A WORD FROM MOTHER KIM
Dear St. Tim’s,
What difference does church make in your life? What draws you to St. Timothy's?
Church matters more than ever in times like these. We need each other, and the world needs the church. I write to ask for your financial support.
St. Tim's funds its mission and ministries entirely through member contributions. You can see in the treasurer's report that we are drawing on savings to as a short-term, strategic investment in growth. The vestry believes God is calling us to do the work we are currently doing, and we need 100% member participation and support to continue the forward momentum.
This annual appeal for 2027 is a chance to remember and renew our core values:
Courage to engage real life.
Connecting to build real relationships.
Caring to meet real need.
These values reflect who we are, and who God calls us to be. We need courage to engage real life, to not turn away from struggle, but to face reality with our hope in Jesus. So much of the gospel story is bad news before it is good news. As followers of Jesus, we strive to tell the truth, we pray for strength, and we do the work God calls us to do.
Church is also a place to connect in real relationships. Jesus sent out the disciples two by two, knowing we are better together than we are alone. As followers of Jesus, we practice vulnerability and prayer, and we challenge and encourage one another to be who God created us to be.
St. Tim's is a community that cares to meet real need. Jesus spent his entire ministry feeding, healing, and embracing those who needed him the most. We believe Jesus meets us here - not only in Word and Sacrament - but in serving the poor, and the sick, and the stranger.
The Church matters because the Church is the body of Christ in the world. And like any physical body, it has real material needs: St. Tim's needs space to gather, people to lead, and supplies for the work.
The annual campaign is the primary way St. Tim's funds its mission. I invite you to join me in making a pledge for 2027, equipping St. Tim's to continue the good work to which God has called us.
A pledge is an estimate of your financial support in 2027, which helps the vestry draft the parish budget. Over 95% of revenues comes from member contributions. This year, annual pledges ranged from $300 to over $30,000, each household giving as they are able. Every gift matters in furthering our mission to embrace all people with the love of Jesus.
By November 15, please submit your pledge via mail, in the offering plate, or pledge online.
Grace and peace,
The Reverend Kim Seidman
Rector
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A pledge to St. Tim’s represents one of the many ways people support the work and ministry of this parish. A pledge in particular represents a Christian commitment to work, pray, and give for the benefit of the local church. Your pledge is not binding, rather a good faith estimate of what you are able to give for the year. This allows our vestry to plan our budget for the upcoming year.
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Initial preparations for the development of the parish operating budget for 2027 have begun. After the Annual Campaign, “Embracing Courage, Care, and Connection” is concluded, the draft budget will be modified into a final recommendation to the Vestry for consideration. The Vestry approves the final budget prior to the annual meeting in late January or early February.
This budget draft indicates a total of $973,155 is needed to maintain parish operations for 2027. For the second year in a row, this amount is 6% higher year-over-year and includes the Associate Rector position. (While the budget reflects this as an expense, it is important to note the Associate Rector salary and benefits will be funded through investment proceeds designated for this position.) When removing the Associate Rector salary and benefits the actual budget for 2027 is $64,082, or 8%, higher than the 2026 budget. Increased expenses are primarily due to growing ministries, rising maintenance contracts and higher utilities costs.
The annual operating budget includes the following areas:
Parish ministries: 68% of budget
Clergy & Staff Compensation & Benefits
Pastoral Care
Worship
Music
Adult and Youth Formation
Support of Community Outreach Partners and benevolence funds
Episcopal Church Support: 9% of budget
Diocesan Pledge
Regional Pledge
Communications and Administration for Church Operations: 5% of budget
Building maintenance: 13% of budget
Utilities: 5% of budget
Funding for 2027 is dependent on membership pledges to the Annual Campaign. Over 96% of parish revenues come from member support. Please give as generously as you can.
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We ask you to pray first and seek God's invitation. The right amount will be a glad and generous offering that also feels significant to your specific financial position. Each year we receive a wide range of pledges from 10 dollars per week to well over a $1,000 per month. This year we received pledges from 135 different households which came to just over $616,587. If you are considering making a pledge for the first time, or increasing an existing pledge, we ask that you prayerfully consider an amount that feels right and joyful to you.
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In any way that feels best to you! While most give weekly or monthly online (on or after January 1st, 2027), others prefer cash or check, and still others make a gift through IRA Charitable rollovers. While we encourage people to give online through Realm, we are happy to assist you to give in anyway that feels comfortable to you. If you are interested in giving online, you can complete your pledge and then email Maggie for guidance in getting this set up.
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St. Tim’s views giving through a wholistic approach. We all give in a number of ways. Your presence and service are always cherished here. If you’d like to talk about other tangible ways you can commit to furthering the work and mission of this parish, please email us.
MEMBER TESTIMONIALs
Ted Wells shares about his decision to pledge to our Annual Campaign for 2027: Embracing Courage, Care & Connection.
Nick Foraker explains his journey with St. Tim’s and why he supports with a pledge towards our Annual Campaign: Embracing Courage, Care & Connection.
Kelly Owen gives an address on why she chooses to support St. Tim’s with a pledge and all the ways she seems courage, connection and care in this community.