And taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven, and blessed and broke them, and gave them to the disciples to set before the crowd. And all ate and were filled. What was left over was gathered up, twelve baskets of broken pieces. Luke 9:16-17, NRSV
Dear Fellow St. Martin’s parishioner,
When I was first asked to serve as your Senior Warden, I had no idea what an honor it would turn out to be. More than being the chair of our leadership, I have had the opportunity throughout the year to witness the many ways you contribute to the church and to our neighbors. While we do spend a lot of time in vestry meetings talking about our own finances and operations, we also make certain we spend time discussing how we can serve our neighbors and focus our work on the world.
More Than Enough, our campaign for this year’s pledge campaign, calls us to remember that when we share what we have with the world, miracles happen. Our theology of giving focuses on the three-legged stool of Wealth, Works, and Wisdom, the ways in which we make our gifts to the world. In today’s letter, I would like to focus on Works.
In his epistle, St. James reminds us that our faith and our works are both necessary to activate our true calling as Christians. It is not enough to simply believe; we must act on that faith to serve our neighbors and change the world. You do this all the time, in so many ways.
Your works are not just about the programs our church sponsors or arranges in our community, or the things we pray for on Sundays; they are also about the way you raise your family, pursue your career, participate in the civic life of our community, volunteer your time in schools, shelters, and social causes. We are called to be the body, and I have seen you be the hands, heart, and head of God in our community. Inspired and informed by your faith, you give so much to our neighbors.
Thank you. Thank you for all that you do for the Church and for the world. In a couple of weeks, you will be receiving an invitation to pledge your gifts for the year to come. I ask that you pray with us as we launch our annual gathering of gifts and gratitude, and consider how you will contribute your gift of work.
With humble thanks,
Tom Allen
Senior Warden