CA P I TA L CA M PA I G N N EWS L E T T E R N O. 3
NOVEMBER 2014
LIVING STONES BUILDING for MINISTRY
MAKING A JOYFUL COMMITMENT Living Stones: Building for Ministry, our capital campaign to preserve and renew Saint Mark’s Cathedral, is well under way. Hopefully you’ve had the chance to learn about our vision and goals through one of the many events we’ve hosted this fall. We’re excited to come together as a community around our goal of raising sufficient funds to renovate and enhance our beloved “Holy Box”! As you may have heard, there are three priorities for our campaign, each with its own fundraising goals. For now, we are focused on the challenge of raising the estimated $7.6 million required to fund the Priority 1 improvements to our cathedral’s structural integrity, which are:
as we explore how each of us can commit to our church community beyond our regular giving. To meet the financial goals of our capital campaign, each of us will be challenged to commit a generous sacrificial gift above and beyond our regular giving. The Scriptures make it clear that God measures our gifts not in relationship to others, but in relationship to the degree of individual sacrifice based on how one has been blessed. Not all gifts will be equal, but all of us should make an equal sacrifice. It is important to the success of our campaign that we establish financial commitments from
▶ Sealing the exterior of the building and cladding it in limestone to preserve the historic structure, ▶ Replacing the windows in the nave with new insulated glass that is both visually appealing and energy-efficient, and ▶ Repairing the cathedral roofing and soffits. This challenge is an opportunity for us to come together and grow through prayer and fellowship,
On Sunday, November 2, the children and youth of Saint Mark’s reflected on what our cathedral means to them. For more, see inside!
members of our parish by Commitment Sunday (December 14, 2014). Each of us is encouraged to prayerfully consider and joyfully celebrate the many blessings God has given us, and the capacity we have for giving and sharing generously. Most of us provide from our current resources to supply our support of the cathedral. Checking and savings are the predominant resources we draw upon in our personal financial stewardship. Other creative ways to give include gifts of appreciated investments, life insurance, gifts from an IRA, real property as a charitable gift, and others. For more information, please consult Erik Donner (email edonner@saintmarks.org or call 206·323·0300). You may also wish to consult legal counsel and/or your financial advisor. Finally, there may be a number of opportunities to memorialize or honor a loved one through certain gifts. There may be also a small number of naming opportunities related to gifts that will enable us to accomplish major capital projects. This is just the first phase of our campaign!
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#WeShareOurGifts On the morning of November 2, between the 9 am and 11 am services, our children and youth gathered around the baptismal font to the song, “We Are the Church” to begin an exploring how “we share our gifts” with the Saint Mark’s community. As each stone dropped into the font, each child named a gift that they share with the greater community of Saint Mark’s and talked about how our church community is a gift to them. As each stone sank to the bottom, a ripple moved to the outer edges of the font. As the children watched the ripple move, they could see how our community moves out into the world, sometimes spilling over to places we do not know.
We know that for the Living Stones: Building for Ministry campaign to succeed, everyone needs to be invited and fully included. This is what the morning was about: the full inclusion of all who call Saint Mark’s their spiritual home, including the youngest members of our community. For the children and youth, this inclusion sometimes looks a little different. They began by naming things they do: acolyte, the children’s choirs, readers. Then they started naming the ministries they participate in, remembering that their presence in itself is a gift. Following this, we moved through several stations, preparing food for St. Brigid’s, walking the labyrinth, and making music. These are some of the ways
CAMPAIGN CALENDAR SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 10:10–10:50am
Bible Study Forum: “Living Our Faith” Final meeting of the series led by Saint Mark’s staff and clergy
NOVEMBER 2–25
Advance commitments visits
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 6, 5–7pm
Advance Commitments Gathering with wine and cheese
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 12, 6 – 8pm
All-Cathedral Banquet & Children’s Party
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 14, 8am, 9am, & 11am
Commitment Sunday pledges received at all services
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 8am, 9am, & 11am
Celebration Sunday
campaign totals announced and celebrated
