More than Enough: Letter from the Stewardship Chair

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 Friends of Saints James and Andrew,

Leading the annual fall giving campaign is never easy, but it has its rewards. One of those is to witness the power of how our gifts fund the mission and ministry of our church in the community. Because of you, we can share our message of love, joy, hope and healing with many, and this is the greatest gift!

As the stewardship chairperson, it falls on me to talk about wealth. Each household has had a different financial experience of the pandemic, and this year’s turbulent market and inflation have been rough on all of us. Even so, I am inspired by the ways you made and continued to make your financial gifts to sustain our ministry.

This year, our giving theme is More Than Enough, and it 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 fall campaign is like that ancient story: each of us contributing what we can provide; 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.

How many more lives can we change?
How many more stories can we rewrite?

Thank you for all that you do for Saints James and Andrew and the world. Today I am asking you to consider what you will pledge to our community in the coming year to sustain our ministry and serve our neighbors. Every gift of wealth, works and wisdom goes toward our ministry and mission, and yours is vital to us. I ask that you pray with us as we launch our annual gathering of gifts and gratitude, and consider how you will contribute your gift of wealth. 

In the spirit of love,
Diane Kurkulonis,
Stewardship Chairperson

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