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A Letter from the Rector
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October 25, 2012

Dear People of St. John's Church:

Every year I am given the privilege of writing you at the start of our annual Every Member Canvass, and every year I struggle to find words that will have meaning for all you—rich and poor, younger and older, newborn Christians and lifelong Christians. Here is what I'd like to say—and what I hope you'll hear—this year.

First—and I will say this again and again until the day I die—Christian stewardship begins with the very basic belief that all that we have in this life does not belong to us, but rather is on loan to us for the duration of our earthly existence. Even someone who has accomplished great things through hard work and perseverance must thank God for the gift of life and the opportunity to succeed. That is why, when we get to heaven, I really do believe that the first words out of God's mouth will be something along these lines: "Doug, what did you do with what I gave you? Did you hoard it or squander it? Did you use it to build up yourself or to glorify me? Give me an accounting of how you used all that I loaned you." If you had to face God today—right now as you read this letter—how would you answer him?

The second thing I'd like to say is this: although there is no such thing as a single Biblical "tithe" in the Old Testament, God knew what he was doing when he established ten percent in general as an appropriate return to him of what he has first entrusted to us. And so I try every year to give away ten percent of everything I earn. (I will not, by the way, play the pre-tax or after-tax game here; neither will I take deductions, make excuses, or in any way attempt to transfer what I know to be money at my personal disposal to some other account that I can somehow convince myself is not really "mine.") Of that ten percent that I give away, more than half goes directly to St. John's Church, and the remainder goes to causes and institutions that are somehow engaged in work of which I know God would approve. I make that division because I am convinced that my parish church is the primary vehicle through which I should support the work of God on earth. Schools and other charities may be worthy, needy, and honorable, but none can claim the holiness of God's own Church. In the end, it will be Christ alone who will bring me to my eternal home.

Please join me in thanking God for the opportunity to know and love him here and now, and please join me also in returning to God a portion of your riches for the specific purpose of supporting God's work though St. John's Church. A 2013 pledge card and return envelope are enclosed with this letter. Please respond as soon as possible. And—just as a means to help you work toward tithing—fill in the accompanying worksheet to get an idea of how you can increase the level of your giving. Christian giving is a holy work. May God bless you in that work and in all the work you do in his Name.

Ever faithfully,

The Reverend Douglas E. Remer
Rector

 

 

 

 

September 19, 2011

 

“Faithful to all Generations”

 

Dear People of Saint John’s Parish:

 

“Faithful to all Generations” is the theme of both our parish’s centennial celebration, which commences this November and runs through next May, and also of this year’s Every Member Canvass.  You will hear more about our centennial celebration in the months ahead.  For now, however, let me say a word about the relationship between that theme and our relationship to our own money and other financial resources.

 

The theme is taken from Psalm 100, verse 5:  “For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.”  It is not, the Psalmist states, a matter of God’s enduring love or God’s faithfulness to us; those are assured.  As always, however, it is a matter of how we respond to that love and faithfulness.  Are we faithful in return?

 

Not a one of the founding members of this parish is still alive.  They have gone on to their great reward, but not, I don’t think, before answering to God the question that I believe God will ask of all of us when we first stand before him in heaven:  “What,” God will ask, “did you do with all that I gave to you?”

 

The faithfulness of the founders of this parish one hundred years ago is now evident to all of us in bricks and mortar, in individual families, and in an abiding parish community.  These are their legacy.  Whatever else they might have said to God as they entered their new life above, at the very least they could say, “I began a good work in your Name, dear God.”

 

It is now our task to continue that good work in God’s Name.  Those who founded this parish gave extraordinarily of themselves—in time, in work, and in money—in order to build this place.  We must do the same in order to maintain it:  indeed, not even to maintain it—but to grow it and celebrate it!

 

Theirs was a costly undertaking, and so is ours.  When you hear from Leslie Jennewein and Bill Sansone, our Every Member Canvass co-chairmen, in a few weeks, I hope you will respond generously to their appeal and respond with a commitment every bit as costly as the commitments made by those who have gone on before us.  Our founders have answered God’s question.  Someday, we must, too:  “What did you do with all that I gave you?”  Pray that we may answer, “I continued a good work in your Name, dear God.”

 

Ever faithfully,

 

 

The Reverend Douglas E. Remer

Rector