Invitation Letter

September 14, 2022

Dear St. Paul’s:

Generosity is contagious. When someone surprises us with their kindness, they invite us to be kind. When they overwhelm us with their generosity, they kindle within us that same spirit. When we recognize how much God has given us, it awakens us to a new life of giving.

St. Paul’s is a church that inspires others to be generous. The wider community recognizes our eagerness to give, and people with no other connection with this parish, captivated by our generosity, join us in acts of service and love. Our church is a wonderful, healthy, loving place that sets an example of giving, which has persisted even in difficult economic times.

As we approach the end of the year, it is time to look ahead and consider what we will share with others in 2023. On October 30, we will have our Celebration Sunday. That morning we will gather for worship and a festive brunch to celebrate all the ways that God has shared God’s love with us and all the ways that we can share that love with others. At all three services, we will be invited to fill out a commitment card and bring it to the altar, and we are all invited to share a celebratory meal together.

This year, our focus during the annual giving campaign is “Wealth of Generosity,” and I encourage you to consider the ways in which you can be a part of the overflowing generosity of our parish. During the weeks leading up to October 30, we will hear brief talks about giving, and I hope you will take some time between now and that Sunday to prayerfully consider what part of your income you will share with others through your church.

Every year, I invite you to make a proportional, sacrificial, first-fruits gift to God as a spiritual practice. This year, with increased economic uncertainty ahead, our generosity may not come as easily as in the past, but it is no less important. I believe that the practice of faithful giving deepens our ability to trust God in times of plenty and in times of want. Even if the amount of our gift decreases, its significance is as great as ever.

Please let us know whether you will join us on October 30. If you cannot come in person, you will still have the opportunity to make your commitment online that day or through the mail later on. I hope to see you then, but, if not, I hope to see you soon. Thank you for all you give back to God through our church.

Yours faithfully,

The Rev. Evan D. Garner
Rector