Annual Giving Campaign 2026
Lord, increase our faith.
September 2025
Dear Friends,
The parish of Saint James is thriving. We are growing by every indicator of attending, learning, giving and serving. We are also growing in intergenerational and cultural diversity.
Our growth is evident with the light of God shining through our ministries. We are attracting new members through all the different doors of our traditional worship, our contemplative outreach through the Urban Well, our strong children’s chapel, camps and teen programs, our first Saturday Night Spanish Mass with Church World Service and a growing annual Pride service. Our twice weekly Narcotics Anonymous meetings, Addiction & Recovery masses, local and diocesan missions to repair and renew housing for the vulnerable, Ollie’s Closet and our innovative partnership with Lancaster City’s urban tree planting program all speak to our commitment to loving our neighbor as ourself.
The heartbeat of our parish is a commitment to daily prayer and the small group connections by which we become disciples of Christ and not merely attenders of a church! Our pastoral care reaches people in their greatest needs as clergy and parishioners bring holy communion or a simple visit or call to check in as we help to carry each other’s burdens.
The reality is -- it is your gifts that enable us to thrive and to plan for the future. Nearly $1 million is joyfully promised each year in our Fall campaign and then faithfully and sacrificially given in the upcoming year.
In the light of the beautiful parishioner testimonies we will hear on Sundays in October your clergy ask you to make an October pledge as a sign of your trust in God and commitment to each other for this coming year. If you are able, we hope you will increase your pledge in whatever amount brings greater joy and sustainable commitment from your household to our parish household. In this way we can all share even more of the faith, hope and love of Jesus for the world.
Please go online or return the enclosed envelope to make a pledge of financial support to Saint James. The disciples asked Jesus, “Lord increase our faith!” He replied saying that if they had faith the size of the smallest mustard seed, they would have all the spiritual energy to do everything necessary. (Luke 17.5)
Yours in Christ,
David Peck, Rector
Stacey Carpenter, Associate Rector
Glenn Miller, Priest Associate
Saint James Vestry
Stewardship: Our response to God's call and abundance
A pledge is your commitment to make a financial gift that supports the mission of Saint James. Pledging is a response to God’s call and abundance in our own lives: it is a statement of thanksgiving. Annual pledges support everything we do and are at Saint James, but in order to know what we can do each year, we need to receive pledge commitments on which to develop an annual budget. You can make a pledge at any time, not just during the fall stewardship campaign.
Ways to Give
- Pledge envelopes: If you give by check or with cash, giving envelopes are available by request.
- ACH (automatic) deduction through your bank or credit union: Authorize Saint James to process an automatic withdrawal from your bank account on the 15th or the 30th of the month.
- Did you know you can make your gift to Saint James through an IRA Required Minimum Distribution or by donating appreciated stock or securities?
For help with your giving options, please click here to email the church office.
