Dear Friends in Christ,
“Every budget is a dream. Every budget is a hope” is how Bishop Greg began his Budget Letter. To that I add, Every Budget is an act of faith. I don’t need to tell anyone what a strange and unpredictable time the last few years have been. Although very little in our lives remained unquestionably true, reliable, and rock-solid, –what has been so, is now, and ever shall be, is God. Especially as manifest in us as the body of Christ.
In Paul’s letter to the church in Rome he asks if anything can separate us from the love of Christ? Can hardship, distress, persecution, famine, peril, or sword–or even Covid do so?
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:35-9
Thus grounded in faith we work to build and fund a balanced budget reflecting our mission and ministry. Yes, there are many ‘unknowns’ ahead, and we don’t fear them because we are also blessed with excellent leaders and staff, lay ministers and servers, with the strength of your prayers and mutual support as we continue to illuminate Christ’s love all around us. As we bring our support to bear in service through St. Michael’s we are filled with hopes and dreams and faith.
What is not unknown is that we are still here, alive and spirited, lifting hearts to God and finding new ways to do so. We are once again growing with new members, and we hear the exquisite chatter of children in our pews more often. We connect over coffee and treats, by phone and online services, and increasingly in person. Deep calls until deep, and we are blessed by that call—and regularly reminded of it. When one of our members was hospitalized and was unable to be here serving, she spent those long hours lovingly creating prayer beads for us to support and pray for the Ukrainian people under attack. Being short of Worship Leaders, a few of them have happily served at both services some days. When the choir first returned it was smaller than before, so Jason smoothly shifted into music suited to fewer voices, and somehow made it sound like many more! When we finally brought back our ‘Bread Bearers,’ I saw one of our younger ones show a newer child ‘the ropes’ and give her bubbling encouragement!
God calls forth much grace and love from St. Michael’s, and this is a time we promise gifts of ourselves and our funds so that we can continue answering that call. Thank you for your generosity and steadfast love which blesses us and those to come.
In peace,
Katherine+
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. ~Romans 15:13
- Make your pledge online
- Print and mail or bring your pledge to church
- Discerning what to pledge
- My Saint Michael’s Stories (archive from 2021 and earlier)