2024 Pledge to St. Mary's
“for my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples.” Isaiah 56:7
Everybody is In! St. Mary’s 2024 Annual Appeal
These are God’s astounding words proclaimed by the prophet Isaiah. The exiled Israelites were being promised not just their rescue and redemption, but that God’s “house” would be open to all people, even the ones who the Israelites had excluded. God, who creates us all, lovingly proclaims Everybody is In!!
St. Mary’s strives to be a place where we receive the love of God and bear Christ into the world. As a part of that call, we seek to be a space where everyone can find a place to belong and to be of service. Our ministries span the generations and vary from affinity groups, governance committees, formation opportunities, outreach, pastoral care, and so many, many more. And let us not forget the wonderful Sunday worship experiences! St. Mary’s is the only Episcopal Church in the diocese, and one of only a handful in the nation, that offers four unique worship services each Sunday. We actively embody God’s promise that Everybody is in.
One of the most powerful ways that we can “be in” at St. Mary’s is through a financial pledge. This is a giving estimate of the level of financial support you intend to give for the upcoming year. One of St. Mary’s strengths is the abundant and generous people who give meaningfully of their financial means to make all that happens at St. Mary’s possible.
This year, we are asking you to considering increasing your level of financial support.
In my Father’s house there are many dwelling-places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also.
John 14: 2-3
During his final meal with his beloved disciples, Jesus could sense their fear. While he knew his path was to the cross and resurrection, they only knew the uncertainty of being in “the city that kills its prophets.” Jesus, wanting to comfort and assure them, gave them a metaphor of “Home.”
Ideally, Home is a place where we are safe, where we are comforted. A place where we know and are known by those we love, where we experience safety and comfort, relationship and joy. Home is a place of great love.
Home is also a place of becoming. A space of ritual, routine, and formation so that we may be who we were meant to be in the world. Home is not simply a place to return to, but to go out from as well.
For many people, and hopefully for you, St. Mary’s is their spiritual home. This sense of belonging has been so vitally important in recent years as so much of our daily lives and relationships have been challenged. St. Mary’s has been a place through worship, fellowship, formation, and service where we can fill ourselves with grace and feel at home.
And like our own homes St. Mary’s, is also a place to be sent from as well. We are well trained to go forth as instruments of grace and bear the sense of belonging to all we meet and wherever we are.
What a great gift it is to have such a place of comfort and love, of purpose and meaning. A place to call Home.
And this great gift is only possible through an even greater gift, your partnership and generosity. St. Mary’s is possible because of the grace of God and people like yourself, who give of themselves and their resources so that we may continue to receive the love of God and bear Christ into the world.
Each year we ask you to prayerfully consider supporting God’s mission at St. Mary’s by making a meaningful financial pledge to the annual budget. I invite you to once again take that transformative leap of faith and commit to supporting God’s mission and ministry here at St. Mary’s.
Pledges may be brought to church or mailed using the card and envelope provided. You may also make your pledge online at smvsf.org/pledge. If you have any questions about making a pledge, please don’t hesitate to contact me.
Thank you for your partnership and support in God’s amazing work at St. Mary’s. Thank you for making this a place to call Home.
Grace and peace,
Rev. David Erickson
From our parishioners. David Gibson "St. Mary's is our home and we are all in. That means we give our time, talent and treasure."
Thank you for your pledge. If you would like to make a payment or set up recurring payments, please click here.
Your Pledge to St. Mary's
