2023 Stewardship Letter and Narrative Budget
And taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven, and blessed and broke them, and gave them to the disciples to set before the crowd. And all ate and were filled. What was left over was gathered up, twelve baskets of broken pieces. (Luke 9:16-17, NRSV)
Dear St. Michael’s Family,
More Than Enough, our campaign for this year’s Stewardship season, comes from the end of Luke’s version of the feeding of the five thousand. Responding to Jesus’ call, the gathered crowd turns their pockets inside out, shakes out their blankets, and rummages through their parcels to find enough to take care of the needs of the community. And what do they realize? That by the Miracle of Faith and the Action of Love, there was more than enough, an abundance of leftovers!
Our stewardship campaign is like that ancient story: each of us contributing what we can provides enough – enough to fund our operations and an abundance more to take care of our neighbors and plan for the future. Every gift is a miracle, a chance to change the world. And every gift is Love, the kind of love that protects, trusts, hopes, and perseveres, as St. Paul wrote to the Corinthians.
In his epistle, St. James reminds us that faith and works are both necessary to activate our true calling as Christians. Your works are not just about the community programs the church supports locally, or the things we pray for on Sundays; they are about the way you raise your family, pursue your career, participate in civic life, volunteer your time in schools, shelters, and social causes. We are called to be the body of Christ, and we have seen you be the hands and heart of God in Corona del Mar. Your gifts are essential to Saint Michael’s and every penny is put to use supporting our calling to be the people of God in this place.
The enclosed Narrative Budget shows how your financial gifts support God’s work with your 2022 pledge dollars allocated across four core ministry areas: Worship, Serve, Grow, and Connect. The Narrative Budget shows some of the many ways you live out your faith every day through your financial commitment to Saint Michael & All Angels. Inspired and informed by faith, you give so much to our neighbors and to each other.
Thank you. Thank you for all that you do for the Church and for the world. Sunday, December 4, is Giving Sunday, when pledge cards will be collected at the altar and we will celebrate our commitment to Christ’s work. You may also return pledge cards by mail or make your pledge online at Stmikescdm.org. We ask that you pray with us throughout this annual gathering of gifts and gratitude, and consider how you will contribute your gifts for 2023.
In the spirit of love,
Keith, Louise, and Barbara+
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Our 2023 Narrative Budget is in the mail to our parishioners. Download a PDF version here.
