More Than Enough - St. Aidan's United Church · Mission and Service fund also help the national...
Transcript of More Than Enough - St. Aidan's United Church · Mission and Service fund also help the national...
More Than
Enough
St. Aidan’s United Church
2016 Stewardship Connection
St. Aidan’s United Church Stewardship Connection 2016-17 Page 1 of 11
Invitation to Stewardship
I am pleased to be writing this as part of a small group of people who are working hard to make this
year’s Stewardship campaign a success. St. Aidan’s is already recognized as a church of givers in many
ways. This includes money, volunteering your time and talents, food, space and support for refugees to
name a few. These gifts are most appreciated but like any organization there is still much to do. We do
hope that you will take time to look at the information provided in respect to your support for our
church.
The theme of “More than Enough” is the one we are using this year. Clearly many people in our
community, city and globally don’t have enough food, places to live or adequate health care. St. Aidan’s
is actively engaged in sharing our Christian faith in practical and helpful ways. Our church is a vibrant
place of worship and activities where we welcome all to participate. New initiatives and exciting
programs are taking place and of course funding is always a priority. Donations received locally for our
Mission and Service fund also help the national United Church provide aid worldwide.
From my personal perspective my involvement with the United Church started almost fifty years ago as a
new immigrant on board the Empress of England, a Canadian Pacific ship bound for Montreal. Feeling
rather doleful and homesick, I attended an interfaith service and was given a leaflet about the United
Church of Canada. That small action had a strong impact on me and my future life. A few years later I
was very fortunate to meet my future wife, Shirley, who was a member of the United Church in
Coquitlam. Like many of you, our hope is that St. Aidan’s will continue to grow and provide ways to
live out our faith that make sense in today’s world.
You will see from the bible passage quoted above
that giving, or giving more, is a very personal
decision and we would ask if you might reflect on
this and follow your heart. Thank you for being
part of the St. Aidan’s community.
~Roger Hannaford on behalf of the Stewardship
Team (Tony Smith, Roger & Shirley Hannaford &
Cheryl Black)
“Everyone should give whatever they have decided
in their heart. We shouldn’t give with hesitation or
because of pressure. God loves a cheerful giver. God
has the power to provide you with more than
enough of every kind of grace.”
~2 Corinthians 9:7-8a Common English Bible (CEB)
St. Aidan’s United Church Stewardship Connection 2016-17 Page 2 of 11
Invitation from our Minister, Cheryl Black
I’m writing an introduction to this year’s stewardship connection ‘More
Than Enough’ filled with gratitude.
Thank you for inviting me to be your minister. I have fallen in love with St.
Aidan’s. Your rich history, your tenacity in good times and slump times,
your deep caring for each other and your vision for a just world is inspiring.
I experience your energy for caring about people that is unsurpassed in my
experience.
I’m so grateful to be here.
I’m grateful for your openness to new ways and your willingness to take
risks. Even having this focus on how we fund our ministry is new to you
but you are catching the vision and stepping into the risk.
I’m grateful for the sensitivity and conversation amongst the planning team – we were unanimous in not
wanting to add to the burden of those whose income is already stretched to capacity. We really are a
diverse people and we honour the gifts each person brings … some have time, some have talents, some
have treasure and many have a mix . At St. Aidan’s please feel safe to bring your gifts whatever they are
and know they are appreciated. We are rich when we each contribute in the ways we can.
I give thanks for your hopefulness and your vision. You’ll see in the financial section that you have given so
generously in 2016 that we are close to wiping out our planned deficit. If you can help with a Christmas
gift we will be at the balance point. Thank you for your generosity.
I give thanks for your flexibility. We added new ministries this year. I’ve been on all the bus trips and I
love travelling with you folks and seeing new places. And I love the red licorice Betty Anne brings. Aren’t
we lucky she agreed to come and be with us!
I give thanks for the staff team I am honoured to work with –the office staff do a mammoth task of keeping
us organized and the building hopping with grace and good humour.
