BUILDING
COMMUNITY TOGETHER
STEWARDSHIP CAMPAIGN
2021-2022
“I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth.” (1 Corinthians 3:6)
FROM THE RECTOR Dear Beloved Members of St. Gregory’s, Our theme for our annual giving and stewardship campaign is “Building Community Together.” Each word speaks to our life in Christ at St. Gregory’s. During this COVID time, the pounding of hammers and buzzing of saws proclaim: we are building! Outwardly, our campus is transformed by our Phase 1 construction. We have also built new capacities for pursuing the mission of transforming hearts and community through Jesus’ love. We have developed a robust online ministry for worship, teaching, and ministry engagement utilizing new technologies and tools for connection. Inwardly, our commitment to spiritual growth in Christ has deepened through a faithful God who was not and never will be quarantined! Our commitment to serving our community grew exponentially last year. Our Meals with Meaning Ministry, conducted in our parking lot, evolved from an emergency feeding ministry into a dynamic and loving service to the most vulnerable featuring a mobile shower and 24/7 food pantry. In 2020, we served over 12,000 guests. We formed new partnerships which act as force multipliers for ministry. Community includes not only our backyard but our continuing partnership in Christ with the community of Bondeau in Haiti, led by the South Florida Haiti Project, and our new partnership with Andranovory Parish in Madagascar. We also created resources for our own church community such as assistance with mental health services through our newly established Gentle Giant Foundation. We are doing this “together!” I am grateful for our resilience as we come together in-person and online while we move through COVID. We developed new ways to teach our young people and youth, new ways to worship together, and new ways to connect and to serve. Our faces have been masked at worship, but our hearts have remained open to each other and vulnerable to God. At times it has been exhausting, and at times it has been exhilarating.
We planted new ministries; we watered and sustained continuing ministries, but God gave and continues to give the growth! Now, it is our turn to give: to give out of love; to give generously and without reservation or hesitation; to give with hearts full of faith in the God who provides and who is trustworthy and true. Your financial giving to our annual stewardship will enable us to sustain our staff position as a full-time youth director and outreach coordinator. It will enable us to continue our new online ministries while renewing our current in-person ministries in worship, Christian education, pastoral care, and music. It will support the work of over 100 ministries. St. Gregory’s is a special family in God. Our mission makes a difference every day in the life of our community and world. Hearts are being transformed, love is experienced, and hope is renewed. Please give. In Christ,
Andrew+
GOD’S LOVE AND LIGHT IN ACTION St. Gregory’s provides a lifeline of hope by making our mission of Transforming Lives and Community Through Jesus’ Love a daily reality. Since 2020, we have found the urgency of our mission has grown due to the individuals and families made increasingly vulnerable by the pandemic. St. Gregory’s met the call to serve their immediate needs and provide hope, resources, and spiritual guidance.
Faith at Work Jesus’ work is alive and well in St. Gregory’s more than 100 ministries whose missions have one common thread - to lift up others with open hearts in Jesus’ name. In an unprecedented time, St. Gregory’s is addressing the most pressing issues head-on by serving those who need it most, by uniting where there is division, and by sowing love and acceptance. It is only through your continued support that we are able to continue to build our community together.
Our Clergy • The Reverend Andrew J. Sherman • The Reverend Benjamin A. Thomas • The Reverend Anita Fortino Thorstad • The Reverend Elizabeth Pankey-Warren
St. Gregory’s More Than 100 Ministries Include • Bible Studies • Meals with Meaning • Beach Eucharist • Sunday and Weekday Worship (in-person and online) • Yoga Masses • Sunday School • Brothers of St. Gregory’s • Episcopal Church Women (ECW) • Daughters of the King • Caring Callers
• Stephen Ministry • Youth Ministry • Confirmation Classes • Pastoral Counseling • Spiritual Directions • Office Angels • Family Promise • Altar Guild • Vergers • Lay Eucharistic Ministers • Ushers and Greeters
• Choir and Music Ministry • St. Gregory’s Gardeners • Vestry • New Member Classes • Racial Healing and Justice • South Florida Haiti Project • Madagascar Ministry • Anne De Wolfe Fund • Helena Von Kreuter Seminarian Scholarship among many others... 3
GIVING TO ST. GREGORY’S The main source of support for St. Gregory’s comes in the form of pledges and gifts that are given to the church to the glory of God and for the continued mission and ministry of the church. Every check or electronic gift is an investment in the mission of St. Gregory’s and our ministries - funding both our operating budget and our outreach ministries. The pandemic has required us to expand the way we gather, worship, and stay connected with one another. St. Gregory’s quickly adapted to provide worship, study, and sharing in fellowship both online and in person. Through your support, we now reach worshipers both near and far. As the most vulnerable among us were hit the hardest, St. Gregory’s didn’t hesitate to anticipate and meet their needs. Meals with Meaning has experienced a more than 100% increase in the number of guests and meals served weekly. In addition to warm meals and other food items, guests are also provided with essential items such as bottled water, masks, socks, and more. Each of St. Gregory’s ministries has been deeply affected by new and increased demands. In turn, the church has rapidly adapted and responded to the growing needs of all we serve with solutions that include: • Purchasing and installing new technologies for broadcasting services • Hiring a Video Coordinator to direct our broadcast ministry • Purchasing new software to facilitate online ministry engagement • Developing new skills to conduct children, youth, and adult formation ministries online • Enhancing our Care Calling ministry team to reach out to church members
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“Give and it will be given to you.” (Luke 6:38)
YOUR SUPPORT AT WORK Adult and Youth Formation Pastoral Care
18%
7%
Worship and Music
19%
“This, then, is how you ought to regard us: as servants of Christ and as those entrusted with the mysteries God has revealed. Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.” (1 Corinthians 4:1-2)
Outreach and Diocese Mission
20%
Building and Grounds
15%
Admin and Insurance
21%
Stewardship Stewardship calls us to be grateful and responsible stewards of the gifts we receive from God. Pledging and giving go together to help our Vestry guide the Parish and plan for our short and long-term future. The complexity of Parish life today requires our Vestry and staff to budget skillfully and carefully for the year ahead. This is why we ask you, if you are able, to make an annual commitment to St. Gregory’s in the form of a pledge. Your gifts count toward that pledge and help us plan and predict the resources that will be available over the course of a year. Every dollar you give goes to further the ministries of St. Gregory’s.
