Stewardship 2027

Dear Friends,

We all love Christ Church Pittsford. We love its building, its traditions and, most of all, its people.

In recent weeks you have heard and read that Christ Church is celebrating its 180th birthday. For all those years, the people of this parish have given their time, talent, and treasure to support the work of God in this place. Now it is our turn to carry on that legacy.

This year's theme, "For such a time as this," comes from the Book of Esther. Esther was a Jewish woman who had become queen of Persia, and when her people were threatened, she hesitated to act, because speaking up carried real risk. Her cousin Mordecai urged her to see her situation differently: perhaps she had been placed exactly where she was for exactly this moment. Esther took that seriously and stepped forward, and her courage made a difference for her whole community.

We believe the same is true for us. Generations of faithful people built this parish, kept its doors open, and handed it on to us. We were put here for such a time as this, and what we do now will shape what Christ Church looks like for those who come after us.

You have received a packet of stewardship campaign materials. We invite you to prayerfully consider your response and return your pledge by November 8, if you haven’t already. Every gift matters. Every commitment sustains our building, our worship, our learning, our fellowship and our outreach to those in need.

On November 8, we will celebrate the ingathering of our gifts after the 10:00 am service with a Chili and Cornbread Cook-Off. Come hungry and please watch for opportunities to bring your favorite chili or cornbread. It will be a joyful way to mark the end of the campaign and to enjoy one another's company.

This is not only an appeal for funds. It is an invitation to remember your place among those who have, for 180 years, made a commitment to God here at Christ Church Pittsford. When we join that long line of faithful people, we live out what Mordecai told Esther: that we are here "for such a time as this” (Esther 4:14).

On the reverse side of this letter is an update on the state of our parish finances in case you missed the forum on October 11.  Thank you for your faithful and generous response to this call.

The Stewardship Committee

David Bakken, Ann Clemens, Nicole DeBraal, Andy Kalinowski, Patty Sampson-Bouchard, Jim Willer

To make a 2027 pledge online, go to christchurchpittsford.com and click on “2027 Pledges” at the top of the screen.

Overview of Christ Church Pittsford Finances

Every fall the Vestry establishes a budget for the coming year based on the dollars needed to fulfill our Mission through our multiple programs. These programs encompass worship and sacramental life (including our great music program), Christian formation (Sunday school as well as adult programs), and outreach to serve the greater community of which we are fortunate to be a part.

Our operating budget for the current year, 2026, is $875,000. This covers everything from the Rector’s salary to the staples that hold the bulletins together every week. As part of our budget, we also contribute to the operation of the Episcopal Diocese of Rochester; our apportionment for this year is about 15% of our annual operating budget.

Annual giving is critical to our ability to fulfill our Mission, and 92% of annual giving for this year comes from pledges. Collection plate offerings and other donations make up the remainder of annual gifts.

In recent years, annual giving has fallen increasingly short of our total expenses. One reason is a decline in the number of pledges we receive each year. As recently as 2021, we had 231 pledges. In 2026, the total number of pledges is 148.

Christ Church is fortunate to have an invested endowment created, over time, by the incredible generosity of past and current parishioners. As a result, we continue to take annual withdrawals to cover a portion of our operating budget. There are legal limitations to the amount we can withdraw annually. Moreover, we want to keep our endowment healthy, to help us see Christ Church through the next 180 years.

We are thankful for all levels of support.

Respectfully,

David Bakken

Treasurer