2023/2024 St. Francis of Assisi Stewardship Campaign:
September 24 - November 17, 2023
September 11, 2023
Re: 2023/2024 St. Francis of Assisi, Gulf Breeze Stewardship Campaign: September 24-November 17, 2023
Dear Brothers & Sisters in Christ,
The most important words to say in Church are “thank you.” Say it often, and mean it, and today I say it to you. Thank you for the many gifts that you share with community.
You have heard the familiar expression “can’t see the forest for the trees” before. We most often use it to describe that occasion in which we lose sight of the big picture while focusing on the details. From my position, I often experience the blessing of being able to see the big picture of our congregation – the ministry we bring to our neighbors, the impact we have on our community, the ways that week after week we come together to celebrate our faith and praise God. This is the forest.
And I get to wander amongst the trees. From the small shoot reaching out from its seed and finding the sunlight, to the mightiest tree, standing tall, showing strength, offering sheltering love to those who need it. You are those trees, each drawing strength from our meal and showering the world with the love and grace you have come to know here. I am blessed in that here in our congregation, I can see both the forest and the trees!
This year’s Stewardship campaign for 2023-24, will begin Sunday, September 24 with a luncheon after the service. At this luncheon we will provide pledge cards for you to fill out. I suggest before this date you reflect and pray about your pledge and think about all the gifts God has given us, and how we can give some of that back to the Glory of God. Our Campaign Cabinet’s objective is to end the deficit spending that has occurred for the past several years. Our goal this year is $265,000 in pledge gifts.
Jesus teaches, primarily through His parables, that all gifts we have received come from God. With gratitude and thanksgiving let us return a portion of what He has enabled us to reap in order to continue the mission Christ has called us to do in the Great Commission, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you.” (Matthew 28:19-20)
In gratitude,
Fr. Christian
If you would prefer, you are welcome to call the office (850-932-2861) and give your pledge verbally to Chris. You are also welcome to email the office (sfamin@stfrancisgb.org) and communicate your wishes in that manner or you can fill out a pledge card and drop it off at the office.