Dear Church Family,
I pray that you are having a wonderfully blessed week!
I am excited to announce that two families from our Next Steps this past Sunday will be joining our church this coming Sunday for membership at St. James in our first service! The Hodges ( Quentin & Trinecia) and The Sawyers (Nathan, Leslie, J.T. & Jackson).
What a great day in the house of the Lord this past Sunday! Kevin Beal gave a beautiful message and shared the word of God and the great work of the Gideons. Our offering for the Gideons on Sunday was $1825. I am so thankful for your support of the Gideons and your generosity in supporting such a great ministry.
This coming Sunday, we will begin a new series titled Generosity: Time, Talents, and Treasures. This series will conclude with our Pledge Sunday on October 11.
We introduced Pledge Sunday at our church last year, and your pledges blessed our congregation, strengthened our ministries, and helped us faithfully carry out God’s work in our community. As we look back on the past year, we are grateful for the many blessings and challenges that have shaped us and for the generosity that makes our ministry possible. This time last year, we were -$53,000 under budget; as of today, we are -$7,841 under budget. This is an amazing improvement and a testament to your generosity and faithfulness.
On October 11, 2026, we will gather again for Pledge Sunday—a time to reflect on our commitment to God’s work and prayerfully consider how we will support the ministry of St. James in the coming year. Your pledges will help our Finance Committee develop a thoughtful and responsible 2027 budget, allowing us to continue nurturing spiritual growth, serving our community, and pursuing the mission God has given us.
Along with your annual pledge, please prayerfully consider giving to our Forward in Faith Fund, which supports improvements to our church facilities and helps us prepare for the future. We launched the fund two years ago with a goal of $150,000, and we have now raised a little over $69,000.
I encourage each family to prayerfully consider your pledge for the coming year. As Paul reminds us in 2 Corinthians 9:7, “Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” May our giving joyfully express our faith and gratitude for all that God has entrusted to us.
Thank you for your faithfulness, generosity, and commitment to St. James. I look forward to celebrating Pledge Sunday with you and seeing how God will use our collective gifts to continue His work through our church in the year ahead.
