November 11, 2015
Dear Members of St. Mark Presbyterian Church,
Hopefully, you have had an opportunity to experience the renewed hope and energy each of us has felt during the last few weeks. Sunday worship is brimming with energy, full of joyful music and powerful preaching. We have welcomed a talented group of new members (18, and 7 baptisms!), and a host of young children who spill into the aisles of our church and the hallways of our Sunday School. Our Youth Group is working closely with dedicated leaders to combine discipleship with fun and creativity. Our supported missions are making a difference in the lives of the less fortunate in our community.
God has blessed our church with many gifts, and we believe that God will continue to do so in the future. As our congregation embarks on a new journey together, we have chosen “Faith for the Journey” as our Stewardship 2016 theme. In the past few weeks, Pastor Jim has been preaching about faith’s journey, and how God’s faithfulness is experienced and can shape us as individuals and as a congregation. We believe that stewardship is an important part of the faith journey, part of discerning where God is leading us.
Giving is a spiritual practice. It increases our capacity to put our trust in God, building our faith for the journey ahead. We have accomplished so much in the past few years, but our work is only beginning. Our vision for 2016 is to continue building on the many gifts of St. Mark: excellence in worship and music, strong youth and children’s Christian education, commitment to mission and the care and nurture of our church family. These are not possible without a solid financial base – pledged contributions account for about 85% for our church’s budget.
We are most grateful for your generosity this year. Your financial support enables a larger vision of St. Mark’s ministry to take shape as we journey into the future God is preparing for us. The enclosed brochure updates the important mission work at St. Mark and highlights ministries we envision supporting in the future. We have enclosed a pledge card that you can use to signal your commitment to St. Mark in the coming year. Take time to consider your pledge. Ask yourself, “What percentage of my income is God calling me to give?” Ask God to help you make a decision. Consider your faith and your own spiritual journey – where believers put their hearts and resources can shape the development of their faith.
You are invited to join us for Dedication Weekend on November 14th and 15th. We ask you to bring your pledge card to church. During each worship service, you will have an opportunity to present your pledge as a symbol of your faith for the Journey as we consecrate our pledges in an act of dedication. If you cannot be present, please return your enclosed pledge card to the church office.
We encourage you to attend and celebrate your commitment to St. Mark. Let us give thanks to God for the many blessings in the past and for His promised faithfulness along the way.
In Christ’s name,
Brian Sprague for the Stewardship Committee
No comments:
Post a Comment