A plea to parishioners:
restore pledges to pre-Covid levels
.jpeg)
St John’s Treasurer, Chip Flanagan: We want to be a “can-do rather than a make-do parish”
The fourth week of St John’s pledge campaign has begun with renewed appeals to members of the church to use pledges to assure the church of their giving throughout the year.
In his presentation to the congregation, St John’s Treasurer Chip Flanagan said the parish had lost a third of its pledges since 2020. He said that before the Covid pandemic an average of 95 families or individuals made pledges – an undertaking to contribute a certain sum over the following twelve months – securing around $290,000 in income for the church. Pledges currently number 62.
“The goal is that working together we can return to those earlier pledging numbers in the next few years,” said Chip. He said it was the difference between a “can-do” and a “make-do” parish.
“Giving to the Sunday collection is vital, and very important to our annual budget. The difference between giving and pledging is that pledging signifies a deeper resolve to prioritize and support St John’s.
“Pledging is the foundation upon which the Vestry creates our operating budget each December and that is why returning your 2027 pledge in November is very important.” Parishioners have been asked to return pledge cards sent to them in the mail by November 15th, Pledge Sunday.
Chip reassured church members that pledges were not legally binding, and that it was understood that life events could interrupt giving to the church.
As well as asking parishioners to use pledges so St John’s can be confident of their giving over the course of the year, the “10-10-10 Pledge Campaign” is asking for a ten percent increase in giving each year for the next three years.
The Senior Warden Jon Cook said St John’s needed the extra money to make sure it continued to thrive. Launching the campaign on October 4th, Jon said the two principal aims of the campaign were to provide a priest – whether Mother Jackie or another priest – at 75% time, and to appoint a new, paid director of Christian education to replace the current volunteer co-leaders Evamarie Cooper and Jan Nykyforchyn.
The St Francis Guild of Gardeners (left), and the Basket Bazaar.
Chip said volunteers were benefiting St John’s by thousands of dollars each year.
In his presentation to the congregation, Chip Flanagan said the church was continually looking for ways of reducing operating costs, and that volunteers carrying out such tasks as cutting the grass and managing the garden were saving it thousands of dollars each year.
He urged parishioners to support fund-raising events such as the Basket Bazaar next month as another way of augmenting church funds. He drew attention to the many other jobs, both during services and behind the scenes, that kept the St John’s functioning, and asked members of the church to volunteer as well as to pledge their giving over the year.
“The needs are many,” he said, “but the hands are few.”
Chip’s presentation in full:
Are we a Can-Do or A Make-Do parish?
This is the challenge that lies before us at St John’s. Prior to Covid in 2020 average pledging units were about 95 and $290,000 in pledges received with a full-time rector. We are currently at 62 pledge units and .3 part-time Interim Priest in Charge. The goal is that working together we can return to those earlier pledging numbers in the next few years.
​
Pledging versus Giving
​
Giving to the Sunday collection is vital and a very important part of our annual budget. The difference between giving and pledging is that pledging signifies a deeper resolve to prioritize and support St John’s. In simple terms, a pledge is a statement that St John’s is my spiritual home that St John’s is important to me, my family and my community, and therefore my pledge makes this a reality whether I am in church occasionally or every week. Please understand that a Pledge is not a legal Financial Contract; unexpected life events can happen that prevent being able to fulfill the pledge.
Pledging is the foundation upon which the Vestry creates our operating budget each December, and that is why returning your 2027 pledge in November is very important.
​
On October 4th our Senior Warden Jon Cook presented a vision of how the Vestry believe that St John’s can move towards, step by step in the next few years. Big picture, our goal is to increase both our total pledging units and the average pledge per family to build a more secure financial future for our faith community.
​
Towards this goal, we are asking current non pledging members to join in pledging to St John’s for 2027.
​
Last Sunday, October 18th, Holly Cheeseman shared the various methods of setting up secure recurring donations to our church so that you can set it up once and know that you have done your part for the full year. The forthcoming stewardship letter will provide specific details of how to donate.
​
On October 11th, Ken Nowell, as an accountant, spoke of the business side of church budgets as well as sharing a bit of his faith journey and how he and Karen have come to call St John’s their spiritual home in Niantic.
​
New faces in church on Sunday’s show that our weekly attendance is trending in a positive direction, confirming that we are a vibrant and growing community of faith.
The 10-10-10 campaign introduced by Senior Warden Jon Cook focuses on incremental improvement in our finances that will make St John’s financially stronger.
​
We are asking members who can increase their giving in 2027 please do so. At the same time, we continue to seek ways to reduce operating costs. Installing solar panels (if approved by East Lyme) would significantly lower our annual $26,000 electricity bill, while volunteers who maintain our lawns and gardens already save the church thousands of dollars. Their service demonstrates why gifts of time and talent are essential to our success. We need your help.
​
The upcoming Basket Bazaar is just one opportunity to support the church. Donate a basket, prepare and share something for the bake sale, come and buy tickets or simply make an extra donation to the church with a note “Basket Bazaar donation”.
Our current reality is that St John’s operates as a church with just 5 part-time employees plus volunteers. Stewardship also calls us to volunteer our talents and time. There are opportunities and a real need for each able-bodied member to become involved. Choir, Christian Ed, readers, ushers, counters, altar servers, hospitality, SSKP, Meal Center, Summer Carnival, Triathlon Parking, Basket Bazaar, Grounds and Gardens. The needs are many and the hands are few.
​
​
The Story of Everybody, Somebody, Anybody and Nobody.
​
Anybody could have done it, but Nobody did it. Somebody got angry about that, because it was Everybody’s job. Everybody thought Anybody could do it, but Nobody realized that Everybody wouldn’t do it. It ended up that Everybody blamed Somebody when Nobody did what Anybody could have.
​
​
Let each of us become the actual BODY that steps up to these challenges at St John’s by saying YES I will volunteer and YES I will pledge
​