Please read the stories your fellow community members have contributed. They share why they give to this
beloved St. Aidan’s. Do you have a story you’d like to tell – let me know.
Please fill in the Pledge form so your leaders can plan how to accomplish the ambitious vision we can do in
2017.
Please consider going on PAR (Pre-Authorized Remittance) so that your caring for St. Aidans shows up even
when you don’t… I mean when you’re away.
I give thanks that the energy of the great Spirit is real and palpable at St. Aidans, and that the lay leadership
here is smart, hard-working, dedicated and generous in every way. I recognize the vitality of the many
wonderful volunteers who contribute to the life and ministry of St Aidans. Together we have more than
enough to continue rebuilding, reaching out, learning & exploring, growing inwardly and outwardly to
become the community we are meant to be.
With love, Cheryl
Cheryl at the drumming circle after
worship on Oct. 23, 2016
St. Aidan’s United Church Stewardship Connection 2016-17 Page 3 of 11
More than Enough
Stories from St. Aidan’s Congregation
My wife and I joined St. Aidan’s in 1999. We spent one year prior to
this searching for a church home, after moving from our United Church
in Saskatoon. Our initial contact with St. A’s was very positive – the
people we met were very welcoming, and the services and music were
stimulating. Our current experience with the church remains positive.
Our fellow members always interact with us readily and in a supporting
fashion. There are many people in the church that are in need of help,
and who receive this from groups within our active membership. In
general, many in the church take part in a wide variety of activities,
such as Committees and Teams, Choirs, CAMEO (Come and Meet
Every One), the Thrift Shop, and the widely recognised Bazaar.
In addition to these factors, we are impressed by the range of involvement of St. Aidan’s with the
community at large. St. Aidan’s has a reputation for its Thrift Shop (and the contributions that it makes
to other groups such as Big Brothers, Salvation Army, etc.), and its support of the Community Kitchen,
Our Place, Mission & Service Fund, and many agencies in Canada and the world at large.
Reverend Black has enhanced our enthusiasm, and we are encouraged by the changes that she has
brought. These include the engaging church services, the promise of growth in the number of young
people, the support for our music teams, and the initiative of the Intercultural Program.
We hope that our financial contribution will help our own church and the community at large.
~Brian and Elsie Habbick
St Aidan’s is vital to me on my journey of faith as it is where I am
spiritually nourished: questions raised in my mind and questions
answered.
It is where I meet people, weekly, with whom I can share my joys and
worries in confidence and receive loving support.
It is also a place where I can laugh with like minded folk as we work
together on projects such as the Bazaar and Thrift shop.
I contribute to St Aidan’s, financially, so that it will continue to be there,
not just for myself but also for those who come seeking for something
more than the world can offer and that we can continue to help the
local community and the world beyond our doors for years to come.
~Jean Margison
St. Aidan’s United Church Stewardship Connection 2016-17 Page 4 of 11
Rev. Dr. John Pentland, in his book Fishing Tips cites
nine new ideas that revitalized the Hillhurst
Congregation. The fifth tip is ‘Pay for what you want
not what you have’. He says:
“Many times in my ministry I have felt constricted by
an approach to church growth that says, “Let’s pay for
what we have” – an approach to finance that amounts
to paying the bills and not much else. In contrast,
Hillhurst has adopted a “Let’s pay for what we want”
philosophy. Every time I say these two lines together –
let’s pay for what we have / let’s pay for what we
want – I experience the difference in energy that they
inspire. … The latter is not a call to foolishness or
impulsiveness; it’s a call to be awake to what is needed,
desired, possible! This is about having a vision, and
about the courage of our convictions. … In the last
three years we have increased our budget by almost
$100,000. Annually. … It required everyone to
participate, eyes wide open. … We have never run
short.”
St. Aidan’s is in the enviable position that Hillhurst
encountered: we have the opportunity to employ new
strategies for church growth and the possibilities for
growth are all around us. If we are willing to discover
new ways to be church our possibilities are as numerous
as our imagination can see.
