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ST. PAUL’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH MURFREESBORO STPAULSMBORO.ORG Stewardship – Reflection and Recommitment God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another. 1 Peter 4:10 We have chosen 1 Peter 4:10 to guide and direct us during our stewardship season. In this verse Peter speaks of the blessings that each one of us has received in Christ, encouraging us to share our blessings in the service of others. The verse challenges us to 1) name our blessings, and then to 2) “invest” in one another as we seek to be faithful stewards of all that God has gifted us. We are challenged to ask, “How can I channel the grace of God that I have experienced for the sake of my neighbor.” One of the blessings of the stewardship season is that it gives us a chance each year to re-evaluate our lives and once more commit ourselves to God and His mission for the world. Our hope is that this Epistle helps you as you reflect on your own stewardship. As part of this Epistle we have asked parishioners to share how St. Paul’s impacts their lives and why they have decided to support the church with their time, talent and treasure. You will read stories of the transforming love of God, and how parishioners share God’s grace in Jesus’ name. One of the joys of my work is that I get to see, more than most, how the ministry of St. Paul’s impacts the lives of parishioners and the community. There are countless stories of healing and reconciliation, countless stories of transformation and renewal that are the direct result of St. Paul’s and its ministry. You and your faithful stewardship make this work possible. You are stewards who have helped this congregation make a real difference in the life of our community. Without you we could not have great worship services; we could not do great work in the neighborhood; we could not support families as they grow in the teachings of Christ within a supportive faith community. My hope is that you use this stewardship season as a time of reflection and recommitment to God’s mission in the world. Trisha and I will be joining you in this work of reflection and recommitment. Each year, as part of this recommitment, we have increased our financial giving; and we will do the same for 2019. We will be celebrating Stewardship Sunday On Sunday, October 21, at all three services. On Stewardship Sunday we invite you to express your commitment to St. Paul’s through the use of a pledge card. In the service we Responding to God’s Abundant Blessings Our Vision, Our Mission - making a financial commitment to the work of St. Paul’s is about living our mission – to worship God, bring all into a loving relationship with Jesus Christ, and equip all for ministry. Our Stewardship Wine & Cheese gatherings are providing us the opportunity to share fellowship, discuss our gratitude for the role St. Paul’s plays in our lives, and prepare fully for Stewardship Sunday, October 21, when we bring our pledge cards to the offering at the Sunday services. Consider the financial commitment required to have great worship services; do great work in the community; grow your family in the teachings of Christ and have the support of a faith community. Your generosity helps fund the engine that sustains St. Pauls’ mission and makes possible the ministries that cultivate our Christian life. OCTOBER 2018 Continued on page 2 Colin Ambrose Interim Rector STEWARDSHIP Continued on page 2 Our vision Our mission worship | bring | equip Stewardship 2019 October 21, Stewardship Sunday

STEWARDSHIP OCTOBER 2018 Responding to God’s Abundant Blessings€¦ · encouraging us to share our blessings in the service of others. The verse challenges us to 1) name our blessings,

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Page 1: STEWARDSHIP OCTOBER 2018 Responding to God’s Abundant Blessings€¦ · encouraging us to share our blessings in the service of others. The verse challenges us to 1) name our blessings,

S T . P A U L ’ S E P I S C O P A L C H U R C H • M U R F R E E S B O R O • S T P A U L S M B O R O . O R G

Stewardship – Reflection and Recommitment

God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another. 1 Peter 4:10

We have chosen 1 Peter 4:10 to guide and direct

us during our stewardship season. In this verse Peter speaks of the blessings that each one of us has received in Christ, encouraging us to share our blessings in the service of others. The verse challenges us to 1) name our blessings, and then to 2) “invest” in one another as we seek to be faithful stewards of all that God has gifted us. We are challenged to ask, “How can I channel the grace of God that I have experienced for the sake of my neighbor.”

