Pledging – and regular, faithful, and generous giving to fulfill your pledge – is one of your ministries and one of mine. It is something we can do to give thanks to God. It is something we can do to advance the mission of the Church.
What is the mission of the Church? The catechism in The Book of Common Prayer says “The mission of the Church is to restore all people to unity with God and each other in Christ. The Church pursues its mission as it prays and worships, proclaims the Gospel, and promotes justice, peace, and love. The Church carries out its mission through the ministry of all its members. The duty of all Christians is to follow Christ; to come together week by week for corporate worship; and to work, pray, and give (emphasis mine) for the spread of the kingdom of God” (855-56).
I believe every dollar you and I give to All Saints’ and every dollar we spend at All Saints’ directly supports mission. The bulletin you’re using now – paper and toner and time to create – supports mission. The laptop I’m using and the desk and chair and lamp in my study support mission. The pew you’re sitting in, the walls around you, the floor under your feet, and the roof over your head supports mission, as do the utilities, upkeep, and insurance. The broom that keeps our sidewalk swept clean supports mission, as do the chalk and chalkboard that announces our daily services, the whiteboard and markers inviting prayers, and the flags and bell that identify us. The candles and flowers and bread and wine on the altar support mission. The wages you provide for staff and the living you provide me supports mission. As I look at All Saints’ monthly finance report and our annual budget, I believe 100% of the money we receive – yours and mine – is spent on mission. Nothing is wasted, nothing is contrary or superfluous to us doing our part to restore all people to unity with God and each other in Christ.
It's rather like when Saint Paul reminded the Corinthian Church that the body needs all its members: hands and feet and eyes and ears. A body isn’t made up of just one organ, and a one part of the body needs the others to function fully. The same goes for the money we give and spend. It is spent in different ways for different things, but it all supports the Body of Christ which is the Church Universal, as it is expressed on Waller Street between Ashbury and Masonic.
Please join me and others in pledging and giving regularly, faithfully, and generously. It’s good for you. It’s good for us. It’s good for the Church. It pleases God.
God’s blessings and peace,
Dan+
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