2023 Stewardship Campaign
They shall be like a tree planted by water, sending out its roots by the stream.
It shall not fear when heat comes, and its leaves shall stay green;
in the year of drought it is not anxious, and it does not cease to bear fruit. - Jeremiah 17:8
When I walk through a forest, I am aware of the tangle of roots, how one tree is connected to another. Trees use these networks, secretly talking to each other through their roots, passing information along. Adult trees share their sugars with young saplings, a dying tree can send its remaining resources back out to help the community. These networks, these roots of abundance, keep trees in place just as much as they free them to grow and share.
I am so pleased this year to talk about the theme of our annual stewardship campaign, Rooted in Abundance. I am particularly excited about it because it describes the graceful state of our church community, and how we share our gifts so lovingly with each other.
Our giving tradition at St. James has always been focused on how we share all of our gifts – not just our financial gifts. A church needs new ideas, creative people to lead, individuals who know how to solve complex problems, volunteers to keep our ministries focused on our neighbors. We usually talk about this in a three-fold way: wealth, works, and wisdom. If any one of these areas is missing from our community, we are diminished.
Each of us has a gift, some have many. For some it is cooking and baking, others might have beautiful singing voices, we praise those who have an administrative gift of balancing books or counting the collection, we admire those who offer hospitality, who serve at the altar, who help us find a seat as the service begins. Thank you for the many gifts that you share with our community. There are many hands at work in many ways, and I want to thank each of you for what you contribute to the life of our Parish, as well as the community. We couldn’t be who we are without you.
As I mentioned, the theme of our annual pledge campaign this year is Rooted in Abundance, and we are reminded that we are a mighty forest comprised of ancient trunks and sprightly saplings, each of us contributing our gifts to a world that needs us. As you hear the messages and stories of abundance this year, take note of how generosity spreads and widens our root structures of faith and action.
In gratitude,
Stephanie Sterling
Senior Warden
Parish Giving
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Dear Fellow Parishioner,
Our annual stewardship campaign’s theme this year is Rooted In Abundance, it is a reminder that we are inspired to give because so much has been given to us. God has blessed us infinitely with all the gifts of Creation. Our lives and our response to God’s generosity are Rooted In Abundance.
Here at St. James we are truly Rooted In Abundance – many of us, like myself, were brought up here and in some cases our grand children are now being raised here. St. James was instituted as a Mission in 1906 when the first service was held in a local hall. The present church building and rectory were completed in 1929 – we are very Rooted. Throughout the years St. James has been gifted with many families whose loyalty to the church has lasted generation after generation. All have contributed time and money to help us grow and remain a community rooted in love for one another providing a place of faith and fellowship.
As you fill out your pledge cards, you’ll notice what one side is about your financial promises for the year, your wealth. The other side is dedicated to how you may want to share your works and your wisdom. Your work of wisdom is about unlocking your creativity to grow, to serve more of our neighbors, to form generous, grateful hearts, to volunteer for service, to pitch in to help make things better – to deepen our Roots.
This year, as you pray about your commitment to our church, please tap into that nourishing structure of faith and generosity shown to us by an extravagant God, a patient Shepherd, and a gathering Spirit who call us to extend our networks and share our gifts with the world. When you are rooted in abundance, you realize that your giving can be as boundless as the Creation that gave birth to us all.
In Gratitude,
Dottie Paullin
Stewardship Chair
P.S. Please send or submit your gifts by Sunday November 26, 2023 so that we may gather then together and bless them.
