God’s blessings in the first place. For centuries, when the offering plates were presented at the altar, a verse from First Chronicles was recited: “All things come of thee,” said the priest. And the people responded, “And of thine own have we given thee.” What we give already belongs to God. When we give, we give in a spirit of thankfulness. We give because we are grateful for all of God’s many blessings.
And yet, this is not transactional experience. We do not give in proportion to how we FEEL. Life is filled with seasons that can be more or less challenging to us. Our stewardship of all that God has given us transcends those seasons. Instead, we give in gratitude because of the abundant love we receive from God in Jesus Christ our Lord. And in gratitude for all that God has given us, we are inviting the Chapel to a Seven Percent Challenge. The Chapel’s vestry is seeking to increase our social outreach giving to seven percent of pledges from parishioners. We are able to send more beyond our walls in social outreach by increasing the overall amount of pledges by seven percent, from $230,000 in 2023 to $246,000 in 2024. Finally, we are inviting you to embrace proportional giving and begin to move your giving toward seven percent of what you have or make. That is, we invite you to pledge and give in proportion to what you have or make. Calculate what percent of your income you are currently offering to God in your pledge to the Chapel. And using your anticipated income in 2023, increase the percentage of your giving by just one or two percent on your way toward giving seven percent. And remember, no matter how large or small, every gift matters.
As you fill out your pledge cards, you’ll notice that one side is about your financial promises for the year— your treasure. The other side is dedicated to how you might want to share your time and talents to serve the mission and ministry of the Chapel. Offering our time and talents bring us opportunities to roll up our sleeves, do good work, and offer back to God in gratitude.
We are inviting you to:
- MAKE A TIME AND TALENT PLEDGE.
- CONSIDER THE PERCENTAGE OF YOUR GIVING and JOIN US IN THE 7% CHALLENGE.
- MAKE A FINANCIAL PLEDGE.
- “BREAK THE THERMOMETER” by exceeding our $246,000 pledge goal.
Thank you for your generosity in support of the mission and ministry of the Chapel as you prayerfully consider your 2024 pledge in gratitude to God!
You can make your financial pledge and you can make a pledge of your time and talents.
Together we will ensure a healthy, vital, joyous, and vibrant parish!
With our thanks and blessings,
Joan Schiutema, Stewardship Chair