Through a ProVision Grant we have hired Mari Nattress
for 10 hours a week to reach out to new Canadians who
are often lonely and isolated, struggling with limited
English. St. Aidan’s is excellently located spiritually and
geographically to ‘welcome the stranger’ and ‘befriend
the lonely’. Mari and Intercultural Team Leader Julie
Ng will offer ESL lessons and Sunday accompaniment
over this three year grant.
St. Aidan’s has a tradition of excellent choir music and
this year we have invested in the joy of singing. We
have expanded the choir support from 2 to 4 section
leads. We are experimenting with a new service style
once a month and have hired Andre Clouthier to lead
us musically in this alternative experience. We have
hired Olivia Duffin to grow and to conduct a children’s
choir – we believe there are new children who love to
sing and will be drawn to a free choir experience.
We planned for all these staff additions in last year’s
budgeting process. We understand the need to pursue
church growth by hiring excellent staff to do small
pieces of ministry in cooperation with excellent lay
leaders.
In 2017 we will look for a 10 hour a week Children,
Youth and Family staff person.
This will be a challenge for us, but families need the
spiritual support in these uncertain times. All we need
to accomplish this vision is a trust in the Spirit,
a belief in the future and confidence that if we go for it,
all of us together, that we’ll have more than enough to
reach out in this way.
Rev. Cheryl Black
More Spirit… Prayer…
Hope…Energy… Money…
St. Aidan’s United Church Stewardship Connection 2016-17 Page 5 of 11
Story Telling Budget
The news was filled with stories of the coming storm. That day
4 homeless people, in 3 groupings, came to St. Aidan’s for
help. They were worried. Staff listened and acted – differently
with each group. Kathryn calmed them. Cheryl bought
tarps. People came in and agreed two could pitch their tent on
church property so long as we had a written agreement. This is
an example of St. Aidan’s ministry happening on the run.
It is amazing that everything staff do is done to accomplish the
ministry and mission of St. Aidan’s. The paper that flows
through the copier does so to support the ministry of St.
Aidan’s. The renters that come into the church receive
hospitality and a kind word – many report that St. Aidan’s
atmosphere and cleanliness provides a warmth for their lives.
In an Narrative or Story Telling Budget we try to tease out the real story of what we are doing – the
story of our ministry both within the community of faith and out in the world. The way staff time is
utilized tells a story. The way our building is utilized tells the story of reaching out, of hospitality, of a
port in the midst of a storm.
For this report, we have allocated the 2016 Budget into three major ministry groups:
We invested about $105,000 in our worship and music ministry believing that this is the basis from
which all else sprouts. Worship and music take staff time, office paper, volunteer time, building space
– all in the hopes that lives will be changed and God’s great spirit will have an invigorated work force.
We invested about $170,000. In telling our St. Aidan’s story and reaching out to the community and
world around us. Our staff and building provides welcome space to community members to practice
their hobbies and have a ‘place’ to come.
We invested about $110,000. In responding to the needs of ‘building up the strength of our own
community’. Through faith development opportunities, fellowship activities, membership
conversations, community organizing for the bazaar, thrift shop etc, we have brought meaning and
purpose and energy to St. Aidan’s participants.
And it is working. We are stronger now than we
were last year. That is thanks to your generous
givings of time talent and treasure this past year. And
with the Spirits energy empowering us, your generous
contributions and all of us working together we’ll be
stronger next year.
$105,995 27%
$168,073 44%
$113,233 29%
Worship & Music
Telling Our Story & Reaching Out
CongregationalLife & Learning
St. Aidan’s United Church Stewardship Connection 2016-17 Page 6 of 11
All that we do, with all that we have, all the time.
You are part of the strong community of faith that
is St. Aidan’s, over 140 years old, whose mission is
to be a visible sign of God’s generous love. Our
forebearers laid a courageous foundation of
stewardship and service on which we build. With
God’s help, we are writing our chapter.
Your pledging makes it possible. Simply put,
pledging really helps. It makes our planning
possible. Over ½ of our operating budget comes
from congregational givings. Without your
pledge, there is no ministry, or congregation. Our
funding is from participants, present and past.
