Stewardship

Dear Friends:

As we begin our annual stewardship season, we remember the first phrase of our church’s Mission Statement: Anchored in God’s Love. Since the very early days of the Christian church, the anchor was used by as a symbol of God’s love for us—sure and steadfast through all of life’s challenges. It is in this spirit of gratitude for God’s anchoring love that we invite you to prayerfully consider gifts of time, talent, and treasure for the coming year’s ministry at Saint Paul’s.

It has been an exciting year for us at 215 Ann Street and we are grateful for your financial steadfastness in supporting the work of ministry here and beyond our walls. These resources have enabled us to expand our music programs, our outreach, Christian formation and youth programming We have opened our doors to the widowed, the orphan and the stranger, breaking bread at a pig picking or at table in our parish hall. We have also been able to maintain and improve our buildings so that they can remain a place where all who enter may be made whole in the love of God.

There is always more work for us to do. When you consider your 2025 financial commitment to St. Paul’s, we hope that you will be inspired toward greater generosity of time and talent as well as treasure so that we can continue to “throw out the lifeline to those who are drifting away.” National trends say the Episcopal Church is shrinking. Our faith community says the opposite as our Sunday numbers grow and inquiring hearts want to know more about the church where God’s relentless love for us is the most important core value. Our Pig Picking brought in four new families, two baptisms and a wedding. As our mission grows in grace, our volunteerism continues to increase in places like Broad Street Clinic and Martha’s Mission where we provide the largest number of volunteers and have contributed well over 18,000 items to the food pantry. Deeping our awareness of the holy through sacred music and inspiring and traditional worship anchors us in God’s love and the richness of the Anglican community which is our greatest heritage. There is nothing more important than spreading the Good News of God in Christ through our actions, big and small, making the broken places strong again. Whether people come to eat, pray, learn or serve we hope they will experience the anchoring love of God while they are with us. It truly takes all of us to accomplish the mission of the church, whether that is by singing in the choir, working on the Harvest Bazaar, teaching Sunday school, hosting coffee hour, ushering, or pulling weeds. All are welcome in this place.

In the coming weeks, you will hear stories about the ways St. Paul’s has deepened the faith of our members and enabled us to live more fully in Christ and in the knowledge that His Love truly is steadfast and an anchor for our souls. As you listen to these stories, we hope they will inspire you to give of your own time, talent, and treasure so that we can continue to make St. Paul’s a place of sanctuary, sustenance, and service for so many. Whatever your gifts may be, we will offer them to the Lord with Joy and Gratitude and will pray to discern God’s Will for the next most faithful steps for our beloved church community.

In Gratitude,

Virginia Cuthrell Lauren Michels

Bob Ivey Sarah Jo Safrit

Jane Gordon Marshall Beach

Laura Snyder Megan Ziglar