One of the blessings of the stewardship season is that it gives us a chance each year to re-evaluate our lives and once more commit ourselves to God and His mission for the world. Our hope is that this Epistle helps you as you reflect on your own stewardship. As part of this Epistle we have asked parishioners to

share how St. Paul’s impacts their lives and why they have decided to support the church with their time, talent and treasure. You will read stories of the transforming love of God, and how parishioners share God’s grace in Jesus’ name. One of the joys of my work is that I get to see, more than most, how the ministry of St. Paul’s impacts the lives of parishioners and the community. There are countless stories of healing and reconciliation, countless stories of transformation and renewal that are the direct result of St. Paul’s and its ministry.You and your faithful stewardship make this work possible. You are stewards who have helped this congregation make a real difference in the life of our community. Without you we could not have great worship services; we could not do great work in the neighborhood; we could not support families as they grow in the teachings of Christ within a supportive faith community. My hope is that you use this stewardship season as a time of reflection and recommitment to God’s mission in the world. Trisha and I will be joining you in this work of reflection and recommitment. Each year, as part of this recommitment, we have increased our financial giving; and we will do the same for 2019.

We will be celebrating Stewardship Sunday On Sunday, October 21, at all three services. On Stewardship Sunday we invite you to express your commitment to St. Paul’s through the use of a pledge card. In the service we

Responding to God’s Abundant BlessingsOur Vision, Our Mission - making a financial commitment to the work of St. Paul’s is about living our mission – to worship God, bring all into a loving relationship with Jesus Christ, and equip all for ministry.

Our Stewardship Wine & Cheese gatherings are providing us the opportunity to share fellowship, discuss our gratitude for the role St. Paul’s plays in our lives, and prepare fully for Stewardship Sunday, October 21, when we bring our pledge cards to the offering at the Sunday services.

Consider the financial commitment required to have great worship services; do great work in the community; grow your family in the teachings of Christ and have the support of a faith community. Your generosity helps fund the engine that sustains St. Pauls’ mission and makes possible the ministries that cultivate our Christian life.

O C T O B E R 2 0 1 8

Continued on page 2

Colin AmbroseInterim Rector

S T E W A R D S H I P

Continued on page 2

Our visionOur missionworship | bring | equip

Stewardship 2019October 21, Stewardship Sunday

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S T . P A U L ’ S E P I S C O P A L C H U R C H • M U R F R E E S B O R O • S T P A U L S M B O R O . O R G 2

Colin Continued from page 1will collect the cards and offer them to God on His altar. (Pledge cards will be mailed to parishioners in early October.)

Again, thank you for your continued support of St. Paul’s. I believe that there is no vision more compelling than the vision and mission of the church. I am honored that I get to serve with you as we seek to worship God, bring all into a loving relationship with Jesus Christ, and equip all for ministry.

Blessings, Blessings Continued from page 1God is the giver of all good gifts and provider of all good things. We as a community want to be a part of God’s good works. As with the loaves and fishes, God blesses our gifts and multiplies them for the good of others.

Stewardship pledge cards will be mailed to parishioners in early October. Please take inspiration from the following accounts from our fellow parishioners as you reflect on your commitment of support for St. Paul’s for 2019.

Mike BeckerStewardship Chair

Joyful Easter and BaptismCheri Frame

St. Paul’s is a community of inviting, caring individuals who come together to worship and share our diverse opinions in a friendly non-pushy environment.

My favorite memories of St. Paul’s are of Easter Sunday. We baptized both of our daughters - Sloane in 2015 and Fallon in 2018 - on Easter Sunday. The pews are packed with everyone dressed in their spring best, the whole congregation pledges with you to support your child in the life of the church, and who could miss out on the beautiful Easter cookies that Kent Sterling makes?

Since Mark and I have young children, the Parents Night Out program that Dierdri heads up is a must-do every month. Sloane loves the themes, crafts and fellowship of the other children. Recently, Sloane has also been old enough to attend children’s church and catechesis and has enjoyed her time in both programs. It has definitely piqued her curiosity and understanding of church.

My personal outreach has been my involvement of several years with the Boys and Girls Clubs of Rutherford County, where I currently serve as President-Elect.

