Stewardship

Shining Our Light
Stewardship 2023

November 21, 2022

“You are the light of the world! You are the light of the world! But if that light is under a bushel, it’s lost something kind of crucial. You’ve got to stay bright to be the light of the world.” — Godspell

Dear Chapel friend,

These words, adapted from Matthew 5:14, remind us that although our light may be shining, “something kind of crucial” is lost if we do not bring the light out into the world. We share it for all to see and to the glory of our generous God.

This past year, we have seen that light demonstrated joyfully in our parish: in our ongoing return to in-person worship after COVID, in our expanded opportunities to share the good news in our public witness, in our expansion of our ministry to the student community, and as we share “sustenance, shelter, and sanctuary with the academic and wider communities.”

The Chapel of Saint John the Divine is a parish, a community of people dedicated to Shining Our Light. The generous giving of time by 37 parishioners allows us to offer our Sunday morning services and Shine Our Light! Through the monetary giving of people like you, we have the $6,000 needed each week to keep the doors open and ensure a ministry and Shine Our Light! Members of The Chapel offer more than 5000 volunteer hours each year in support of our mission, ministry, and outreach to help us Shine Our Light! It takes the bright and glowing contributions from all of us for us to fully Shine Our Light!

The generosity of the people of the Chapel is something to celebrate. When we bring our light out into the world, we express our gratitude, confidence, and willingness to take risks as agents of Jesus, remaking the world. In The Message, a contemporary translation of the bible, Jesus puts making our light visible in these words:

“Let me tell you why you are here. You’re here to be salt—seasoning that brings out the God-flavors of this earth. If you lose your saltiness, how will people taste godliness? Here’s another way to put it: You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill.”

Our work, our prayers, and our giving are all about making God’s light visible and available to all in our lives. They are about our willingness to accept the challenge to stretch and grow into the mission of God’s Church.

Your vestry has developed a budget for 2023 with a priority for mission and ministry that shapes our request for stewardship and your financial giving. In addition to the normal fixed costs (that have increased as a result of inflation) our budget increase represents a desire to expand our ministry opportunities. This includes compensation for our new parish associate, Bob Delvin, and an increase for our assistant organist, Kipp Cortez. In short, these priorities enrich our parish by expanding the reach of our ministry and make our light shine even brighter!

With your generosity, the Chapel will continue to Shine Our Light and embody The Episcopal Church’s welcome, outreach, and inclusion in sharing the love of Christ with all people.

We invite you to join the Chapel’s vestry and clergy leaders, and prayerfully support the mission, ministry, and outreach of The Chapel of Saint John the Divine in 2023.

We invite you to: