Annual Giving 2024

I am the vine, you are the branches

Jesus said, I am the vine and you are the branches! (John 15:4)

Such a natural, intimate and ordinary metaphor for connection and Christian community, AND for the reminder to us all that our job, as branches grafted to the vine, is to BEAR FRUIT.

Human beings are made to be in, and belong to, communities. “Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me.” At the heart of Christianity is connection. And at the heart of connection is giving of ourselves, sharing the fruits we have with the world. This is why we are focusing our annual giving and pledging commitment on the theme VINE & BRANCHES.

Through this pledge campaign season, we will all make, collectively and individually, a household spending commitment. It should sit alongside the most important financial commitments of our lives: rent or mortgage, tuition, car and vacation. A promise to give the first fruits of our labors and treasure as we commit to making 2024 a year of growth in mission, membership, and discipleship for our parish. Last year, we asked all of you to grow in your giving, so that Saint James can grow in its ministry. We asked you last year to grow by 10%. You all exceeded that, growing by 11%! As we continue to grow as a parish, we respectfully ask you to continue growing in your giving again (or if it wasn’t possible for you last year, to do so this year). A 10% growth in giving would help us tremendously to continue to expand upon the growth in membership and programs that makes us the dynamic congregation that we are today.

A community that has good news to share, that really teaches people how to pray for their enemies, how to dwell in love together in Christ “so that our joy can be made complete” as Jesus says, is a radical and wonderful thing.

A community that does this every day and every week of the year, online and in-person, is an amazing thing. And when you need it most, it is available 24/7 by summoning the clergy and fellow parishioners when your need is greatest. I came to know this in an entirely new way this year as a priest of this parish having become so ill for so long. I was in and through the Christ-vine literally a receiver of your healing prayers and wonderful care. In my absence I felt so much your presence! You are in me through my prayers and I know I have been in your hearts through your prayers. This experience of astonishing intimacy and abiding with and in one another is what led me to choose John Chapter 15 to guide us in our discernment of our financial pledges for 2024. For 15 years I have grown closer to you, often through you sharing your suffering with me. This year I have grown closer to you through your sharing in my suffering. Thank you for this indescribable consolation of abiding community and connection through prayer. Each of your clergy and many among us have similar stories to tell.

The richest communities are those that are diverse in generations, cultures, perspectives, and abilities. But inclusion is only half of the deal. The other half is shared focus and deep connection. It is rare to find both unity and community with true diversity. Yet Saint James is such a place. Every day we offer our ministries and mission to one another, to Lancaster and to the world. Every day we invite and teach people to discover new depths of prayer. Across and beyond our campus every day we offer ways to heal and abide in the world and with God in lifegiving ways – offerings made possible by the offerings of your time, talent, and treasure.

Every week our congregation spans those who are babies and those who are in their 90s, those who are in-person and those online, from near and far. Who could have guessed that through the pandemic we would give and grow so much that we could be where we are today? We are back to pre-pandemic attendance on Sundays and have grown not only larger, but deeper. While size is not a measure of everything, Saint James is, astonishingly, not just the largest parish in our diocese, but is also one of the 100 largest Episcopal parishes in the country.

From our bible studies and retreats, our men’s and women’s groups to solitary communion visits, from Children’s Chapel to Narcotics Anonymous meetings, from mission trips to Holy Land pilgrimages, we are people who pray, learn, serve and give generously. You make the heart of our city a place of radical hospitality, historic beauty, and innovative tradition. You are the builders of Saint James with all the other forgiven sinners, saints, and sages here for nearly 300 years. I cannot thank God enough for you as I think of Christ abiding in you and you abiding in Christ. The fruit that comes from our efforts is because together, we are branches of the one true vine of Christ. It is a joy to behold with you and to be one with you in the One who came to make our joy complete.

As you consider, prayerfully and openly, what your commitment to Saint James will be in 2024, I ask you to join with me and your leadership, clergy and lay, in growing again, so that we can continue to grow, as Christ calls this remarkable branch of his vine that is Saint James, to new and unforeseen heights of worship, learning and service. Our world is at such a crisis point today because it still has so much to learn about God’s grace, mercy and peace. Could there be a better alignment of what the world needs and what we have to give? I hope you will join me and my family, Fr. Glenn, Mother Shayna, and all your leaders in giving with all the radical generosity that is sustainable for you in this Vine and Branches annual giving campaign.

Yours in Christ,
Fr. David +

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 Nicolette Norris at the church office.

Two ways to make your
2024 annual pledge:

Click here to pledge in RealmClick here to download the paper version

Your commitment by November 15th would be greatly appreciated so that we can complete our 2024 budget. THANK YOU!!


A message from Father David Peck


Week Two of the Campaign


Week Three of the Campaign


Week Four of the Campaign

If you have questions about pledging, click here to email Nicolette Norris.