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Dear Friends and Family,
August 7th will mark our second year anniversary for St. Raphael's by the Sea. Thanks to all of you for your hard work and support we have not only remained open, but have grown together in Christ and in making Christ known. For example, this past season we had two Alpha sessions; one in the fall and then another one in the winter. This summer we began our first series of Summer Movie Nights, meeting once a month for a meal and a movie. We have also started a Food Pantry for those among us who are in need of a helping hand during these tough economic times. We continue to reach others for Christ through our live streaming Sunday morning worship services.
For those who have started a business, we know that the first few years are crucial for its success. So too, it is in starting a new church. The odds are against our very survival, yet with your help and God willing we continue to press onward for the sake of Christ. Last year, to commemorate our first anniversary, we asked for a one time gift to help meet expenses to keep our doors open until the beginning of season. We had hoped that it would be a one-time request, but that has not proved to be the case.
While we had successful fund raisers this past year and our staff did not take any increases, our non-seasonal income is less than hoped. At the current rate of giving, we will not be able to pay our bills in October. The good news is that we have already received a substantial gift that has helped us to get to October. To meet this challenge, we held a special vestry meeting. At that meeting, it was discussed that while summers are generally low in income for most churches, for us it is even more so - a make or break issue.
It was pointed out that perhaps the timing of our anniversary is not a coincidence. Perhaps the date has been set by the Lord as an opportunity for us as a community of faith to step out in faith and give a special thank offering for the establishment of St. Raphael's by the Sea Anglican Church. This is in accordance with the teachings in the Old Testament scriptures where certain times of the year were set aside to give to the Lord special thank offerings in remembrance and thanksgiving for the Lord's divine intervention. With all of these things in mind, the vestry has decided to make our anniversary date, August 7th, from now on as a time of thanksgiving to the Lord through the giving of an annual special offering.
On behalf of the vestry, I invite you to join with us in giving an offering of thanks to the Lord for St. Raphael's by the Sea. With your help and God's blessing we will be celebrating many more anniversaries for St. Raphael's by the Sea. Thank you in advance for your generosity.
Blessings,
Pastor Alice Marcrum+
St. Raphael's by the Sea Church
P.O. Box 6713
Please send your special thank offering to the church at the P.O. Box address below or use your credit card, debit card, or ACH transfer from your bank to ours using our "E-Giving link" at https://e-giving.org/egivinglogin.asp (once you get there, just enter our zip code, 33932 and click on Saint Raphael's by the Sea. Popup menus will walk you quickly and easily through the process as a Guest.)
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