Stewardship Presentation & Conversations for Belonging

Geri Gray
Oct 25
2 min read

Wooden cross with blue metal accents on each end and a central emblem. The background is plain, emphasizing the cross's simplicity.

From the Rector's Desk

Sunday's Stewardship Presentation and Conversations for Belonging

Autumn forest scene with tall trees and vibrant orange leaves lining a path. Soft sunlight filters through, creating a serene mood.

Stewardship Presentation & Conversations for Belonging

WHEN: Sunday, October 26, 2025, immediately following 10:00 am Holy Eucharist

WHERE: Marsh Hall (Enjoy Coffee Hour sweets, coffee, tea, and lemonade, plus charcuterie for conversation participants.)

Part One: The Vertical Beam - Stewardship and Mission

Katy George, Chair of the Stewardship Committee, and Connie Lightbody, Chair of the Finance Committee, will present our operating budget. They will offer a compelling, graphic-based presentation—free of dense spreadsheets—that effectively communicates how we fund our mission and ministries.

The Vestry previewed Sunday’s presentation last week and found this information accessible and helpful for evaluating their respective pledges and contributions in light of what it takes to responsibly and purposefully fund our ministries and mission.

Part Two: The Cross Beam - Conversations for Belonging and Community

What does belonging have to do with Stewardship?

Cross with green vertical beam and brown horizontal beam. Text above: "Vertical Beam: direct relationship with God." Arrow points up.

The Cross is a rich symbol that conceptualizes how they intersect. The vertical beam represents our personal response to God’s generous grace: the commitment and sharing of our individual gifts, time, and resources to further God's work in this community.

Wooden cross with blue-green accents and arrows. Text about relationship with God through kindness, service, justice, mercy.

A core Christian tenet is that we grow closer to God by being authentically present to the people in our lives.

Therefore, we invite you to join in structured conversations designed to expand our knowledge of and affection for each other—accessing the gift of kind friendship and belonging, the most valuable gift we can offer another.

Wooden cross with green arrows pointing in each direction. A blue circle with a black and white symbol is at the center.

CHRIST is at the intersection fully embodying the divine and human - reminding the Church that God/We and We/Neighbor are synonymous and mutually dependent—we can't be right with God if we are not right with our neighbor(s).

Conversation Details: An Opportunity for Renewal

I will be facilitating three brief conversations for belonging. Small groups will be formed where everyone will be invited to share what is most important to them. We've done this before, and the Vestry has participated multiple times. Great care has been taken to ensure that even people who prefer stable, controlled situations can find safety.

Each conversation will last no longer than 12 minutes.

These conversations are structured to enable each of us to share and receive the gift of sharing without criticism, advice, or feedback. This simple discipline creates a safe space to share, and in that exchange, we experience renewed energy that plants seeds for trustworthy friendship and understanding. You risk sharing yourself, and in return, you receive the grace of being seen, known, and renewed.

A Truly Open Invitation - If you wish only to attend the presentation (focusing on the vertical) and not participate in the conversations, you are most welcome.

If you decide to participate in the conversations, we ask that you follow the simple conversation guidelines and participate in all three short rounds.

I look forward to seeing you this Sunday and hope you stay to experience how grace-filled conversation deepens our shared belonging.

Grace and peace,