our children and youth share their gifts within and outside our church community. The final station was the Lego cathedral. The children were asked what is needed in “Building for Ministry.” With creative minds and busy hands, they showed us what they found important. With very little direction, they began with an altar and organ “because we got to have a table,” and then added walls and “new windows.” But they also included a canoe for traveling to church in the Seattle rain (Noah’s Ark had been the Godly Play story just a few weeks earlier). They decided they were finished when they placed figures all around the altar. While participating by proxy, the teens of the Youth Group spent this time engaging the children in conversation and using the gifts of photography and video, which they will turn into a video slideshow. In the upcoming weeks, they will continue to explore their role in the Living Stones: Building for Ministry campaign through Bible study, outreach, and their very own “Next Steps” party. —Malcolm McLaurin
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Funding our Priority 1 goal of $7,600,000 is within our reach, but it takes everyone donating, as the chart to the right demonstrates: How do you respond to the call to participate in our capital campaign? You can pray for God to guide you as you consider how to share your financial resources over the next three years. Listen to your heart to discover how God wants you to give of your time, talent, and financial resources. As God guides you, make your commitment to preserve and restore the cathedral building, as well as to support our regular ministry programs. —Neal Sullins
H OW WE CAN REACH OUR PRIORITY 1 G OA L Number of Gifts 1 1 2 4 6 7 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 30 75 150 Many Gifts
Amount Total (three-year gift) $1,000,000 $1,000,000 $750,000 $750,000 $500,000 $1,000,000 $250,000 $1,000,000 $100,000 $600,000 $75,000 $525,000 $50,000 $400,000 $30,000 $300,000 $24,000 $288,000 $18,000 $252,000 $15,000 $240,000 $12,000 $216,000 $9,000 $180,000 $6,000 $180,000 $3,000 $225,000 $1,500 $225,000 $600–$1,200 $219,000
Cumulative Total $1,000,000 $1,750,000 $2,750,000 $3,750,000 $4,350,000 $4,875,000 $5,275,000 $5,575,000 $5,863,000 $6,115,000 $6,355,000 $6,571,000 $6,751,000 $6,931,000 $7,156,000 $7,381,000 $7,600,000
OUR GIFTS AND OUR GIVING
Are you ready?
Over the last two months, our Saint Mark’s community has been getting ready. We have celebrated at Next Steps Parties, studied about Money and the Meaning of Life, engaged in Sunday Forums, and gathered for a Prayer Vigil. In the coming weeks, each of us will be asked to make two financial commitments: an annual pledge for 2015 to support year-round mission and ministry at Saint Mark’s and a pledge above and beyond our annual giving (to be fulfilled within the next three years) to support our capital campaign. Those who choose to make early Advance Commitments are invited to do so at a reception on Saturday, December 6. Please contact Neal or Nan Sullins at 206·448·4627 if you wish to make an Advance Commitment.
Your pledge form is included with this newsletter. As you consider your response, please ask yourself:
▶ How do my pledges reflect gratitude for abundance that I experience at Saint Mark’s and in my daily life? ▶ How do my pledges to Saint Mark’s reflect the relationship I would hope to have with money? ▶ Of all the gifts I have received— my income and the wealth God has granted me—what proportion will I give to support God’s Kingdom here at Saint Mark’s? ▶ How will fulfilling these pledges be a part of my spiritual practice over the next few years? ▶ Does my decision about pledging make me joyful? On Sunday, December 14, 2014 we will receive and celebrate pledges at all morning services. —Greg Simon & Rick Hodsdon
The Living Stones: Building for Ministry Prayer Lord God, Creator of the Universe, we offer thanks for the blessings of Saint Mark’s Cathedral, enlightening Puget Sound and beyond for over 100 years, your Holy Spirit flowing through it, yet remaining within us as well. Help us, O God, to reconstruct this cathedral space that it may best enhance this spiritual beacon. Fill us with generosity, vision, and courage to restore this monument as a manifestation of your glory. Lord God, open our hearts to this Prayer of Action for all concerned. May we stretch our imaginations and stewardship in the name of our Lord, Jesus Christ. Amen. —Don Lewis
1245 Tenth Avenue East Seattle, WA 98102-4323
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ALL-PARISH BANQUET
J O I N T H E PA RTY ON DECEMBER 12! Our biggest celebration of the year is fast approaching. We will gather in the nave for our Living Stones: Building for Ministry campaign banquet on Friday evening, December 12, 6:00–8:00 pm. A sacred space perfect for a spiritual gathering filled with the Holy Spirit, the nave will glow with candles, echo with music, and ring with inspiration, as we enjoy our feast together. Guests will be welcomed by table hosts and the party will begin at 6:00 pm with appetizers and beverages for adults and children. A Northwest-style buffet will be served at 6:30 pm, followed by dessert and the program. Children and youth will gather after dinner
for special activities, looking at how God wants them to give of their time, talent, and treasure. The evening will continue with a welcome from Dean Thomason, Bishop Greg Rickel will share his stewardship journey, and Saint Mark’s members will reflect on the past, present, and future. You may have already received your invitation in the mail. Please RSVP to join us! Sign-ups are available at Sunday morning services and via the Saint Mark’s website. You can also RSVP by calling the cathedral office (206·323·0300). Seating is limited, so be sure to sign up early to reserve your spot! —Susan Knirk
For the 24-Hour Prayer Vigil, Dan Niven created a special candlelight labyrinth in the cathedral nave.