We give to St. Paul’s because it has given our family a church home and a place to belong.

cheri and mark frame and family WORSHIP 8:30SERVE Boys and Girls Clubs of Rutherford CountyGIVE We are pledgers and also givers . When we have an unexpected financial blessing, we like to share that with our church.

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A Sanctuary and Stabilizing ForceClaire Bradford

St. Paul’s is my stabilizing force, my sanctuary from the world and a place of love in my life. It is a major reason I stay in Murfreesboro.

The most powerful experience I’ve had at St. Paul’s was standing before the congregation and sharing the story of love and support surrounding the death of my husband four years ago. I have experienced so many good things at St. Paul’s - ECW, Pilgrimage, Cursilllo, Christian Education, serving as chalice bearer - all have contributed to my growth as a Christian. But one of the most wonderful things I do at St. Paul’s is simply to be present for worship. To rise and kneel, pray, sing and listen - simply to worship and to let God love me has great meaning for me.

Serving as eucharistic minister - chalice bearer - has been particularly meaningful to me at St. Paul’s. Regular worship, special services such as funerals, etc., have provided me with an opportunity to stand at that “thin place between heaven and earth” - the altar - and to look into the faces of parishioners who come to the rail and remind me we are all together in this life.

I give to St. Paul’s because God gives to me through St. Paul’s.

A Joyful NoiseChristine Brosend

St. Paul’s is a church filled with warm, loving, accepting and compassionate people. This is where you can always count on cheery greetings and heartfelt hugs! I feel good to be part of a Christian community that not only cares for its own but is also hands-and-bodies actively present in the Murfreesboro community. One can find a niche that brings joy to serving Christ here or even start your own group as you feel called. It’s all good!

My first Christmas Eve here in 2015 was particularly difficult because I was alone and going through a divorce. My dear new friends in the choir made sure that I was occupied all evening long with singing engagements until it was time to sing our midnight service. I could feel the love and support from all my new friends at St. Paul’s, knowing they were holding me up with prayers and hugs. I will never forget the impact this had on me at such a vulnerable time.

As you can guess by now, I am a member of St.Paul’s choir. Singing is what I most love to do! It is a joy to make music with others who love to sing. Angela is professional, but also fun to work with. Her music selection is intuitive and tasteful and sometimes challenging! I feel blessed to help lead worship through music.

I give to St. Paul’s because that’s the way I was raised, and also because I feel it’s an important practice of gratitude.

claire bradford and familyWORSHIP 11:00SERVE Eucharistic Minister; ECW; Pilgrimage; Cursillo; Christian EducationGIVE I pledge when I can and I give at other times

christine brosend WORSHIP 11:00SERVE St. Paul’s ChoirGIVE Pledger

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A Welcoming and Loving CommunityDan Felciano

Thirteen years ago, Carole and I could not even spell “Murfreesboro,” even as we were travelling across the country to our new home. Carole had accepted a transfer with the company where she worked, and the opportunity seemed right at that stage in our lives to try something new and refreshing. Having both been raised as Christians, one of our first priorities when we arrived in town was to establish a church home. The welcoming team that greeted us on that October morning were Ed McClung and Tim Seneker. What a team, what a welcoming and loving community of people at St. Paul’s! As we were to learn later, St. Paul’s is noted for its hospitality.

Not having the DNA to just sit in the pew, we both became involved in several ministries and started to form relationships with fellow parishioners that have grown over the years. Neither of us was familiar with the term Time, Talent and Treasure, so when the church offered the Gifts & Talents Workshop, we were excited to participate. At the conclusion of that course, it became evident to us that, in Christian and biblical stewardship, God owns everything; we are simply managers or administrators acting on His behalf. Understanding this concept, it was now time to put the plan into action. From that moment to the present, we have pledged to the Stewardship Campaign annually.

As a downtown church, St. Paul’s has the responsibility to serve the local people of God who need a helping hand. Liz Huber, the Assistant to the Rector for Outreach, has done an outstanding job bringing ministries to this segment of our population. New to Outreach is our Connect Program, providing a supportive location for people to come and address their financial needs and other problems they may be facing. This is a very worthwhile program with which I am honored to serve.

On May 8th of this year, Carole had major back surgery and was also diagnosed with cancer. Yes, the news was devastating,

alarming, shocking – and any other adjective that comes to mind. But after taking a deep breath and praying, we realized that God was in charge and, if we just listened and had faith, the outcome would be positive. When our church family was made aware of the situation, the response was overwhelming and still brings a tear to my eye: prayers from Daughters of the King and church members, Communion at home on a weekly basis, get-well cards and wishes, phone calls, texts, and all kinds and types of meals. I will admit that some days are harder than others, but with God’s outstretched hand always on our shoulder and tremendous support, love and encouragement from our church family, this journey is being made a lot easier. Thank you, church family!

One thing we know for sure: we are right where we are supposed to be, both literally and figuratively. God has made sure of that. And we believe that God led us to St. Paul’s 13 years ago when we first moved to Murfreesboro because He knew this church would be a large part of our family story. We now know how to spell “Murfreesboro,” and sometimes we even say “y’all.”

carole and dan felcianoWORSHIP We enjoy and attend both 8:30 and 11:00 for some diversity of worshipSERVE Gifts & Talents Workshop; Stewardship Committee; Connect ProgramGIVE Pledgers

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A Church Home that Enriches Our LivesKeith and Lauren Gamble

We have made St. Paul’s our new church home in Murfreesboro. We value the love and support that St. Paul’s provides within the congregation and to the surrounding community. We recently purchased a historic home near the battlefield that was used as a Union field hospital during the Civil War. Our son John’s room even has blood stains that remain on the hardwood floor. We had the great benefit of a home blessing from Father Colin. This simple ceremony provides a room-by-room message of love and support. John’s room got an extra sprinkling of holy water from Father Colin, and so far no ghosts have appeared. We highly recommend it! Daphne and John benefit greatly from the many wonderful activities and supportive teachers in the children’s ministry where Lauren is a group leader at vacation bible school. During our car trip to Chicago this summer we listened to and sang together the VBS songs a half dozen times each. We value the fact that these messages of Christ’s love in our children’s ministry resonate with our children. We are thankful that we can support financially the many activities and people of St. Paul’s, which enrich our lives and our community. We plan our financial gift for the year and make it an automatic payment each month.

Our Church, Our FamilyPaul and Donna Long

I think it is safe to say that our family has found a home at St. Paul’s. We were fairly connected to our last church, but we can’t imagine changing churches now. We are family!

Both of our daughters were married at St. Paul’s. Our son made Eagle Scout through First Methodist, and there was a nice, full page article in the paper. That next Sunday, the article was pinned to the bulletin board in the Parish Hall. Lastly, while I was in Erlanger Hospital recovering from an accident, we received a pile of cards from fellow parishioners. Needless to say, we were moved to tears.

Donna taught Sunday School years ago, and I am an usher, member of the “sound crew” and have worked on Habitat projects. All these ministries have blessed us in one way or another.

We give to St. Paul’s because we feel that the Church is accountable, and truly does its best to be a good steward of the gifts that we provide. We have been pledgers since the days of the “Saddle Bags”.

lauren and keith gamble and familyWORSHIP We love the 8:30 service.SERVE Children’s MinistryGIVE Pledgers

donna and paul youngWORSHIP 8:30SERVE Sunday School teacher; Usher; Sound Crew; Habitat BuildGIVE Pledgers

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Intentional Participation in LiturgyGeorge Carlson

St. Paul’s is the preponderance of my “family.” With my biological family spread from England to California (and the closest 700+ miles away), St. Paul’s is where I can interact with others who truly care about me. I do have maybe six individuals/families outside of St. Paul’s who are close friends. But having come to Middle Tennessee as a retiree 12 years ago, St. Paul’s was my major source of new friends.

While I have many great memories of my life at St. Paul’s, my favorite may have been the dedication service for the new organ. My love of music as a vehicle to worship God was totally fulfilled that day!

