A Season to Reflect on Financial Stewardship

Each fall at St. Columba's, our church leadership starts to think about financial planning - specifically how to plan for the coming calendar year in terms of our budget, anticipated expenditures, revenue, etc. Because we believe that all we do together is part of our spiritual life as a community, we also take this time as an opportunity to reflect together about the role our finances play in our spiritual lives, both as individuals and in community. 

Here is what you need to know about how we will be having these conversations and reflecting together through the end of October.

• Mid-September: Pastoral Letter from Alissa. If we have the correct address for you, then you should have already received Alissa's reflection on Why I Give/How I Decide, for her family. This letter also talks a little bit about how stewardship works here at St. C's. 
• Weekly: Parishioner Reflections on Why We Give/How We Decide. Each week a different member of our congregation will share a reflection about their process for deciding about giving back financially and the role money plays in their spiritual lives. These reflections will be in the e-news, posted on Facebook, and printed in the service bulletins.
• Sunday, October 21st at 11:30am: Town Hall Meeting to Review Proposed Budget for 2019, and provisionally elect Bishop's Committee Members. Everyone is encouraged to attend this meeting to hear about the proposed budget for 2019, and what our pledge goals need to be in order to realize that budget. This is the perfect time to ask questions and be heard, as well as to become educated as to our budget status and process. All are welcome!
• Week of October 22nd: Stewardship Letter from Wardens and Stewardship Chair. This letter will explain in detail our pledging process and the goals we will need to meet to fund the budget. This letter will include a pledge card, inviting people to make a financial commitment to St. C's for the 2019 year.
• Sunday, October 28th: Wine and Pledge In-gathering. On the last Sunday of October we will celebrate all that we bring to God with an In-gathering of Wine and Pledges. Everyone is invited to bring a bottle of ruby port wine to be used for communion in 2019, and we will also gather pledge cards along with other offerings to be blessed at the altar during communion. Please stay after for a festive lunch and time to be together in community.