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Our vision
includes "mindful
stewardship of our many talents and resources" as an important parish
value. We are stewards of the gifts with which God has blessed us. What we
do with these gifts ultimately defines the character of our life and the
depth of our spiritual understanding. Knowing that it is not how much we
have but what we do with what we have that is important, a Christian steward
serves God out of love and gratitude for these gifts.
Financial support is both symbolic and highly practical -
it allows the church to carry out its mission.
2008 Budget
Our 2008 budget is slightly over $74,000.
Click below to see our sources of income and how we plan to spend it.
Income
Expenses
2007 Financial Statements are available in the
Members Only area of the website.
Diocesan Support
The Vestry has set as a goal to provide 10%
of regular parish revenue to support the Diocese of Virginia. In 2007 we
pledged 5%. In 2008 we pledged 8%.
2008 Stewardship Campaign
2007 was a year of uncertainty, but also of renewal.
Our spiritual and psychological needs have been far greater than our
financial needs. Both have been met through God’s grace, the generosity of
many friends -- known and unknown, -- the steadying hand of our interim
Rector, and our own self-help. Uncertainty will still be with us in 2008,
but the certainty of having to prepare for the future is absolute. One of
our priorities will undoubtedly be to build a healthy reserve to help
finance operations once church property legal questions are settled. Funding
this reserve was an important part of our 2007 financial plan, and continues
as an important part of our
2008 budget.
How can I support St. Stephen's?
Every member of St. Stephen's can provide valuable support
to the parish.
Prayer. Every member, young
or old, strong or weak, can pray for St. Stephen's. The prayer For the
Parish on page 817 of the Book of Common Prayer asks God to "Strengthen
the faithful, arouse the careless, and restore the penitent." Your prayers
will help sustain St. Stephen's.
Time and Talent. Within the
life of St. Stephen's, there are many opportunities for members to
contribute their time and talent. These opportunities include working on the Outreach Team;
assuming a leadership role in the parish on the Vestry or on a committee; taking part in worship as a
lay reader, Eucharistic minister, usher, or part of the altar guild . You might sing in the choir, take part
in our educational programs, help in our social and fellowship activities. You might
even think of something that we're not doing today, and start a new program.
The opportunities are endless; and your help is needed!
Financial Support. St.
Stephen's also needs your financial support. St. Stephen's depends on the
voluntary offerings of its membership to rent our worship space and maintain
the parish house, pay the clergy and choir master, and carry out the
outreach programs of the parish. This year we will be putting a special
emphasis on setting aside a reserve
for expenses related to our return to St. Stephen's Church. Your
contribution, large or small, helps keep the parish going. How and how much
you choose to contribute to St. Stephen's is up to you. Your support,
though, is crucial.
Should I Pledge to St. Stephen's?
Only you can answer this question. Your Pledge is a
commitment to the parish: a promise that you intend to provide a
certain level of financial and other support in the next year. Your pledge is vital to St. Stephen's, because we depend
on it to plan for the future.
Pledges are the most important building block of the
budget - at St. Stephen's, pledges account for about 80% of the budgeted
operating income.
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