My strongest connection to my faith life has always been through the liturgy. I started serving as an acolyte some 63 years ago. My first experience as the acolyte master was some 34 years ago and as a verger 16 years ago. My role as acolyte master, beyond the obvious of teaching the youth “what to do,” is to help them gain an appreciation for how intentional participation in the liturgy helps to focus their spiritual life. My goal is to have youth who find serving to be meaningful and who desire to continue serving in some form of liturgical participation on into adulthood.

The verger’s role has three main components. First is to assist in the planning of the liturgy from a functional perspective - how to arrange participants and move them from one place to another. The second is in organizing participants immediately preceding the start of a service. And the third, which is seldom needed at St. Paul’s, is to be vested and leading a procession to ensure it gets where it is going in an orderly fashion. I know that my serving as verger helps take some of the load off Father Colin at a time when he is stretched thin, and allows St. Paul’s to continue to benefit from his talents with at least one set of mundane but essential tasks “off his plate.”

I give to St. Paul’s because our church has a diverse and balanced program of outreach, in-reach, and pastoral care that benefits our entire community.

george carlsonWORSHIP I am currently present for all but participate predominantly at 11:00. SERVE Verger; Acolyte Master; St. Paul’s ChoirGIVE I pledge for the ongoing support of St. Paul’s and give to specific actions when they are important to me and to St. Paul’s mission.

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A Community of WorshipTerri and Mike Donovan

Being members of St. Paul’s means being part of a larger community of people who come together to worship God and learn more about what that really means on a daily basis.

We recently participated in the newcomers classes on three Sunday mornings, which gave us a chance to meet other new parishioners, hear their thoughts and learn more about St. Paul’s today. We thought the three-Sunday approach provided a really good overview and introduction, and was very doable from a practical standpoint.

This summer, we helped out with the summer Senior Luncheon, preparing the cookout food and grilling the burgers. We really enjoyed seeing how much the older adults have fun getting together and celebrating their birthdays every quarter.

We give to St. Paul’s because of the commitment we have made to the church and to fulfill our own spiritual commitment to God. Giving to the church is part of our own belief system, so it starts there. Plus, we want St. Paul’s to be around for a long time as well, with strong programs and outreach, plus good clergy, for our neighbors and our community.

A Sacred Home in my Spiritual JourneyPreston Akers

St. Paul’s seems to mean more and more to me, the longer I’m here and the more wonderful people I meet. It has become a sacred home to me in my spiritual journey.

One of my fondest memories at St. Paul’s has been my experience in Pilgrimage. It was such a wonderful time, getting to know fellow parishioners and our Episcopalian heritage.

There are so many exciting ways to get involved in St Paul’s! The ministry which means the most to me, and the ministry which originally brought me to St. Paul’s, is EfM. It has been my honor to be a part of that ministry for the last 8 years. I also enjoy teaching Sunday school, serving as a Eucharistic minister, in St. Paul’s shepherding ministry and on the stewardship committee.

terri and mike donovanWORSHIP 8:30SERVE Senior LuncheonGIVE Pledgers

preston akers (with his sister and mother) WORSHIP 11:00SERVE Pilgrimage; EfM; Eucharistic Minister; Shepherding Ministry; Stewardship CommitteeGIVE Giver

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Support and Spiritual Growth for ParentsSteve Poleskey

St. Paul’s is my spiritual refuge and home. It’s also an important part of my community within Murfreesboro.

We moved to Murfreesboro in August of 2016. During our first service, someone invited us to the back-to-school picnic that was happening the next Saturday. Not wanting to deprive our son of a bouncy house opportunity, we came and were amazed with how many people made a point to welcome us and invite us to other family events happening at the church. We’ve been loyal St. Paul’s members ever since and continue to build on the relationship seeds we sowed that day. I’m a regular at the Sunday morning Parents Education Group. I’ve found this to be a great way to connect with other St. Paul’s members actively enduring the highs and lows of parenting. Colin, Kris and all the other leaders do a great job balancing deeper spiritual exploration, practical parenting ideas and general community-building.

