St. Matthew’s: Part of Our Story

A Letter from Our Senior Warden

Dear Fellow Parishioner,

I am sending this out because I know that not everyone was able to join us for Stewardship Sunday this past weekend. Please know that we missed you. As Senior Warden, I want to start our stewardship season with a message of thanks to you.

Thank you for being a church that shows up for one another. Thank you for the meals delivered during difficult times, for the prayers offered for those in need, for the music that lifts our spirits, and for the countless acts of service that often happen quietly behind the scenes.

When people think about stewardship, it’s easy to think about budgets and numbers. But what I see is something much more meaningful.
For me, this church is woven into the story of my life.

You may have heard this from me before, but it’s an important point for me. I have been connected to this congregation for as long as I can remember. Some of my closest friendships were formed here. This is the church that helped shape my faith and where I learned what it means to belong to a community that cares for one another.

This is the church where I was married. It is the church where my children were baptized, sang in the choir (and sometimes still do), served at the altar. It is the church where my daughter was married.

It is also the church that was there during some of my life’s hardest moments. When members of my family passed away, this church gathered around us with prayers, comfort, and support. In times of both joy and sorrow, this congregation has been a constant presence in my life.

When I look around our beautiful sanctuary, I don’t just see pews and stained glass. I see memories. I see milestones. I see people who have walked with me through every season of life.

And I know many of you have similar stories. Maybe St. Matthew’s is the place where your children were baptized. Maybe it is where you found comfort after the loss of someone you love. Perhaps it is where lifelong friendships were formed, where your faith took deeper root, and where you have experienced God’s presence in meaningful ways throughout the years. Or maybe you are newer to our community and discovered here a place that feels like home. Wherever your journey began, St. Matthew’s has become part of your story, just as you have become part of ours.

These experiences don’t happen by accident. They happen because generation after generation before us chose to support this church so that it would be here when people needed it.

Now it is our turn.

Everything we do together is made possible when each of us shares what we can. Every pledge, no matter the size, becomes part of something larger than ourselves. It helps create worship that inspires, a church home that welcomes, ministries that serve, and a community that reflects Christ’s love.

As you consider your pledge for the coming year, I’d like to offer a simple invitation. If you have never made a pledge before, perhaps this is the year to take that first step. If you already make a pledge, I invite you to consider whether you can increase your gift, even modestly. An additional five, ten, or twenty dollars a week can make a significant difference. Our goal for 2027 is to raise $200,000 through congregational giving. That number may sound large, but it is really the story of many faithful households making commitments according to their means. No one carries this responsibility alone. We do it together.

We are not simply funding a budget.

We are preserving a place where lives are changed.

We are investing in worship, community, faith, and the future.

And the beautiful thing is that we do it together.

As you pray about your pledge, I invite you to think about the role this church has played in your life. Think about the people, the memories, and the moments that have mattered to you. Then consider how your gift can help ensure that future generations will have those same opportunities to encounter God, build friendships, celebrate life’s joys, and find comfort in difficult times.

We will be hearing from other parishioners in the coming weeks about their faith journey at St. Matthew’s. If you have a story to tell, please let us know. Our goal is to have all pledges submitted by Christ the King Sunday on November 22nd. You can place your pledge offerings in the collection plate on any Sunday in the coming weeks. Please feel free to reach out to me or any of the vestry if you have questions.

Thank you for your faithfulness, your generosity, and for being part of this church family. I am grateful for all that God has done among us, and I am excited for what lies ahead.

May God continue to bless this congregation and all who call it home.