Committing to the Story

A few weeks ago, I wrote to you about the story of our congregation, with a summary of everything we have been up to this past year. We are a deeply faithful community rooted in worship, with a wide variety of ministries focused on faith formation and outreach. If you haven’t had a chance to read that letter, I hope you take a look and see just how much St. Mark has been up to. All of these ministries are made possible because of the generosity of our members.

On Sunday, October 22nd, we officially kicked off our annual season of stewardship. Every October, all members of St. Mark are encouraged to make a plan for giving in the upcoming year. We do this so that our council and leadership can prepare a budget that represents the commitment of our congregation to our ministries. In order to continue the story of our mission, we hope to meet a goal of $710,000 in committed giving for the coming year. 

To be to the point, we did not meet our goal last year. Even though this year’s goal is slightly lower, we will not meet it either, unless members like you pledge to increase your giving by a small percentage. If giving were to increase by even 7%, we could get there. Not everyone is able to make such an increase. If you are, though, I hope you will prayerfully consider how you could help us meet our goal and allow us to continue all we are able to do in our congregation and with the community.

Take a look at the table on the back of a pledge card, or on the online Plan for Giving form, and see how much you might be able to give to these ministries of ours in 2024. After some reflection and prayer, please complete your pledge and return it. You can use the enclosed envelope or bring it with you the next time you come to worship. You can also complete your plan for giving online by going to www.stmarklc.com/give or by scanning the QR code below.

No matter how much you pledge, thank you for your commitment to St. Mark and our unique story of how we grow in faith and share God’s grace. All gifts, large and small, are what allow us to share the story of Jesus Christ. You are part of this story, and it is an absolute joy to be with you in this wonderful ministry we share.

Peace,

Pastor Chad McKenna