Stewardship Brochure 2023/2024

Letter from The Rector

Dear Beloved Members of St. Gregory’ s,

As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, continue to walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving -Colossians 2:6-7

Among the most important words to say in the Church are “thank you ” Say it often, and mean it, and today I say it to you Thank you for your gifts that enable our mission of transforming hearts and community through Jesus’ love! As we prepare to reenter our renovated worship space and celebrate our 70th anniversary, I am deeply grateful for the blessing of your generosity. Thank you!

You have heard the familiar expression “ can’t see the forest for the trees.” We often use it to describe those occasions when we lose sight of the big picture while focusing on the details. As Rector, I often experience the blessing of seeing the big picture of our congregation the sheer joy of our communal worship and the difference St Gregory’s makes in the lives of our members and our wider world from Boca to Bondeau, Haiti This is the forest

And I have the privilege of wandering among the trees I rejoice in the small shoots reaching out from their seed and leaning into the sun; I rejoice in the mightiest tree, standing tall, and offering sheltering love You are those trees -- rooted, grounded, growing, and thriving-- showering the world with Jesus’ transforming love Having just returned from my sabbatical, I am grateful for the blessing of serving among you and seeing with fresh eyes both the forest and the trees!

This summer we visited a redwood forest reserve. As Anita, Zeph, our Goldendoodle, and I walked through these towering trees, I was aware that underneath the ground a vast living web of roots connected the trees within the forest. Trees use these networks, secretly talking to each other through their roots, and passing along vital information. Adult trees share their sugars with young saplings; a dying tree can send its remaining resources back out to help the community. These networks, these roots of abundance, keep trees in place and free them to grow and thrive.

The theme of our annual stewardship campaign this year is “Rooted in Abundance.” I am reminded that we are a mighty forest comprised of stately trunks and sprightly saplings, each of us contributing our gifts to a world that needs us. As you hear the messages and stories of abundance this year, take note of how generosity spreads and widens our root structures of faith, action and love that truly makes a difference Thank You

I prayerfully ask you to renew your financial commitment or become a first-time pledging member

In Christ, The Reverend Andrew J. Sherman Rector

St Gregory's Episcopal Church of Boca Raton

Worship Rooted in Christ's Love

As we celebrate St. Gregory's 70th anniversary, we honor our past while embracing our future, deeply rooted and grounded in the abundance of God's love. Worship at St. Gregory's, both traditional and dynamic, serves as the sacred heartbeat of our Life in Christ. Like a mighty tree that has flourished over seven decades, we rejoice in the rhythms, words, images, colors, sounds, and fragrances of traditional Anglican Episcopal worship that has nourished souls and transformed hearts from generation to generation

St Gregory's unwavering commitment to God's living word is echoed in the powerful preaching and teaching of The Rev Andrew J Sherman and The Rev Benjamin A Thomas, Jr Timothy Brumfield, our exceptionally talented Director of Music Ministry, Organist, and Choirmaster, leads our gifted choir and musicians as they provide a sublime musical experience at each service.

St. Gregory's worship remains firmly rooted in the beautiful, traditional Anglican Episcopal services while also offering additional innovative experiences like Yoga Masses, Sunrise Beach Eucharists, Rise and Shine family worship, and Choral Evensongs. These enriching expressions of faith enlighten hearts and serve as popular on-ramps, leading us deeper into our life in Christ.

Rooted in the radical love of Jesus, worship at St Gregory’s sustains our spiritual growth and prepares us to extend our branches in service to our community Our live-streamed services enable us to share Christ’s message of love both near and far, reaching out to those unable to join in person.

MUSIC: AN ORCHESTRA OF ABUNDANCE

Music, one of our church’s greatest gifts, continues to distinguish St. Gregory's. Your generous gifts create unique musical opportunities for adults, children, and youth. Each gift helps to procure music for our inspiring choral program, maintain our instruments, and uphold our adult choral section leader positions and choral scholarships

Additionally, your contributions help underwrite our "Great Music at St Gregory’s Concert Series" and fund special music during Christmas and Easter with extra musicians. This gracious stewardship ensures our music ministry flourishes, enriching our worship experience and consolidating our identity as a spiritual community truly Rooted in Abundance.

God's Love in Action

GOD'S LOVE: A DYNAMIC EXPRESSION OF ABUNDANCE

St Gregory's lives as a vibrant community that strives to embody God's presence in all that we do We are a church of generous hearts and devoted hands, serving our congregation and the wider community through more than one hundred dynamic ministries

NOURISHING THE MIND, BODY, AND SPIRIT - LOCAL TO GLOBAL

Our "Meals with Meaning" ministry embodies the concept of being Rooted in Abundance by providing meals, essential items, and spiritual enrichment to the most vulnerable among us, starting right here in our backyard. We currently cater to more than 250 guests each week and anticipate a surge in these numbers due to the prevailing inflation.

Our scope of love reaches beyond our local community, extending to Bondeau, Haiti, Madagascar, and further. As captured in the heartwarming gospel hymn: "In Christ, there is no East or West, in Him no South or North, but one great fellowship of love throughout the whole wide earth." At St. Gregory's, we strive to build this beloved community under the Holy Spirit's guidance!

SPIRITUAL ENRICHMENT: ROOTED IN LOVE AND FAITH

An integral part of our Life in Christ at St. Gregory's involves focusing on our spiritual progression and encouraging members to foster deeper relationships with God through Jesus Christ. Cultivating our love for God and neighbors as extensions of ourselves (spiritual growth) is a core commitment firmly rooted in St. Gregory's principles.

Our in-person meetings, online sessions, offsite retreats, Bible study groups, Wisdom Circles, and spiritual retreats serve as pathways for deeper immersion into the life-giving waters of life in Christ.