When new people join St. Aidans they may ask
what it takes to become a member. The answer is
that there are no requirements. Simply show up,
or ask to be included or cared for. Everyone is
included, and the services, benefits and community
of our church are offered freely as a result of the
giving of members of our church.
Stewardship: everything we do after we say, “I
believe.” As faith deepens, a member grows into
full participation by doing what the Gospel asks of
us — that we worship, pray, learn, serve and give
together, in thanksgiving and for the glory of
God.
Then giving becomes a spiritual practice. It helps us
to prioritize God as a habit. It becomes part of our
covenant, our sacred relationship with God, who
takes our offerings and makes of them much more
than we could expect or imagine.
WHAT IS A PLEDGE?
A pledge is an estimate of giving; some call it a
statement of intent.
WHY PLEDGE?
Pledging is a conscious choice that reflects your
faith and values. And your pledge allows our
Council to do the same: to budget courageously,
faithfully and wisely for the mission and ministry
to which God calls us.
HOW MUCH COULD I PLEDGE?
Your pledge is between you and God. We’ve
included the chart on page 10 for your
information and to help your Christian
Stewardship grow deeper.
HOW DO I PLEDGE?
Pledges may be made at any time by mailing in
an intention form. During the annual
stewardship connection month pledges may be
made through passing the pouch and at the
church office during the week or in the offering
plate on Sunday.
DOES MY PLEDGE REALLY MATTER?
It really does. Every pledge makes a difference.
Your commitment is as important as the amount.
WHAT IF I FIND I CAN’T PAY IT IN FULL?
A pledge is not a contract. Please don’t let
uncertainty prevent you from pledging. If your
circumstances change, you can let us know.
IS MY PLEDGE CONFIDENTIAL?
Yes. We have a long tradition of being very
discreet about pledges.
WHAT IF I CAN’T PLEDGE THIS YEAR?
Just check off of the option not to give on the
Intention form and return it.
Giving out of Abundance
St. Aidan’s United Church Stewardship Connection 2016-17 Page 7 of 11
Thank you for this opportunity to share some of the ways in which my life has been enriched by my church
experience throughout the years. I grew up in a family in which the theme was Never Enough! My father
had a good job, and we never experienced poverty. In fact although lots of poverty existed in our large
city, we managed to get through life without ever seeing it or talking about it. The needs of others were
never a topic of conversation. I just knew that we had to be very careful and frugal, and that there was
some sort of anxiety about this. Maybe my parents were scared by the Great Depression, and I know they
were raised in quite poor circumstances, so I can’t blame it all on their Scottish backgrounds.
When I was about six years old I discovered that some of my schoolmates went to Sunday School at a
United Church near my school. So I got myself there every Sunday morning and absolutely loved it. There
were stories, singing, crafts, and a loving welcome awaiting me. I developed a prayer life, and In later years
I joined the choir, taught Sunday School, went to church, and found an amazing resource of spiritual
enrichment and wonderful friends. I can’t imagine life without the values and examples of open-
heartedness that I found there. My family tolerated my interest, hoping I might out-grow my embarrassing
habit, and I tithed from my 25 cent allowance. I learned the joy of giving and sharing what I could in many
ways. And somehow I always have More Than Enough, and continue to take great pleasure in being able
to share it.
~An Anonymous Congregation Member
More Stories from St. Aidan’s Congregation
I have been a St. Aidan’s supporter for
over twenty years….and with good
reason! I spent most of my adult life
apart from the church because I couldn’t
believe in the “God in the Sky” theology
I was raised with.
My daughter lived in Victoria for awhile and she and her
children attended St. Aidan’s. They invited me to an Easter
Sunday service. I was dubious but agreed. I was promptly
swept away with a sense of openness and of the presence of
a loving God so I decided to look at church again.
Subsequent experiences at St. Aidan’s heightened that first
impression. It appeared that this congregation and its
ministers were theologically supportive of me and my ideas.
