We are excited to begin our Stewardship Campaign, “Grace Upon Grace.” The words come from John’s Gospel: “For from His fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.” (John 1:16, ESV)

What a beautiful reminder of the heart of our faith: we have received far more than we could ever earn or deserve. Life is a gift. Forgiveness is a gift. Salvation is a gift. And above all, we have received Jesus Christ—His life, His death, and His resurrection—as the greatest gift of all. We often hear this passage at Christmas, but grace upon grace is the reality of our lives every day. God is our Father who delights in giving. His grace is abundant, overflowing, and continually poured out upon us.

When we recognize how much we have received, something happens in our hearts: grace creates gratitude, and gratitude creates generosity. Our giving to the Church is not meant to be a transaction or an obligation. It is our willing response to the abundance of God’s gifts. As St. Paul reminds us, “God loves a cheerful giver.” (2 Corinthians 9:7, ESV) A cheerful giver is someone whose heart has been changed by grace—someone who looks at all that God has given and says, “How could I not respond?”

Our stewardship makes it possible for our parish to worship together, proclaim the Gospel, care for one another, serve our neighbors, nurture the faith of our children, and participate in the work God is doing through His Church. Every pledge is part of that shared response to grace.

Our goal for this year’s Stewardship Campaign is $520,000. If you pledged last year, thank you. Please prayerfully consider renewing your commitment and, if possible, increasing your pledge to account for inflation. If you did not pledge last year, we invite you to join us. There is a place for every household in this response of gratitude. If possible, please make your pledge before Thanksgiving so that we have the information needed to prepare our 2027 budget. Payments on pledges do not need to begin until January 2027.

As we look toward the year ahead, may we remember not only what we are being asked to give, but what we have already been given. May God’s grace fill our hearts with gratitude, and may that gratitude overflow into generosity.

For from His fullness, we have all received—grace upon grace.