Dear Family and Friends of St. Paul’s UMC,
Each year, we as a church must seriously think about our giving and determine our commitment to the mission, ministries, and outreach of the church for the coming year. It is now that time again that we must each ask ourselves how much we are willing and able to give to support the church budget. While these are not easy conversations to have or decisions to make, our call to stewardship requires that we begin to see our treasures (and other resources like possessions, buildings, talents, and time) as God’s collective resources, intended to be used to transform the world. This year’s theme is, Pass the Baton, and for the last several weeks we have thought about who we have been as a church, who we are as a church, and who we would like to become as a church. We will continue this conversation of discernment in the weeks and months ahead.
This is an exciting time in the mission and ministry of St. Paul’s United Methodist Church. Our parsonage is in its seventh year of hosting the Tzadakah House, which is a covenant group, committed to living together in service to one another and to the greater community. We continue to minister to the children in our community through provision of snacks to our local elementary schools (Feed the Children). Our Prayers and Squares quilting ministry remains vital in providing quilts and prayers for many women and children through our partnership with Clackamas Women’s Services and other organizations. Our commitment to affordable housing is unwavering, and in addition to the ongoing work of our housing committee, our congregation is in the throes of discerning the best use of church land and resources and are currently participating in consulting sessions with OR-ID Conference liaison, Rev. Brett Pinder to that end. We are also thankful for community partnerships, such as the one we share with Leaven Land and Housing Coalition, which are so important in sustaining and navigating our place in this very necessary work. We also continue to preach the good news of God’s abundant and all-inclusive love, for us and for all of creation.
Along with this letter, you will be receiving a yearly “commitment card” where we will ask you to estimate how much money you will give the church in the coming year. The commitment card also asks you to commit your talents and your time to the church. What are you willing to do to further the Kin-dom of God on earth? Where is God calling you to serve? Where do your interests and passions intersect with the needs in our community? How can you use the gifts God has given you to transform the world, starting right here in our own community? Please be in prayer about these questions and ask for God’s direction. On Sunday, November 17th, you will be invited to bring your card to church where it will be collected during worship, and we will celebrate together our commitment to boldly live out the gospel through faithful giving.
I am excited to be your pastor as we walk these next steps of our journey as a church together.
Peace and love,
Pastor Kamron