We give because St. Paul’s is an important part of Murfreesboro and our life. We want to support its work and continued growth.

molly and steve poleskey and family WORSHIP 8:30 (We aspire to the great music of the 11:00 once our kids stop napping)SERVE Parents Education GroupGIVE Pledgers

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A Community of Support and Spiritual GrowthMargaret Ordoubadian

Being a part of St. Paul’s has been one of the great blessings of my life. As a young mother of four, I joined St. Paul’s when our dear friend Franklin Ferguson became the rector. He and Betsy had been our friends in Bell Buckle since 1959. As the years passed and rectors came and went, I was involved with Christian Education both for children and adults, Vestry (I was one of the first two women elected to the Vestry), EfM, Gifts & Talents Workshop, and Catechesis of the Good Shepherd training and facilitating.

More important than my opportunities to learn and serve, however, were the support and spiritual growth afforded our family. Our children and grandchildren are direct beneficiaries of St. Paul’s presence in our lives. Even when, as adults, they may not be churchgoing, their association with Father Ferguson and other members of the St. Paul’s family, particularly John and Martha Worley, molded our children in ways I can recognize but not explain. I do not believe our children would have become the people they are today without St. Paul’s.

A memorable Sunday service was the day that Father Ferguson preached a sermon in which he spoke in favor of keeping St. Paul’s a downtown church. We had purchased a lot on Clark Boulevard and even consecrated the land with plans to build a church there and abandon the East Main location. His sermon was so powerful and convincing that the whole congregation (so far as I remember) agreed to sell the land on Clark and do what we could with what we had. We have only to look around on Sunday mornings to see his vision realized.

After spending four years in EfM, I along with three others from St. Paul’s began the training for Catechesis consisting of two years of monthly sessions in Nashville in order to teach children ages 3-6. We spent another two years preparing to teach children ages 6-9. I went to California two summers for two weeks at a time to qualify to teach ages 9-12. As rewarding as EfM was, I found these years of learning and teaching to be

even more so. In the early years, we had as many as 40 adults contributing their time and talents to provide the materials needed for the atrium. With the children, I began to realize what it means to participate more fully in the liturgy. Now that Journey to Adulthood has been added, I believe that the children at St. Paul’s are blessed beyond measure.

At my age, I see my role with other seniors as holding the field for those who will follow, and one way of holding the field is to pledge what I can. I give to St. Paul’s because I am thankful for all the blessings of this life. I give to St. Paul’s because of all it has meant to me and to our family. I give to St. Paul’s because I am sure that its presence in our community will provide, now and in the future, solace and spiritual sustenance to persons unknown to me

margaret ordoubadian WORSHIP 8:30SERVE Christian Education, Vestry, EfM, Gifts & Talents Workshop; Catechesis of the Good ShepherdGIVE Pledger

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2018 Budget Update

This has been a challenging year for St. Paul’s as we go through a period of transition in searching for a new Rector. How are we doing financially during this time

of change? I would like to give you an update on our financial performance this year and share some thoughts as we approach our 2019 Stewardship Campaign.

As can be seen in this year-to-date financial summary, through August, contributions have run about 5% below budget. This gap may well decrease as we approach the year’s end and members ‘catch up’ on their pledges.

On expenses, the 2018 budget was set at a level to support two priests, reflecting the funding level needed

when we do bring a new rector on staff. Since we have been working with only Father Colin as Interim Rector with the help of supply priests, actual clergy expenses have been about 41% below budget level, providing significant ‘breathing room’ on expenses. Non-clergy expenses have in fact seen some upward pressure, running about 3% above budget. Most of this has fallen in building operations and maintenance, with utilities running above budget and with significant unplanned expenses required to repair our heating and air conditioning systems.