I was given back my Great Spirit which has enriched my life
immeasurably!
Over the years I have seen the effort St. Aidan’s makes to
serve the surrounding community. I have marvelled at the
many opportunities it offers to people of all persuasions to
find comfort, support and involvement. I am also proud of
the spiritual outreach activities which provide ways to help
the poor and homeless. I see St. Aidan’s as a beacon of hope-
not just for me but for my whole community.
~Gwen Armstrong
“God invites us to be Easter people—the
people who have a confident sense of
hope and trust. When we discover we are
Easter people, we begin to express God’s
presence in our lives; it becomes manifest
in a loving spirit of generosity.”
~Ken Callahan
St. Aidan’s United Church Stewardship Connection 2016-17 Page 8 of 11
Gifts to St. Aidan’s take
many forms….
Annual Pledges allow St. Aidans to make plans and
commitments for our ongoing operations, staff and
ministry work during the coming year.
Contributions towards your pledge can be made
throughout the year by various means:
PAR (Monthly) - Your donation is transferred
automatically from your bank account on the
20th of each month. St. Aidan’s pays no
commission on your givings.
Post-dated cheques
Weekly church offering envelopes that can be
ordered through the church office
Online: For added convenience, secure
donations can be made on-line on our
website at www.staidansunited.com (look
for the “Donate Now” button)
Anonymous giving by some folks who put
‘cash’ on the offering plate without pledging
or being identified. All gifts are appreciated
and we do encourage people who give to
identify themselves so they can be eligible for
an income tax receipt
Gifts of Time and Talent are given by many
people and are always valued. If this is a
time in your life when money is very tight,
we understand that you will return your
pledge form and let us know that this year
you are giving your time and talents
Longer Term Sustainable Giving
Gifts of Cash, Securities, current life
insurance policies, bonds, mutual funds
can make a big difference in the long
term sustainability of St. Aidan’s vibrant
ministry
Planned or Endowment Giving usually
comes as a bequest through your will
and makes your final witness to how
you have valued God in your life. If
you wish to continue to be present and
supportive after your death St. Aidan’s
will be very grateful and your
generosity will be remembered. You’ll
also make a big difference. Discuss this
with your family, your lawyer and St.
Aidan’s treasurers and/or staff for
further information.
Tax Receipts: All pledge donations and
other identifiable contributions are tax-
receiptable. You will receive a periodic
statement of your donations, and a tax
receipt at year-end.
If you have questions or wish more details about
any of the giving options,
Contact Paul Malnarich (Co-Treasurer) or
Kathryn Clinton at the Church Office.
“Generosity is giving more than you can,
and pride in taking less than you need.”
—Kahlil Gibran
St. Aidan’s United Church Stewardship Connection 2016-17 Page 9 of 11
Financial Information about St. Aidans Giving
Annual
Range # of
Givers
Group Total
(annual)
Annual
average per contributor
0-$100 42 $1,764 $42
101-500 33 $8,526 $258
501-1000 36 $26,549 $737
1001-2000 40 $53,884 $1,347
2001-4000 20 $52,565 $2,628
4001+ 12 $68,564 $5,714
Total 183 $211,852
$1,158
Did you know that St. Aidan’s members donate $32,000 each year to the Mission
& Service of the United Church of Canada in addition to their donations to St.
Aidan’s? Our generosity, together with all other United Church congregations
across the country, goes to support six program areas of Mission & Service work:
Global M&S, Theological Education, Community & Justice Work, Faith Formation,
Support to Local Ministries and Conference Leadership. As examples, Mission &
Service supports 89 global partners, 74 community ministries, 21 ecumenical and
network relationships and 7 theological schools.
Locally, M&S supports Our Place and other organizations in Victoria. For more
information about the work of M&S, there is an excellent brochure entitled
Mission & Service at a Glance – 2016 that is available through the church office
and in the church literature rack across from the church office.
In Summary: St. Aidan’s has 183 people who
give an average of $1,158 in the past year to
the ministry, offering a total of approximately
$211,852 out of a total budget of $400,000.
