Click here in case you missed Melissa Bizon’s talk on Sunday about giving through the eyes of a child. Thank you, Melissa, for your incredible gift!
All posts by Bernadette Williams
The 10:45 AM Holy Eucharist is open this week to those of you whose last names begin with the letters “A” through “M.”
Please fill out the pre-screening form by clicking here.
We have limited attendance to a total of 30. We communicate with you should we meet that total prior to your reservation.
In addition to a clear pre-screening form, physical distancing and face masks will be required.
Consecration Sunday is Coming November 15, 2020
One Service Sunday 10:00 AM (Streamed and In-Person)
Luncheon to Follow (Lunch in the courtyard or for pickup)
Once again, we welcome in a new season and opportunity to renew our commitment to the biblical and spiritual principles of generous giving through our New Consecration Stewardship (NCS) Program and to explore how God is calling each of us in this area. Over the next few weeks, we will receive an overview of how to approach systematic and proportionate giving, fundamental tenets of the NCS Program. We will also hear personal stories from parishioners about how giving has influenced their life and how NCS can help our calling with respect to giving. Lastly, we will begin announcing the various ways that you can make your commitment to giving and provide an RSVP for the Consecration Sunday luncheon, which occurs immediately after the Consecration Sunday service on November 15th. Last year’s luncheon was a wonderful celebration of fellowship and acknowledgment of God’s gifts to us. This year we are taking a different approach to the luncheon. Due to the pandemic, our reservation process will have the option for you to select a deluxe box lunch option and to either enjoy it with your family in our courtyard at one of our seven beautiful outdoor eating areas that are distanced or drive through to pick up your lunch and enjoy it at home.
Congregations that approach financial stewardship from a biblical perspective do not view their pledges as merely a way for the church to pay its bills. Rather, those congregations see financial giving as a way to help its members grow spiritually in their relationship with God by supporting their church’s mission and ministry with a percentage of their income.
NCS is based on the biblical philosophy that spiritual development comes from the need of the giver to give, not the need of the church to receive. Therefore, people are treated like followers of Jesus Christ who want to give unselfishly as an act of discipleship, not out of obligation. NCS encourages people toward proportionate and systematic giving in response to the question, “What percentage of my income is God calling me to give?”
On November 15, at the Consecration Sunday service, we will all fill out an estimate of giving card together. The congregation will be able to fill out this card during our streamed/in-person service electronically or in person if they are participating on campus. A guest leader will conduct a brief period of instruction and inspiration, culminating in members making their financial commitments for 2021. These commitments support the benevolent, missionary, and educational ministries in the St. George community and communities around the world.
Remember that the cards are collected in such a way as to maintain your privacy and to honor all decisions as a confidential act of worship. Even people who are strongly opposed to completing a card are encouraged to attend the Consecration Sunday service, as it is still our time to worship God together.
The NCS committee, vestry members, and ministry leadership will make every effort to inform, to inspire, and to gain commitment from everyone to attend the Consecration Sunday service and luncheon. By choosing to attend this service, every attendee and member who completes an Estimate of Giving Card is doing so voluntarily. We will not solicit people at home to complete their cards. However, we will contact parishioners to confirm their attendance at the virtual/in-person service and to see which luncheon option they prefer.
Thanks in advance for your enthusiastic participation in these Consecration Sunday events.
Jeffrey C. Bizon
Consecration Sunday Co-Chair
Let’s all come together for a FA-BOO-LOUS, socially-distanced, outdoor, Pumpkin Carving Family Event!!
We will begin with a very short family devotion, led by Fr. Ram, followed by communion on the beautiful outdoor grounds of St. George!
Afterward, families will each have their own table, and their own carving tools to create their one-of-a-kind pumpkin masterpiece!
Prizes will be rewarded!
BYOP…”Bring Your Own Pumpkin”…and we’ll supply the rest!
Families of ALL ages are welcome!!
WHEN: Sunday, October 25th from 3:00-4:30 PM
WHERE: St. George Episcopal Church- Outside in the St. Francis Garden
WHAT: Family devotion, communion & pumpkin carving!!
RSVP: In order to properly prepare and have the supplies needed, you MUST fill out this form to reserve your family’s table! CLICK HERE for the reservation form!
We’ve missed you…and hope to see you there!!
The Feast of All Saints is one of the major feast days in the life of the Church. On this day we baptize new “saints,” remember the mothers and fathers of our faith throughout the ages (“cloud of witnesses”), and also offer prayers for those whose lives and faith have shaped us. We will have an All Saints’ Day Eucharist at both services on Sunday, November 1st. One of our customs at St. George is to read the necrology (a list of those who have died) of members of St. George who have died since last All Saints’ Day. We also offer the opportunity to have prayers at the altar for all those in our lives we wish to remember.
If you would like to recognize a loved one who has gone into the nearer presence of God, please email the name to Keith Earle (kearle@saintgeorgechurch.org) by Friday, October 30th. If your loved one was a member of the St. George and died since last All Saints’ Day, we will already have that name. If you would like to make sure, please email Keith Earle.
A new family faith packet has been created and was mailed out to our kids & families! The theme is focused around family mealtime and is packed with conversation cards to help get kids and families to engage with one another at the dinner table, along with creative prayers for the families to try at mealtimes! If you do not receive and would like one, please email Happy Wilson at hwilson@saintgeorgechurch.org and I will be happy to send one to you!
The St. George Community of Hope International (COHI) has trained lay chaplains who are available to minister to those of you and yours who could benefit from a compassionate listening presence.
In 1994 Rev. Helen Appelberg created the COHI training course for lay chaplains to support hospital staff chaplains. The philosophy is “rooted in the ageless principles of The Rule of Benedict and sustained by clinical pastoral practices.”
COHI lay chaplains at St. George are available now. If you would like to request a call from a lay chaplain, email pastoralcare@saintgeorgechurch.org.
For more information about Community of Hope International, go to https://www.cohinternational.org/.
Larkspur sent a great picture of some of their students using the playground balls provided by St. George to play in the GaGa pit on a beautiful day! Thank you to the Willmann Pastoral Care Trust and all who made this blessing possible!