Please honor your pledge for the current yearOverall, through August we have generated a positive cash flow of $6,931 for this year. If all income and expenses had been at budget levels, we would be in a negative cash flow position year to date, due to seasonal patterns in giving, so having a positive net cash flow at this point is good news. The bad news is that we have seen a noticeable shortfall in contributions versus plan and have also seen upward pressure on some of our operating expenses. As we work toward the end of 2018, please keep in mind your pledge commitments for this

year to help us close the contribution gap and finish 2018 in a strong financial position.Our Vision, Our Mission – Stewardship 2019As we look to our 2019 Stewardship campaign and Stewardship Sunday on October 21, please consider prayerfully your pledge for next year. Remember that the budget for next year will be set primarily on the dollar amount of pledges received from the parish during the Stewardship Campaign, and we need your committed support so that we may plan responsibly. Working with only one full-time priest has given us some financial flexibility this year, but we do need a strong response to our stewardship campaign to be prepared financially for the future in terms of supporting a new rector, supporting new initiatives, and meeting increases in our ongoing operating expenses.

Wonderful things are happening at St. Paul’s due to your gifts of time, talent and treasure. Thank you for all you so faithfully do to reflect God’s love and generosity in our community and our world.

Joe CadeTreasurer

YEAR TO DATE THROUGH AUGUST 2018

Actual Budget Difference

Income $605,755 $639,786 -$34,031

Expenses

Operating Expenses $540,835 $608,529 -$67,694

Debt Principal Reduction $57,989 $56,000 +$1,989

Total Expenses $598,824 $664, 529 -$65,705

Net Cash Flow +$6,931 -$24,743 +$31,674

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S T . P A U L ’ S E P I S C O P A L C H U R C H • M U R F R E E S B O R O • S T P A U L S M B O R O . O R G 11

Rector Search Update

“Almighty God, Giver of Every Good Gift . . .”

With these words the parish begins the now familiar prayer for a new rector from the Book of Common Prayer. The Search C o m m i t t e e

prays this prayer together during every meeting. Many of you have also been praying it in daily time with God through this period of transition for our church. Especially during this season of stewardship, it is important and wonderful to contemplate “every good gift” that God has bestowed on his people at St. Paul’s. And, particularly at this time of searching for a new rector, it is good to remember all that God has done for our church.

The recent 125th anniversary celebration was a great reminder of God’s many gifts to St. Paul’s over its long history. Our traditions of beautiful worship and music, Christian education and development, hospitality, and loving kindness towards each other are bestowed by God and nurtured through good stewardship. The two recent Listening Sessions sponsored by the Rector Search Committee allowed parishioners to give voice to other treasured gifts God has given our parish, such as our sense of community and fellowship. Many people noted our appreciation of diversity, our experience of intimacy within a diverse group, our philosophy of outreach, and our lay leadership and organization. Remarks from various church members were very moving and heartfelt in their love for our community of believers here. These responses to God’s abundant generosity were joyful and loving, year-round and life-long!

The Church Assessment Tool (CAT), in which so many of you participated during July and August, has also

revealed several other good gifts with which God has blessed our parish. On Sunday, October 14, at 9:45 a.m., the Search Committee will be sharing with the parish the interpretation of the CAT as provided to us by our Holy Cow consultant. We invite everyone to attend and hear a summary of the many things that St. Paul’s does well and the challenges attendant in these blessings as we move into the future with a new rector.

Let us approach this time together in thanksgiving for the careful stewardship of St. Paul’s many gifts over many years by our devoted members and clergy. We have a fresh opportunity in our rector search to discern how we use all the gifts we have been given to support and advance God’s mission on earth. As He has been so generous in giving gifts, we trust He will also provide a faithful pastor who will care for us and equip us for our ministries. Thanks be to God!

Alicia HollisChair, Rector Search Committee

An Invitation from the Rector Search Committee

Presentation of CAT ResultsSunday, October 14, 9:45 a.m

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The Mission of St. Paul’s Church is to worship God, bring all into a loving relationship with Jesus Christ, and equip all for ministry.

116 North Academy StreetMurfreesboro, Tennessee 37130stpaulsmboro.org

Our visionOur missionworship | bring | equip

Stewardship 2019October 21, Stewardship Sunday

StewardshipSundayOctober 21, 2018

Responding to God’s Abundant BlessingsParishioners bring their Pledge Cards to the OfferingChildren bring their Mite Boxes to the Offering