Talking about the operating budget of the church is not usually high on people’s list of priorities when they show up on Sunday morning for worship. Frankly, there are more fulfilling things to do and to discuss when we’re together -- how’s Church School going? What kind of food items is the Sunday Supper team collecting this month? Are you going to attend the class after church? – but our operating budget makes all of this possible. The operating budget literally keeps our lights on.

When our common life is shadowed by conflict, when war and famine dominate our headlines, when it’s all too easy to become isolated instead of seeking common ground, St. Paul’s is called, not just to keep the lights on, but to shine the light of God’s love into the darkness. We are called to be a lighthouse to folks who feel helpless and hopeless. And the light we have to share has a tangible impact: the light of God’s love is visible when folks get a hot meal on Sunday evening. The light of God’s love is visible when the garden teams harvests produce that will be shared with those who need it. The light of God’s love is visible when our high school and middle school groups gather to socialize and to talk about things they don’t get to talk about elsewhere. The light of God’s love is visible in our welcome, worship and beautiful music. So when we say that the operating budget “keeps the lights on”, that’s what we really mean: your pledges and gifts of financial support provide power for the light of Christ to shine through us, for the sake of the hurting world.

This year, more than ever before, your pledge of financial support empowers us to shine brightly in a world that needs all the light and love it can get. Please consider prayerfully and thoughtfully how best to contribute to our budget in the coming year. Thank you for all the ways you share on our common life; you are part of the wattage of this parish, and I pray that you, too, will find the comfort and strength of God’s light and love here at St. Paul’s in the coming year. 

With thanks and blessings, Kay+

Below is the online form for your 2026 pledge to St. Paul's.

Additional information to consider:

Without a written pledge, our work to prepare a budget is inaccurate and incomplete. With this information, we can plan for growth in the coming year and in the years ahead.  

If you give but do not pledge, will you consider the additional step of a committed pledge? If you are accustomed to placing cash or check into the offertory plate but do not pledge, those funds (unless designated for another fund) are not counted in the budget. If you wish, donations may be directed to specific ministries such as Sunday Supper, and/or Sunday Shower's by selecting "Donation" on St. Paul's website, selecting the drop-down arrow to the right of "St. Paul's Ministry" and choosing the fund you would like to donate to.

St. Paul’s receives all its funding from parishioners, rental of our building space, the Pre-school, and fundraising activities. We receive no funding from the National Church or Diocese. We depend on the generosity of our parishioners. We have increased the use of our space this year by outside groups paying rent, and we continue to look for groups that are a good fit for using our campus. We prioritize our ministries and meetings, and share our space when it's appropriate.