Dear Friends in Christ,
As we approach this stewardship season, I am well aware that it is a difficult time to be asking for money, a time when many of us are anxious about our own finances. Prices continue to rise on essentials, interest rates are elevated, wages are not keeping up, and many of you are on fixed incomes. Here’s what I also know to be true: We deeply need this beloved community and all the comfort, support, and grace we offer to each other.
This stewardship season, we are going to root ourselves in what God has given us: the gift of life, our connections to each other, and the gifts of calling and purpose. Every day, Eastminster Presbyterian Church offers grace and love through our message of belovedness and inclusivity, the welcome we offer to community groups, the growth that happens when people of all ages gather, the service we do, and the relationships that are formed and deepened. I am so grateful for this community where we gather together to form a deeper love for Christ, a stronger connection to one another, and a renewed energy to bless the world.
I invite you to be part of continuing to grow this church as a place where all find blessing, connection, and love. Over the next few weeks, I ask you to prayerfully consider what you expect to be able to give financially to the church in 2027. We understand that financial pledges are sometimes just estimates, and you are always free to adjust your pledge if circumstances change. However, having an estimate of what we expect our financial resources to be allows us to create a responsible and reasonable budget.
We at Eastminster are blessed with financial reserves, but, like your personal budgets, our expenses continue to rise at a faster rate than member giving. Please know that we are grateful for every gift, every pledge. No matter how small or large, it all contributes to building the beloved community in this place. Enclosed you will find a pledge card. You can mail it in or bring it with you to worship to put in the offering plate during the month of November. You can also fill out a pledge card here. Thank you in advance for your generosity.
Grace and Peace,
Rev. Kristin Stroble
