PARISH DEVELOPMENT

We have received a great treasure from generations who came before and built this parish into the vibrant faith community we know today. We are now the stewards of this great gift, and bear the responsibility to pass it along to the generations who will come after us. 

Our awareness of this responsibility is the driving force behind our efforts at Parish Development. It is a noble thing to plant and care for a tree whose shade you will never enjoy.  Our role as members of St. John the Beloved 2007 calls us to   exactly this type of selfless fidelity toward future members of this parish. We are compelled to lay a foundation which will  ensure that the priceless legacy of this community of faith endures. Below you will see several ways our efforts today can preserve this parish for those who will come after us. 

THE CAPITAL CAMPAIGN

We are quickly approaching the successful completion of the building of our new parish expansion. This is a great milestone in the history of the parish, and we can all share a sense of accomplishment and joy as we witness the unfolding events. Any gift given to the Capital Building Campaign now, strengthens the future of the parish by allowing us to avoid expensive finance charges. By supporting the campaign at this critical time, you strengthen the parish in the short term, and you help bring to fruition the vision of this community for generations to come. Thank you for your generosity. Togehter, we are sprinting to the finish.

Together, We are building the Future.

THE WEEKLY OFFERTORY

The importance of the weekly offertory is often Underestimated. It is, simply put, the life-blood of all that we do as a community. The Holy Spirit challenges us, and scripture commands that we continue the work of Jesus Christ for as long as we walk this earth. At the parish of St. John the Beloved, we do this together as a community acting in faith.  

Every time a ladel of soup is poured for a homeless person, every time an elderly person is rescued from life-threatening heat or cold, every time a family's cry for help is responded to, it is YOUR offering that makes it possible. Every time a child hears an inspiring story in a faith formation class telling  how much God loves her, you are there, because your gift has made that class possible. When a person calls for a priest in a time of emergency, you enable that call, because your gift keeps the telephone working, and sustains the priest so that he can be there when he is needed. 

Everyone struggles with budgetary restraints. But we cannot escape the fact that Scripture and Church tradition both clearly teach that we have a direct responsibility to share our financial resources with those in need, by supporting the work of the Church. The best way to approach offertory giving is to commit a percentage of what you receive, BEFORE you receive it. This follows the model of giving the "first fruits" of each harvest.

If you are not in the habit of tithing a percentage of your income to the church, this may seem like an impossible idea. Rest assured it is not impossible. God promises to reward our generosity, and to not be outdone. Take a baby step of faith, and commit to give some small percentage of what you earn. Then, watch and see what happens. Many, many witnesses will testify that you will not suffer loss as a result of tithing. In fact, you will not only see that your needs are met, you will experience a tremendously exciting growth in your spiritual life.  Put God first in your budget, and in your life, and you will be blessed. This is the stuff of true wealth.

THE ENDOWMENT FUND

We all know that the economy, like most things, moves in cycles. There have always been, and will always be, highs and lows, good years, and bad years. Businesses, schools, and yes, even churches, are vulnerable to the fickle movements of the economy unless they have laid up stores for themselves to sustain them through the lean years. Other unexpected problems such as a catastrophic natural event can leave a parish in ruins, if the community has not had the foresight to plan for the eventuality of crisis.

This is more than just a practical idea. This concept is deeply rooted in scripture. The purpose of our endowment fund is to ensure the parish is not vulnerable to any short term down turn or crisis that may occur in the future.

The parish endowment is a permanent fund, which is invested so that it will produce a yield year after year. The principle of this fund can never be spent. Only the interest may be used to meet unforseen parish needs.  By investing in the parish endowment fund, you are literally sowing seeds that will bear fruit from now on.  

One practical and powerful way to build up this fund is to bequeath a portion of your estate to the endowment. We all struggle to give as much as we would like to the regular offertory on a week by week basis. Naming the endowment fund in your will, or as a beneficiary on a life insurance policy is a generous and thoughtful way to give a gift that will still be bearing fruit long after you have gone home to our Lord.  Future generations will thank you for your goodness when you invest in the Parish Endowment Fund.  Please consider giving the gift that will live forever.