A Message from the

Vestry Stewardship Chair

Centennial Year 2012

Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

(Matthew 6.21)

Dear Fellow St. John's Parishioners,

What is your personal dream for St. John's Church ? What should we be doing that we are not doing now? What ministries have run their course and should give way to new endeavors? What can we do better? And what has all of this got to do with stewardship?

The effectiveness of our staff; the care of our buildings and grounds; the respectful dignity of our worship; the activities of our several ministry committees; the quality of our Sunday School, youth and adult education offerings; are all parts of what make St. John's unique. None of these things would be possible if we did not faithfully provide the proper financial support for our church. There must be one or more reasons you keep coming back week by week, right? I know there are many other churches in Columbia , and that there are also many worthy causes out there inviting your financial support. Whatever your passion is here, whatever you're committed to, that is the uniqueness of St. John's ! Some people ask whether making a financial pledge or estimate of giving really matters. Let me assure you emphatically, it most certainly does! The fact is that St. John's is not a particularly wealthy parish, neither do we have an endowment. To continue our ministries year by year and to develop new ones, we depend upon the giving of members like you – we rely on everybody!

Here at St. John's we have the opportunity to worship in a number of ways. We have the opportunity to get involved in serving our city and region as well as the wider global community. We have an excellent Christian education program for members and newcomers of all ages. We have beautiful facilities including our soon-to-be-restored historic church. We depend upon all of these to plan and carry out our several ministries. Each of our ministries might be able to be replicated somewhere else, yes; but what really makes St. John's unique is this is where we all choose to come together in Christ's name: we are all called to be here. We are always looking for ways to improve our ministries; and the truth is, we know we can do even more. Our clergy and other staff members are here to provide leadership and support for these efforts to do more and do it better. Part of our challenge in fulfilling this work in the future is providing the necessary financial support. That is why faithful stewardship is one of the most important resources for the carrying out of our mission.

There is some general information regarding our 2012 proposed budget available by clicking here. Pledge cards have been mailed and can also be found in the church narthex.

On the next three Sunday mornings, October 30, November 6 and 13, we will gratefully receive your pledge cards in the offering plates. (You will save your vestry members a follow-up phone call by turning in your pledge cards on one of these three Sundays!) If for some reason you cannot be present with us on at least one of those Sundays, please return your card to the parish office as soon as possible so we can plan most efficiently for our exciting Centennial Year.

Faithfully yours,

David Lewis

Vestry Stewardship Chair