the The Newsletter for Saint Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church
October 2016
the
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Blessing of the Animals
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Jubilee National Night Out
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Women of Saint Michael Luncheon History of Saint Michael
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Distinguished Lecture Series Amy-Jill Levine
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Edge Lock In
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Trunk or Treat
Volume 28 No. 10
Thoughts on Stewardship from the Rector
Our Rector Chris Girata sat down with the Stewardship team to discuss his thoughts on what it means to give to one’s church and what his expectations are for the parishioners of Saint Michael and All Angels.
What are some of your earliest memories of giving in church? When I was young, my father coordinated our church’s stewardship program. I remember watching him speak in front of the church about the importance of giving and how giving to the church was a way of thanking God for our many blessings. What resonated with me is the priority it sets: If your faith is important to you, then giving to your church makes your faith the top priority in your life. When we give to our church first, we prioritize the rest of our life more faithfully.
As you advanced in your ministry, what lessons about pledging have stuck with you? The difference between a gift and a pledge has become more important to me. Although giving is generous, giving is very general. Pledging is something more specific and deeply spiritual. Most of us want our faith in Christ to be central to our life, but until we literally put our money where our mouth is, the desire to put Christ first will only remain a desire. Money is what drives our world, and if we aren’t careful, money will end up driving us too. A pledge is a way of committing to the hope that we can and will transcend the pitfalls of this world with God’s help.
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Institution Weekend Includes Feast of St. Michael The weekend of September 24 and 25 will be long remembered at Saint Michael and All Angels. On Saturday, nearly 600 parishioners and clergy from the diocese and around the country joined to celebrate the Institution of The Rev. Chris Girata as Saint Michael’s eighth Rector.
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