October 10, 2024

Dear Good Shepherd Parish Family,

The theme of the 2025 Stewardship Campaign is Walk in Love, which calls us to remember that our greatest gift in community is how we come together in purpose and mission. When we walk together in unison, with our hearts focused on the common good, we can achieve our highest aspirations.

As the Apostle Paul writes in Ephesians 5:2: “Walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself for us, an offering and sacrifice to God,” each of us has been blessed by God differently. Our talents are gifts freely given to us by God so that we may share them with a world in need, perhaps now more than ever. How will you respond to God’s call to walk in love this year? How will you share your gifts with God’s people in the world?

During this season, we talk a lot about money and our budget. Of course, these things are absolutely necessary; they are the way we fund the Church and the work we do. But our real focus is on how our gifts empower mission and ministry in our community and the broader world. Jesus calls us to heal, feed, protect, and love our neighbor, and by sharing our time, talent, and treasure, we can answer this call.

With this letter, you are receiving the invitation to make your pledge to the Church of the Good Shepherd for 2025. Before you fill it out, whether online or on paper, we ask that you prayerfully consider this invitation and discuss it with your family to discern how God is calling you to share your gifts. Some of you may not be aware that we do not receive any funding from the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia; in fact, Good Shepherd makes a significant mandatory annual payment to the Diocese to support their work. It is your generous pledges that cover all the costs associated with running Good Shepherd and supporting the mission and
ministry we do.

Our campaign will end on Sunday, November 24, The Feast of Christ the King. We ask that you return your pledge to us by then so that we may bless it in our ingathering and add it to the many other gifts received from our fellow parishioners. If you have any questions whatsoever about the campaign, please do not hesitate to reach out to any of us.

With abundant gratitude,
Eric Hein, Stewardship Co-Chair
Christian Reed, Stewardship Co-Chair
Peter Gaiser, Senior Warden
The Rev. Christine Mendoza, Rector

9350 Braddock Road, Burke, VA 22015 | good-shepherd.net | 703-323-5400