Growth in Mission
Happy Stewardship Sunday Everyone!
This year marks our fourth Stewardship Sunday. You may remember the very first one when we launched a mini capital campaign and concluded well over our goal with more than $85k in donations! That was a beautiful example of giving in your place of worship as an act of worship, and supporting our mission, coming out of the pandemic in 2021.
As we take stock and share wins this year, I am most proud of the endeavors our Team Members have begun or fostered. First, regarding people power: more and more members are serving each week. We continue to grow our volunteers, and we just finished renovating our new Ministry Suite this fall! Second, we started a new outreach program that we are calling LOFT (Living Out Faith Together). These are opportunities to serve, to put faith into practice in our parish and in the greater community. Third, around campus we have worked to meet the updates necessary for the Fire Inspector and have only a few more (although large) items to tackle. Fourth, the demolition of the former convent is underway, and we will need to redesign and resurface our parking lot. Fifth, we are in the process of installing a new main electrical line for the Church, not glamorous, but a long overdue upgrade. Sixth, the upcoming concert “Comfort and Joy” on December 18th at 6:30pm, long in hope and planning, is coming to fruition. There are many other examples but allow me to highlight these for now.
I would say things are changing, improving, developing, and growing. I am grateful to everyone who has been a part of these wonderful projects and improvements. Not all are tangible or related to campus buildings. Some are intangible, although no less real and beautiful. Afterall, the Church Christ founded had no buildings. They met in people’s homes! The Church was all about the people gathered and the mission. Church is first the people assembled to live for the Lord and his Kingdom, dedicated to building up the Body of Christ (our parish mission)!
It does seem to me that whereas in the 20th century parishes built buildings: churches, schools, convents, in the 21st century the main effort will be building up people. Not pouring into infrastructure but empowering people to share the Gospel will be the main work of this generation. Sure, one of the challenges for all parishes will be maintaining the buildings, but also repurposing them for the new evangelization. I really believe that parishes are called to become outward-facing, welcoming, high-spirited places full of joy for the mission. And I see so many ways that together we have been developing into a more mission-centered family. But, at times, that kind of change can be a little scary or unsettling. With faith, joy and trust, I look forward to the next phase of growth awaiting our little parish as we seek to keep our mission of building up the Body of Christ front and center.
Please support that parish mission. We invite you to dedicate your time and talents to our mission, by volunteering - serving in our parish and beyond. We also encourage you to support our mission with your treasure. For that purpose we are providing Faith Commitment Cards for the 2025 year. Please use them to plan your gift to our parish, so that together we can strive to respond to the invitation of Christ and the needs of our local community.
Thank you for your dedication to our parish mission. We are all in this together. It is a mission that takes all of us, since it is our calling to be the family of our parish, together. Thank you for your faith and for your love and for your commitment to our parish!
May God bless you!
Fr. Joel