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“A person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given from heaven.” (John 3:27)
WAYS TO GIVE
Together, we are making a difference in our community and around the world. When making your tax-deductible pledge, choose the giving options that works best for your financial situation. To learn more about all of the tax-advantages of giving to St. Gregory’s, please contact your financial advisor.
Checking
Give Online
MAILING YOUR CHECK
Visit www.stgregorysepiscopal.org/give-online to make your secure one-time or recurring gift.
If you would prefer to send in your payment by check, please mail it to: St. Gregory’s Episcopal Church PO Box 1503 Boca Raton FL 33429 AUTOPAY
ST. GREGORY’S APP
For optimum convenience, leverage your bank’s online auto bill pay feature to make recurring payments. Once initiated by you, your bank will generate and mail a paper check from your account to St. Gregory’s for you.
Download the free “St. Gregory’s Boca Raton” app from the app store and click the “Give” icon. Choose “Use Pushpay” to set up an account, make a one-time gift, or schedule your giving.
Contributions of Stocks, Mutual Funds, or IRAs
Text SGEgive to 833-672-4095 to give from your mobile device.
There may be distinct tax advantages to contributing gifts of stocks, mutual funds, IRAs, or including St. Gregory’s in your planned giving. For example, if you make a charitable donation directly from your IRA rather than cashing it out first, it may not be reported as income to you. Contact your financial advisor for additional information. If your advisor needs wiring instructions or other information, please email Michael Koppenal at mkoppenal@st-gregorys.com. 6
Mobile Giving
TEXT TO GIVE
SCAN TO GIVE Open your camera on your mobile device, scan the QR code and select your gift.
YOUR FINANCIAL SUPPORT Great things continue to happen at St. Gregory’s. During the past challenging year and a half, the call for our services and ministries has grown exponentially. The clergy and staff have tirelessly, creatively, and heartfully answered each call. The important work of “Transforming Hearts and Community Through Jesus’ Love” is only made possible because you make a pledge to support St. Gregory’s. It is imperative that these ministries continue to serve. Can we count on your support again now? Now is our opportunity to consider how we will respond to God’s generosity to each of us. Please pause and pray about your giving to further His work. Join Fr. Andrew and Anita in renewing your commitment to the church. Strive to practice the Biblical model of returning ten percent - The Tithe - in thanksgiving for God’s blessings.
“Each of you must give as you have made up your mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” (2 Corinthians 9:7) Once you have arrived at the amount of your tithe, we humbly ask you to share what you intend to give to St. Gregory’s in the upcoming year. These pledges are non-binding, so if your financial circumstances change, you will never be pressured. Your pledge simply helps our finance committee to budget and plan for the upcoming year. No matter the amount you plan to give - we thank you. Proportional giving means contributing a measured portion of God’s blessings to help further God’s work. The table below is simply a reference tool for planning your 2021 commitment.
INCOME
Weekly Income
5%
7%
10%
15%
$25,000
$481
$24
$34
$48
$72
$38,000
$731
$37
$51
$73
$110
$50,000
$962
$48
$67
$96
$144
$75,000
$1,442
$72
$101
$144
$216
$100,000
$1,923
$96
$135
$192
$288
$150,000
$2,885
$144
$202
$288
$433
$200,000
$3,846
$192
$269
$385
$577
$250,000
$4,808
$240
$337
$481
$721 7
It is only with your help that St. Gregory’s is able to continue on our mission of Transforming Hearts and Community Through Jesus’ Love. Today and always, we thank you for your support of our services and ministries. Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any questions or if we may be of assistance.
100 NE Mizner Boulevard. Boca Raton, FL 33432 | (561) 395-8285 | office@st-gregorys.com | www.stgregorysepiscopal.org