How is the church doing?

How are we doing? How are YOU doing? Thank you for your prayers and your generosity

During the challenging days in which we live, parishioners have frequently asked staff and vestry members, “How are we doing? And what can I do to help?” At the heart of their question is love, caring, and concern that the clergy, staff, parishioners and larger St. Stephen’s community are staying safe and well during this extraordinary time.

The uncertainty of this period has been difficult for many people. S o has the sense of isolation, loneliness, and a sense of being adrift. As so many of you have noted, we have needed the ministries of St. Stephen’s Church more than ever during the pandemic.

P arishioners who ask about the church’s well-being often follow up with another question: “How are the parish’s finances?” with serious financial hardship as businesses and organizations deal with the economic effects of the pandemic. If you are among those who are dealing with this added burden, please know that we understand—and that those who are able to do more to support the church at this time are doing so.

St. Stephen’s clergy, staff, and vestry are deeply moved by the generosity of each parishioner, giving as you are able. And if you are among those unable to fulfill your 2020 pledge, please remove that from your list of worries. We are here to support one another. We will get through this together. We will be all right.

This edition of Seasons of the Spirit includes exciting offerings and ministries for this program year. While we will not gather in person as we usually do, we plan to continue as strong as ever. If you are able to make a pledge for 2021, please know that your support is as important as ever—and in fact, it’s even moreso!

A VILLAGE GREEN

From ancient times and through the dark ages, Benedictine communities and parish churches have served as centers of village life, embracing friend and stranger alike. We seek to be such a presence today, offering hospitality and a place to belong—not only for parishioners, but for the larger community.

A NEW ABBEY

In a culture overly distracted and enamored with the new, we preserve enduring wisdom, spiritual insights, and ancient practices of prayer and contemplation that nurture the soul. In an age of electronic engagement, virtual connections, and increasing loneliness, we continue ancient practices that attune human beings to the Divine and one another. In the current crisis facing our country and our world, we are reimagining ways to deliver that ancient wisdom.

A HEALING COMMUNITY

Jesus was considered a prophet, a rabbi, and the leader of a movement. But he was known primarily as a healer. At St. Stephen’s we seek to incarnate the One who binds, heals, and nurtures, especially where forces in our society tear, wound, or divide.

Christ has no body now but yours. No hands, no feet on earth but yours. Yours are the eyes through which he looks compassion on this world. Yours are the feet with which he walks to do good. Yours are the hands through which he blesses all the world.

TERESA OF AVILA 16TH CENTURY

Now more than ever, we need you! Please prayerfully consider your pledge for 2021. You can make a pledge online today at ststephensRVA.org/pledge.

Did you know that federal CARES Act offers a unique tax advantage* available now through the end of 2020? It’s possible that this provision can help you fulfill your 2020 pledge, prepay a pledge for 2021, or make an extra gift in 2020. As we deal with the economic effects of the pandemic, St. Stephen’s is likely to need extra help to maintain our ministries for the next year or so.

A VITAL LEGACY Thanks to the generosity of previous generations—and people like you—our parish has become one of the largest and most vibrant in the country, a beacon of Christian life and ministry. The endowment at St. Stephen’s is key to the long-term health of our church and its ability to reach beyond our campus. The corpus of the endowment is protected, while interest provides a steady stream of support, in perpetuity, for the ongoing ministries of our church. Our endowment is substantially smaller than the endowments of other churches our size and able to support only a small portion of our operating budget. This keeps us perpetually behind in tending to the careful maintenance and upkeep of our beautiful facilities and grounds. The vestry recognizes that our endowment must be over $20 million in order for the annual income to cover the expenses of upkeep and repair, and as a beginning, the vestry recommends doing our best to double the size of the church’s endowment immediately (the corpus is currently just over $5 million). For more information about joining the Legacy Society and making a planned gift, or to make a current contribution to the endowment, please contact John Sherman at jshermanjr@gmail.com or 804.382.5109. This may be one of the most important gifts you ever make.

* In the past, tax laws limited contributions to 60% of the taxpayer’s adjusted gross income each year. For 2020 only, that limitation is modified and the contributions may be deducted up to 100% of the adjusted gross income.

The contributions to qualify for the 100% must be made in cash in 2020 and cannot be made to a private foundation or to a donor advised fund. All donors are advised to consult their own tax advisors to determine the impact of this legislation on their financial affairs.