Stewardship + Giving

2027 Pledge Campaign

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Dear Friend,

Thank you for your presence and generous support of St Paul’s. Our church continues to live deeply into our unique call as an Anglo-Catholic parish determined to seek Jesus both in the Sacrament and on the streets, with an ambitious vision of liturgy and music, on the back of a lean staff team and without a substantial endowment. We take nothing for granted: our kind of parish with these particular traditions is increasingly hard to find, and we thank God for this temple and this foundation of our lives. We rely entirely on the faithful sharing of the time, talent, and treasure of parishioners. We write to share our excitement for 2027, and to ask for your continued pledged support.

This year we have much to celebrate. Just recently we welcomed a truly encouraging number of new members of our family through Confirmation and Reception, following a successful formation program, which begins again this Fall. Our music program continues to flourish under new leadership and energy. We are now working towards beginning a high-quality livestream of our liturgies. Our Capital Campaign receipts have exceeded our expectations; we are thankful for major HVAC work, and look forward to construction starting in our hall and kitchen. This month we welcome a fully funded Curate for the next two years. A parishioner led Haiti ministry goes from strength to strength. Above all, we celebrate another year of Sacrament and Service: the Faith once received is still being taught, shared, and proclaimed in the beauty of a K St Mass, as well as in ministry to the least of all His brethren.

Nonetheless, challenges continue. Financial pressure is part of doing the work of Jesus. Inflation impacts churches as much as individuals. For example, our utility charges and building insurance are both rising dramatically; simply meeting current operating costs will be a challenge. Grate Patrol’s external funding source has dried up. Yet we are committed to fund this ministry that is at the heart of our charism and call. Crucially, we have been advised that it is impossible now to rent Carwithen House. While the availability of Carwithen makes space available once again for ministry and parish use, it deprives us of a major source of income, and directly affects our staff team, programs, and ministries. The lack of this rental income places a particular responsibility on each and every parishioner: our ministry is truly the work of our people.

Stewardship is neither a program nor fundraising, but a process of conversion and a way of life. Stewardship is our means not only of paying bills and doing our work, but also of growth. Every aspect of our life and our best hopes for all that yet could be start with each individual pledge. Expanding our staff team, expanding our music program, expanding mission work: it all begins individually. When our embrace of stewardship deepens, then our souls grow too: we grow spiritually by recognizing God’s generosity.

We now ask of each one of us a leap of faith. We invite you to make a financial pledge: a commitment to your parish family and to God, and a journey to the tithe upheld in Scripture. For 158 years we have maintained our witness on the strength of our stewardship; we are determined to stand strong. Stewardship season is a clarion call to commitment: the first priority is always the participation of each and every member of our family; no pledge is too small.

God blesses us with an extraordinary parish community: in the midst of this beauty of holiness friendships are made, lives become rooted, and we receive support through the best and worst of times. Stewardship is more than meeting a budget: it is discipleship alive, spiritual renewal, and a promise to God and to each other. Please do not hesitate to call on us for any reason.

Faithfully,

The Rev. Richard Wall                  Katherine Britton

Rector                                                 Senior Warden