We kick off our annual Stewardship Campaign this week. You will receive a Stewardship letter and pledge card in your mailbox within the next few days. Commitment Sunday is this weekend, and pledges will be accepted from this Sunday going forward. We ask that you prayerfully consider pledging to St. Mary Anne’s, so we can continue a mission that began 317 years ago!

The following is a Vestry Statement on Stewardship that propels our Vestry and ministry. We pray that you commit to this mission and support our efforts to the bring the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the North East community and beyond.

What We Believe

We will be good stewards of the mission of our Church – We gather in the name of Jesus Christ to worship God, To invite all into a community of friendship, love and respect, and to nurture and strengthen our faith. We go out to share God’s Spirit and to live God’s love, to be faithful stewards of God’s creation, and to help those in need.

Stewardship is embedded in everything we do and everything we are. We will focus on the theology of abundance*. In God’s redemptive love, we are confident there is enough of what we really need to go around. We will invite and desire 100% participation in what we practice.

What We Practice as Members of Saint Mary Anne’s:

• Involvement in some form of spiritual growth and renewal
• Active participation in public worship
• Service in our ministries
• Promise of financial support to our Parish

*2 Corinthians 9:8 And God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that by always having enough of everything, you may share abundantly in every good work.

How We Give

Give First Fruits. Give God the first portions of your income. When we pay our bills, write our check to the Church first: as an offering and as a reminder that all things from God.

Give Proportionately. We give in proportion to the income we receive, not a specific amount. Proportionate giving challenges both the rich and the poor. A specific percentage of one’s income does not adequately express our stewardship before God.

Give Sacrificially. Give sacrificially usually includes a rearrangement of priorities, a change in lifestyle, or a forfeiture of something valued.

Give Regularly. The habit of regular, pledged giving serves as a constant reminder of the generosity of God and helps to shape our souls. Pledged giving also allows the Church to plan responsibly for our ministries.

Give Cheerfully. Joy, faith, and service are the qualities that form the foundation of proportionate giving. Receiving is wonderful, but the exhilaration is greater when we are able to give to another person. The Lord loves a cheerful giver.

Give Quietly. Our purpose is to please God, not others. The dollar amounts will vary considerably, but each is sharing with God, through the Church, out of what God has provided.

Commitment Sunday is October 15.

Please prayerfully consider your annual pledge to the Church.

Pledges for 2024 can be submitted throughout the Stewardship Campaign.

Last Sunday, we kicked off our fall activities with the Annual Back Pack Blessing and Sundae Sunday. Children and teachers from both services received a prayers for the new school year, and children were gifted a small keychain present for their backpacks. After the services, children of all ages enjoyed ice cream sundaes during our Coffee Hours. Many of the children are now enrolled in our Church School program that will begin on October 1st. Even if you missed this kick-off, we encourage you to enroll your children or grandchildren in this once a month instruction. Details are below.

Parish women kicked off their fall activities this week with a Wednesday Women Luncheon. It was the largest Wednesday Women Luncheon to date with thirty-five ladies in attendance! They enjoyed soup and salad, activities, and conversation. Each attendee received a beautiful potted herb and bookmark with the Renewal theme. Thank you to this month’s hosts: Carol Weisel, Linda Gibeck, Dru Torregrossa, Vickie Tillman and Gail Hooper for the beautiful decorations, gifts, activity, and organizing the meal.

The ECW (Episcopal Church Women) invite all parish women to an ECW Fall Meeting on Friday,

September 22; at 10AM in the Parish Hall.

All Parish women are encouraged to join in this meeting, as the ECW will discuss the Annual Christmas Cookie Walk, and future activities, along with the budget.

We’re starting up our Church School on Sunday October 1. We’ll be having 1 session per month in October, November and December. We’ll then evaluate in January and consider 2 sessions each month from January- June 2024.

If you’d like to be a part of the team to teach our little ones, please see Fr. John. It’s a short time commitment with a big reward as you share God’s love with our children.

Parents will drop off their children in the Parish Hall between 9:45-9:55. Class time begins at 10am. Children will be brought over to church for Communion with Parents/Grandparents. We’ll also need a helper for childcare for toddlers.

 

Each Church School teacher, assistant and helper must take the required on-line courses offered by the Episcopal Church.