Dear Saint John’s Family,

Throughout the year I have witnessed countless acts of generosity as you contribute your ideas, your funds, and your time to our community. Every dollar that we raise, every minute of volunteerism, every good plan comes from the heart and goes toward our mission. Thank you!

Our pledge campaign this year focuses on the miracle of sharing: the ways in which our means meet the needs of the world. In each Gospel, the writer tells a story of Jesus feeding thousands of hungry followers with a few loaves and fish: truly a miracle of more than enough! It is this miraculous theme that we are lifting up for this year’s stewardship campaign.

There had been times this year when I feared we simply wouldn’t have enough to meet the demands; and yet, miraculously, we had more than enough. For more than two decades, our parishioners have gathered donated food – including day-old bakery items from CostCo – and brought them to St. Mary’s Church in Chester for their food cupboard. When it was time for some of our longtime volunteers to step back, there was a fear of, Who will do this work? Did we have enough hands to serve? The answer: Yes! Several parishioners stepped forward to help.

Another story of more than enough comes from our partnership with Chester Eastside. This year, Saint John’s took a leap of faith to provide hands and resources to sponsor two meals each month for the those who need a hot dinner. On two Thursday evenings, parishioners serve several dozen hungry folks in Chester. We’ve found that we have more than enough hands and hearts to be present, more than enough funds in our budget to pay for those evening meals.
More Than Enough, the theme for our campaign, brings us back to those moments of miracle when we realize that God has already blessed us with everything we need to do faithful mission and ministry in our community. Even when we might feel overwhelmed by the needs of the world or within our own lives, our trust is in a God who works miracles of abundance even with scant resources.

I invite you to join with me and our Vestry to commit a pledge of financial support to Saint John’s. You are a part of the miracle of enough, without whom our church and our ministry would be diminished. Prayerfully consider your support to the ministry at Saint John’s, and return your pledge card by November 23rd. You may also make your pledge electronically right now by clicking here. 

In abundant Gratitude,

Rev. Jill LaRoche Wikel, Rector