Dear Friends in CommUNITY,
A year ago we invited you to proclaim “Signs of Life” at Trinity and you responded with unsurpassed generosity for which we remain most grateful. Little did we imagine the turbulent times ahead in 2020!
Your gifts sustained Trinity and enabled our community to manifest meaningful signs of life despite heart-breaking challenges of unprecedented scope, depth, and duration. Born of unforeseeable adversities and nurtured by resilient faith, new initiatives bloomed through creative, energetic, and dedicated engagement of the entire community.
Worship and connection to one another were re-imagined and brought into virtual reality with live-streamed Sunday services, the Reverend Frannie’s Friday Reflections, Zoom gatherings, and pastoral phone calls. In the wake of shattering departures, we welcomed wonderful new additions in the Reverends Thomas Traylor and Dr. Joanne Sanders and Interim Youth Minister Annalise Deal. Responding to acute community needs, the people of Trinity donated food for the hungry through Tuesday Gleaning and clothing, shoes, eyeglasses, and Bibles for Elmwood inmates through the Jail Ministry. Seeking greater understanding of racism, forty-plus Trinity parishioners accepted the invitation to delve into “Sacred Ground” and embark upon a year- long study of race and faith.
Amidst heartache and hardship, magnificent music continued to lift our hearts, solemn prayer to salve our souls, insightful sermons to nourish our minds, and abiding fellowship to share joys and sorrows. Trinity is indeed a remarkable CommUNITY.
The stewardship season of giving is upon us again as we eagerly await the promise of 2021 and the joy of “Seeking Christ in CommUNITY” together. We ask for your pledge of financial support for the year ahead so that we can continue Trinity’s mission as Christ’s active presence and God’s abundant love in a broken world. It would not be an exaggeration to say that your sustaining generosity has never been more critical. The projected balanced budget for 2021 anticipates pledging revenue of $821,000, with pledges comprising 82 percent of the total budget income for 2021.
Although we realize that 2020 has been extremely difficult on many levels, we prayerfully request that you consider making an equivalent pledge of support for 2021. For those able to do so, we invite you to contemplate increasing your pledge to help Trinity to keep pace with rising expenses over which we have little control. In addition, Trinity may incur extraordinary operational costs attendant to re-gathering in safe spaces, one of many hopes for 2021.
Our shared life at Trinity is a precious gift to one another and to the community beyond our parish. Each and every pledge, of whatever amount, is vitally important. Even more important is your continued prayer and participation in Trinity’s worship and ministries. Without enormous generosities of time, talent, and treasure, Trinity simply could not thrive in Seeking Christ in CommUNITY.
Please join me and countless others in giving thanks for the role that Trinity plays in our lives by pledging your support for its future. We are deeply grateful for your generous stewardship of Trinity – past, present, and future.
Faithfully yours in CommUNITY,
Anita W. Seipp
On behalf of the Stewardship Commission
Trinity Church Menlo Park