CHRIST-CENTERED CARE AND COMMUNITY ACTION

Stephen Ministry

Pastoral Care

Loss & Healing Grief Group

Senior Ministry

Doyle's Gentle Giant

Back to Living Group

Healing Ministry

Recent years have proven to be challenging for many. In response, St. Gregory's has broadened our range of Christ-centered support ministries to meet the increasing needs. We currently offer a wide range of ministries to meet the needs of our congregational family, our community and beyond.

Caring Callers

Prayer Shawls

Lay Eucharist Visitors

Healing Prayers of St. Luke

Racial Healing and Justice

Gentle Giant Foundation

Healing Prayers of St. Luke

Racial Justice and Healing

A Place To Belong

PASSIONATELY NURTURING THE NEXT GENERATIONS TO LOVE AND SERVE THE LORD

Beginning with our youngest members, our state-of-the-art nursery welcomes families with infants and toddlers each Sunday during the 10am service. Children 3 years through 5th grade wonder, learn and grow through such enriching programs as Godly Play, Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, and Foundations of Faith

Christ-centered lessons and activities for youth blend worship, discipleship, stewardship and fellowship in life-changing ways. Our Confirmation program, Life in Christ, prepares teens for their declaration of faith, while our Upper Room Time and Youth Group activities engage the hearts, hands and intellects of middle and high schoolers. In addition, the spiritually uplifting programs of the Boca Raton Interfaith Youth Association (BRIYA) offer our teens regular opportunities to build meaningful community relationships across a wide variety of faith traditions

Under the expert guidance o Choir “The Choristers” has joyfully resum ces as part of this popular choral program.

Our Canterbury Ministry shar nd young adults. This initiative include help them flourish in faith, fellowship, s

Rooted in Abundance reminds me to share generously of myself without fear because, at my core, I am connected to God's infinite love.

- Ayanna Reid

Your 2024 Pledge: It All Begins with Prayer

PRAY. As you pray, please consider expressing your gratitude for all your many blessings with a pledge – if possible, a percentage of what God has bestowed on you and your family.

Make your pledge to the parish by filling out the pledge card included in this packet and return it in the enclosed envelope or fill out the online pledge form at www.stgregroysepiscopal.org/pledge. The more pledges we receive, the better we can prepare our church budget for the coming year.

PRAY AGAIN. Once you have turned in your pledge, pray again. Pray that you can fulfill that pledge as 2024 unfolds and pray that the servant leaders of St. Gregory’s are, like all the members of St. Gregory’s, faithful stewards of the gifts entrusted to them.

A PLEDGE IS A PROMISE TO GIVE

As you begin to pray about your 2024 pledge to St. Gregory’s, know that this promise helps your Vestry guide the parish as we work together to make and grow disciples of Jesus Christ. Early in the St. Gregory’s history, church leaders made week-to-week decisions based on weekly donations and other gifts. Today the scope, size and complexity of our parish requires our Vestry to budget skillfully and carefully Therefore, your pledge, your promise for giving in the year ahead, is critical As you give throughout the year, your gifts to the general fund are deducted from the amount you pledged, and your quarterly statements will help you track your progress You might wonder, “What happens if my circumstances change after I make my pledge?” If that occurs, simply reach out to us and amend your pledge, lowering it or raising it as needed

– Gary Paris, Treasurer

2023/2024 OPERATING BUDGET

St. Gregory's programs are funded as follows:

Lift Up Your Hearts! We Lift Them Up To The Lord!

It is only through your support that St. Gregory's can continue our mission of Transforming Hearts and Community Through Jesus' Love. Please prayerfully consider your pledge in support of next year ' s budget

YOUR ANNUAL PLEDGE

Once you have prayerfully considered your pledge and arrived at the amount you'd like to give, please share that amount with us. Your pledge is non-binding, so if your financial situation changes you will never be pressured from us. The dollar amount of your pledge simply helps our financial committee budget and plan for the upcoming year.

ONLINE GIVING

To give online, please visit St. Gregory's online giving page to make your secure, one-time or recurring gift. stgregorysepiscopal.org/give-online

CHECKING

MAILING YOUR CHECK

If you prefer to pay your pledge by check, mail it to:

St. Gregory's Episcopal Church

P.O. Box 1503

Boca Raton, FL 33429

AUTOPAY

For optimum convenience, set up recurring payments with your bank's autopay feature. Your bank will generate and mail a paper check from your account to St. Gregory's for you.

MOBILE GIVING ST GREGORY'S APP

Download the free St. Gregory's Boca Raton app from the app store and click the Give button. Choose Use Pushpay to set up an account, make a one-time gift, or schedule your giving.

TEXT TO GIVE

Text SGEGive to 833-672-4095 to give from your mobile device.

SCAN TO GIVE

Open your camera on your phone, scan the QR code, and select your gift.

CONTRIBUTIONS OF STOCKS, MUTUAL FUNDS, OR IRAS

There may be distinct tax advantages to contributing to St. Gregory's directly from your retirement or investment accounts. Contact your financial advisor for additional information

To me, being rooted in abundance is to have a foundation of the love of God in Christ Jesus, It is a living foundation that calls us, guides us, empowers us, and the fact that it is rooted in abundance means that there is an unending supply to fill us with meaning and purpose

-The Rev David Potter

SEVENTY YEARS OF TRANSFORMING HEARTS AND COMMUNITY THROUGH JESUS' LOVE

MINISTERS

All the Members of St. Gregory’s

CLERGY

The Reverend Andrew J. Sherman

The Reverend Benjamin A. Thomas

The Reverend Anita Fortino Thorstad

The Reverend Elizabeth Pankey-Warren

The Reverend David Potter

The Reverend Jean Bruno

The Reverend Emilio Rosolen