St. Luke's Day, and Stewardship - Rector's Rambling for October 21, 2020

         Today we take a deviation from the Sundays after Trinity in order to celebrate The Feast of St. Luke the Evangelist.  This is considered a “Red Letter Day”, a type given to those holy days that in the printing of the Book of Common Prayer would be marked on the calendar in red letters.  This is one of those days that take precedence over the Sundays after Trinity so we can do something different this year on this Sunday.  For more information on what can be celebrated on Sunday instead of the regular weeks, check out the Table of Precedence on page li of the 1928 Book of Common Prayer.

This is also the beginning of our 2021 Stewardship Campaign.  Enclosed in this week’s Chronicle is a pledge card for the coming year.

First, I want to thank everyone who has supported St. John’s this year, especially during this Coronatide.  Even while we were shut down by the Dioceses in Michigan and prohibited from having public worship, every day in the mail would arrive envelopes from parishioners making their contribution in support of the parish, and once a month we get notice of who has made a contribution online.  We are grateful that so many faithfully contributed throughout our exile.

Over the summer the Vestry adjusted the budget for 2020 to face the reality of lowered contributions as well as some lowered expenses as well.  Since we have been allowed to have public worship our contributions have picked up, and we continue to be cautious about spending in order to keep ourselves financially responsible.

As I mentioned in last Monday’s Morning Meditation, we are asking that you fill out a pledge card for 2021 as a sign of your gratitude for God’s blessings in your life and as a sign of your faithfulness to him through the ministry of the church.

The Vestry has to begin setting a budget for 2021 and as we are focusing on becoming a parish that is made for mission, we do need your support for the work that God is setting out for us to do.

It is my hope that everyone who pledged to support the parish in 2020 will pledge again for 2021.  And I also hope that you will be able to not only increase your pledge payment for 2021, but begin the higher giving for these last months of 2020 in thanksgiving for our being able to re-open.  And if you have not submitted a pledge card in the past I hope you will do so this year.  Let us work together for Him by supporting His Church.