If you can only make one change this year,
please sign up for PAR - preauthorized
remittance. It really helps you to easily make
your gift of gratitude.
Merry Christmas St. Aidan’s!
In 2016 we reluctantly planned for a deficit budget but
dreamed for enough increase to balance by year
end. Our strategy is working! A positive balance to
our church books at year end is in sight. It looks like we
are within $15,000 of breaking even – and with a
congregation of about 140 households - reaching a
balance is definitely possible. Could you give a
Christmas gift to St. Aidan’s and help the congregation
really turn our budget upside down?
St. Aidan’s United Church Stewardship Connection 2016-17 Page 10 of 11
I’m happy to give to my church because, to paraphrase something
Cheryl once said, it is the only place where I can regularly sing
with other people. I’m not a good singer at all, but in church with
everyone else singing I feel free to join in.
Singing is also a metaphor for a number of ways the church
enriches my life. When people share their joys and sorrows with
the congregation, I feel enriched. I feel my life singing because I
get to take part in the human condition in a way that I can’t
otherwise. Perhaps if I had a large extended family it wouldn’t
mean that much, but I don’t so it does.
And I love the sermons. Almost always they’re entertaining as well as serious. Like strawberry rhubarb pie,
that’s an addictive combination of flavours. Sometimes, something Cheryl has said pops into my consciousness,
maybe months later, and makes my life better. For example, some time ago I was getting angry at an
inanimate object because it wasn’t behaving as I thought it should. Then I remembered some words from one
of Cheryl’s sermons. It was something about not feeding the wolf. I figured I was feeding the wolf by getting
stupidly angry, and I calmed down. My recollection of the sermon is hazy, and it probably wasn’t about anger
specifically, but that doesn’t matter. The sermon stuck with me in a useful way. But even if a sermon isn’t
useful to me in that practical sort of way, my life sings when I hear a sermon that speaks of important things
about living. Sermons regularly deal with topics that are important aspects of life - topics I don’t hear spoken
of outside church.
All this and fellowship too.
I’m happy to give to a church that lets me do so much singing. ~Blake Ford
Thanks to Blake for sharing his photos with us for this brochure.
More Than Enough …The Last Word
Giving Guidelines
As part of your personal financial planning, please remember that our current tax laws provide a tax credit
of 43.7% for any individual giving to the church in excess of $200.
This means that the net impact on your financial situation is much less than the gross amount contributed. If
you cannot use all of your charitable giving receipts in one year you can carry them forward 5 years.
St. Aidan’s United Church Stewardship Connection 2016-17 Page 11 of 11
Stewardship 2016
An Opportunity to Connect
at St. Aidan’s
Passing the Pouch
The St. Aidans congregation is divided into roughly 22
“pouch groups” (somewhat geographic) and, on
Stewardship Kick-Off Sunday, October 30, a pouch is
given to the first person on each pouch list – this person
is the Team Leader. Pouches are prepared with all of the
information required for people to review and discern
their response with their financial pledge (pledge form &
confidential envelope) and then, to pass the pouch
along to the next householder on the list.
When the pouch is passed along we ask the one who is
finished with it to phone the Team Leader and let them
know where the pouch is.
We ask that everyone fill in an Intention form – even if
you are unable to give this year. Indicating “no pledge
this year” and passing the pouch on to the next person
preserves your confidentiality. Everyone fills in a
confidential Intention Form. It takes roughly 3-4 weeks
for all the pouches to complete their journey and
people report that the process works quite smoothly.
Passing the Pouch is an opportunity for a strong element
of community and visitation when the next person on
the list is contacted and the pouch is delivered to them.
Sometimes this means a chat at the door, and at other
times, this means a conversation over tea or coffee. If
you have questions about “passing the pouch” or if you
feel that you have been missed on the pouch lists, please
contact Shirley or Roger Hannaford (250-721-5696),
Tony Smith (250-479-5676) or Kathryn Clinton in the
church office (250-477-2089).