"Honoring Our Past, Building Our Future"

As we celebrate 131 years of history at this great place, St. Paul's Episcopal Church, we need to look back over this past year and recognize our significant achievements in our ministry as a congregation. Undoubtedly one of our greatest accomplishments has been the financial success of the church. However, the most gratifying aspect of that success has been the spiritual renewal that occurred during the process. What has transpired here has been nothing less than a miracle of generosity. No one believed it possible that a church with an annual budget of $160,000 in 2001 would be able to raise as much as we have in 2011-- $900,000 through your faith commitments and special gifts.

The time has again arrived to begin thinking and praying beyond this year into the next. For us at St. Paul's, that means looking ahead and planning (and dreaming a little) about the quality, scope and extent of our ministry here, and how we will be able to strengthen that ministry with our Stewardship Pledges next year.

In the next nine weeks as we continue to learn from Scripture, Christian literature and solid preaching and teaching, you will be reading weekly articles written by the Stewardship Committee providing you with a clear understanding of exactly what stewardship is. If we wish to embrace stewardship, we must gradually learn to embrace every definition or aspect of stewardship.

You will be listening to church members give their testimonials about how Stewardship of treasure is not about funds, but rather funds transformed into ministry for the service of God and His people.

You will see that the Sunday school curriculum will begin to familiarize and educate students in all grade levels about the concept of Christian stewardship, helping them discover their individual gifts and talents.

Walk with me along the way of this "road of faith" as we learn and grow and experience new and wonderful aspects of our relationship with Christ. 

I want Jesus to walk with me. All along my pilgrim journey, Lord, I want Jesus to walk with me. - from an African-American spiritual.

Peace & Blessings

Carol Murray,

Stewardship Chair