STEWARDSHIP 2027
“Rooted in Faith, Rising in Hope”

Rooted in Faith, Rising in Hope – A Stewardship Letter to Our Parish Family

Dear Friends in Christ,

As we enter this year’s season of stewardship, we find ourselves reflecting on the remarkable story of our parish – a story shaped by deep roots and a rising future. For generations, this community has been grounded in worship, service, and a shared commitment to living out the Gospel. Those roots have sustained us through change, challenge, and growth. They are strong because each generation has tended them with care, generosity, and faith.

This year, we stand at a meaningful threshold. Our roots continue to nourish us, and we are rising: rising with new energy, new leadership, and a renewed commitment to the ministries that shape our life together. We are rising into a future that is hopeful, vibrant, and full of possibility.

Our stewardship theme, Rooted in Faith, Rising in Hope, captures this moment perfectly. It honors the foundation built by those who came before us, and it calls us to invest in the future God is shaping among us now. Your pledge this year is more than financial support; it is a commitment to the shared life of this parish. It is a way of saying, “I believe in what God is doing here, and I want to help it flourish.”

Stewardship is also about offering our time and talent – the gifts that make our ministries come alive. With more than 44 active ministries, our parish is blessed with a rich collection of ministries across worship, outreach, formation, fellowship, and care. These ministries continue to thrive because parishioners step forward to serve, lead, and share their gifts. Many of them would be strengthened by the presence, skills, and creativity of parish members who feel called to deepen their involvement. In the coming weeks, we will highlight several ministries where an extra pair of hands, a fresh idea, or a willing heart could make a meaningful difference.

Your generosity strengthens the roots that keep us grounded, including the essential work that happens behind the scenes to care for our buildings. Over the past year, we have replaced boilers, installed a new AC system, and addressed several infrastructure needs that are not flashy but are absolutely vital. These improvements ensure that we have warm classrooms for our children, a cool sanctuary for worship, and safe, functional spaces for fellowship and ministry. Caring for our buildings is part of caring for our parish family, and your stewardship makes that possible.

And your generosity helps us rise – nurturing children and youth, expanding our service to the community, supporting our rector’s leadership, and sustaining the ministries that shape our spiritual life. When you share your time, your talent, and your treasure, you help our parish grow in ways that touch lives and deepen faith.

We are rooted in faith. We are rising in hope. And we are doing it together.

We invite you to prayerfully consider your pledge for the coming year, and to reflect on how you might offer your time and gifts in service to our shared ministry. Every contribution – whether financial, spiritual, or practical – is a seed that helps our parish flourish. Together, we will continue to build a church that is strong, welcoming, and ready for the future God has prepared for us.

Thank you for all the ways you give, serve, and love. God has made you a blessing for our parish.

In Christ’s peace and hope,
The Christ Church Stewardship Committee

“Be rooted and built up in Christ, established in the faith.” — Colossians 2:6–7

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FROM THE RECTOR

Beloved in Christ,

Our faith is strange. We know this, of course: we Christians believe in someone who is God and man, who died in agony and rose in glory. But our faith is strange in another way, too, because it’s profoundly earthy. Let me explain what I mean.

All through the Bible, God cares for this world and its people. In the beginning, God formed us from the dust of the earth; in fact, the name ‘Adam’ literally means ‘earthling.’ The ancient Hebrews marveled at God’s care, manifested in the Sun and rain which make all life possible. Jesus spoke constantly about the earth, seeds, trees, and wheat. He multiplied loaves and fishes. And the night before he died, he took bread — real, ordinary bread — and wine and turned them into the sacrament of Holy Communion. Every Sunday, we receive his Body and Blood when we eat and drink.

The point is that Christianity is not an otherworldly philosophy, something we just think about by ourselves. The church is not just an idea. It’s something we live, in this world and in the world to come. And we do it together. We live out our faith in Jesus Christ when we gather to pray and sing, when we baptize someone with water and the Holy Spirit, when we teach our children about God’s love, when we visit a hospital room, when we share Oktoberfest festivities, and when we cook meals for Jubilee Soup Kitchen. Our faith is rooted in these real, concrete experiences. God works through them.

Our stewardship theme this year is Rooted in Faith, Rising in Hope. Over the last two months, I’ve heard stories from each of you about the roots of your faith, roots which have nourished our community for almost 200 years. And I’ve heard how our parish is rising into the future, your hopes as we continue telling the world about Jesus and following him in love. This is faith in the real world. And to make it happen, it takes real work, real time, and real money. God works through these gifts to make a real, spiritual difference in the lives of our neighbors. You can read more about some of the concrete ways Christ Church has used our resources over the last year in the stewardship committee’s letter.

I invite you to prayerfully consider what you can give and make a pledge for 2027. A pledge is not a contract. It’s more like a giving estimate, something which helps us plan our budget so that we can continue and expand our ministry and keep preaching this strange Gospel to our neighbors. You can pledge online at christchurchpgh.org or with a paper card. Thank you.

Grace and peace,
Father Jack Brownfield+
Rector, Christ Episcopal Church, North Hills

Some Frequently Asked Questions:

Q: What is a pledge?

A: It is a deliberate response we choose to make to God’s grace in our lives. It is a statement of our support for God’s work through Christ Church. It is a commitment we make to our parish community.

Q: How much should I pledge?

A: Only you, after prayerful consideration, can answer that question! It might help you to reflect on:

• How Christ Church supports you in your spiritual journey.
• What Christ Church means to you in your daily life.
• How you want to support the ministries of Christ Church.

Q: If my life circumstances change, may I change my pledge?

A: Absolutely. Your pledge is not a legal promise, but is a joyful support for the ongoing life of the church. You may change it (down or up!) at any time!