Last week Father Turner challenged the parish in his October 5 Stewardship Sermons at both the 11am Eucharist and 4pm Evensong. It is time, he said, to increase pledge dollars from $1.6 million to $2 million and the number of pledges from 650 to 1,000. Currently Saint Thomas is dependent upon the generosity of past generations. Parishioners now need to step up and take responsibility for this magnificent church and choir school.
Father Turner warned that we are drawing down our invested funds at an unsustainable rate:
- The Every Member Canvass only supports 15% of the budget needed to operate the church and the choir school.
- 20% of last year’s pledge dollars came from our ten most generous pledgers.
Two things need to happen. First, we need more pledgers. Too many people consider Saint Thomas to be their spiritual home, and yet do not pledge. Whether you sit in the pews or listen to the service over the web, we need your support. If you have been in the habit of putting cash in the plate, please ask the Development Office for giving envelopes so that we may record you as a pledger. In turn, we will send you a tax statement at the end of the year.
Second, please give some serious thought to the amount you pledge. Can you increase it? Can you be more generous? Father Turner said that five people came up to him at last Sunday’s Coffee Hour and said that although they had already pledged, they realize that they did not pledge generously enough and will increase their pledges. A number also indicated that they would use the biblical principle of tithing (10% of pretax income) to work out their pledge.
If we all work together, we will make a difference.
If you have any questions about pledging or the 2015 Every Member Canvass, please speak to one of the volunteers sitting at a table in the narthex before the 11am Eucharist this Sunday, October 12 and at Coffee Hour or email Ann Hall Kaplan; you may also call her at 212.757.7013, x414.
Online Every Member Canvass Resources
Other Online Giving Resources
