A Pastoral Note from Fr. Michael Ryan
The Good News of Saint John's: A Pledge to Our Shared Life
Dear Ones,
A common saying is that we only truly know our home upon leaving and returning. In contrast, the African concept of Ubuntu (a Bantu word meaning "humanity") suggests we find our place through connection. Archbishop Desmond Tutu defined this lived ethic with the starting point: "I am because we are." If the individual self is inextricably linked to the community, we don't need distance to gain perspective. Instead, our understanding of our place in the world and our inherent worth is fundamentally shaped and affirmed by others.
Consider the funeral of a parent or grandparent—someone instrumental in shaping who we have become. When a stranger shares an unfamiliar story about them, it often uncovers a depth of goodness or character we had previously taken for granted. This new dimension not only deepens our appreciation for the deceased but, invariably, allows us to recognize that same value within ourselves—a quality we possess yet fail to see as special or worthy.
This truth applies to how we see ourselves as a community. So often I run into someone on the street who sees the collar, makes the association with St. John’s, and tells me about something our community did: a gesture, an act of kindness, or an invitation into some part of our shared life. When that happens, I see and appreciate you and our parish community in a new and positive light. It reminds me of how good you are as a parish and how blessed we are to have God and each other in our shared lives.
As you look at this year’s pledge materials, you will find an invitation card that asks a simple question: “What is the Good News of St. John’s?” I encourage you to take a minute to answer that question for yourself and your family and send it in with your pledge. You can also send it in an email to Katy George, this year’s Stewardship Chair, at kgeorgecain@me.com.
We will compile and post all responses—from parishioners and those outside of the parish—along with the ones we’ve already collected. Click here to read what has been shared so far.
Inspired by your own reflection, the voices of your fellow parishioners, and the people in our community who have experienced the Good News of St. John’s, I encourage you to make a pledge today and commit your gifts and energies to the mission and ministry of our good parish.
Our annual stewardship campaign is fundamentally a commitment to the mission we share. St. John’s isn't just a building; it's a collective force for good—a place where every one of us finds strength and where our shared resources transform lives. This collective power was perfectly illustrated by a small, unexpected moment when a neighbor and friend of St. John’s called to ask if he could stop by for a minute as he left town for vacation. He came to the door and was absolutely beaming. He handed me a check made out to St. John’s for $500, but the check was from a person whose name I didn’t recognize. Seeing my puzzlement, he shared this story.
The day before, an old friend whom he had not seen for a while came into the Eagles Club, and they got to talking. In the course of the discussion, his friend mentioned that he was making yearend contributions from his family business and offhandedly asked what nonprofit was having the most positive impact in the community. Without hesitating, our neighbor responded: “St. John’s Episcopal Church!”
In that moment, holding that check, I understood that this gift wasn't just a donation to an institution; it was an external affirmation of the shared life we create here. The positive impact St. John’s has isn't an accident—it's the direct result of every member trusting that by God’s grace, we are stronger together.
Your pledge is the tangible expression of that belief, and it fuels our shared mission to be a light of the Gospel, a Community for Hope.
Peace and Blessings,
