Dear Members and Friends of St. Luke's,

Sustainability is a word that is very much a part of the global lexicon these days. There is widespread concern that we’ve depleted our natural resources and, as a result, we have got to do an “about face” on our lifestyle of conspicuous consumption. Our current economic climate has heightened our awareness of and sensitivity to this concept of scarcity as we struggle with unemployment or uncertainty about our future. How do we sustain our way of life if our resources are supposedly so limited? Is sustainability all about scarcity?
    
Quite the opposite…

Sustainability is all about abundance. Being faithful stewards of the resources we have today to insure that they’ll be here for future generations - trusting that God will provide us with everything we need. It’s about accepting responsibility for sharing God’s gifts with others so they too can share in our abundance. It’s about making a commitment. We invite you to make a commitment to abundance!

As St. Lukers, we lovingly embrace our counter-cultural heritage. We have a history of
radical welcome and hospitality to all who enter our doors. We reach out to our parish
family, our Village community, the wider Church and the world in countless ways as we
answer our baptismal call to ministry with boundless energy, ingenuity and creativity.
Making a commitment to abundance in these challenging financial times is countercultural.
It’s an act of faith, hope and love.

Your pledge to support the mission and ministries of St. Luke’s is vital for us to sustain
our unique identity as a parish family. If you haven’t pledged before, we invite you to join
us and consider doing so now. If you are currently pledging we sincerely thank you and
ask you to prayerfully consider increasing your pledge, if at all possible. We reveal our
membership in the Body of Christ through St. Luke’s ministries of worship, formation,
hospitality and witness – all sustainable, spiritual resources, each one a portal through
which we glimpse the Kingdom of God.

God’s love is infinite. God’s bounty is abundant. It always has been, it always will be.
When we make a commitment to abundance we express our faith that God will provide.
The time, talent and treasure you share with St. Luke’s are God’s gifts - the precious
gifts that insure our sustainability as a beacon and a sanctuary - today, tomorrow and
always.

We have come a long way in the past few years in stabilizing the fiscal health of this community. Now, we can build upon that momentum, and move into the future with an adventurous spirit, confident that the Church of St. Luke in the Fields will continue to shelter and strengthen those who find sanctuary here, and that its light will continue to shine as a beacon of love and Gospel truth in a world that sorely needs it. Please click on the link or download a pledge form below and consider carefully and prayerfully how you will support St. Luke’s next year.

Yours in God's Abundant Love,

The 2010 Stewardship Committee

How to Pledge and Make Pledge Payments

Pledge Forms for 2010 have been mailed to all current members. Please fill out your form when you receive it and either mail it to the parish office or place it in the offertory plates during worship as soon as possible. If you did not receive a pledge form, you may download a pdf version here. The information you provide is confidential and will only be seen by you and the parish bookkeeper. St. Luke’s asks for a written pledge because pledges allow the budget committee to plan a balanced budget based on promised income. Also, signed pledge forms are required by our business office.

Online Pledges Now Being Accepted. You may also now record your pledge online, using our online pledge form. Once you have done so, our business office will receive notification of your pledge automatically, and you will receive acknowledgement via email.

Making Pledge Payments. After submitting your 2010 pledge, you may begin making pledge payments in a lump sum or over time. You may make payment in person, by mail or online. Please be assured that you do not have to pay the entire pledge for 2010 in January! Your offering can be spread out through the year on a schedule you designate. See your Pledge Form for details. And, if your circumstances change, you may alter your pledge by calling the business office at 212-633-7817.

Pledge payments may be made online by electronic check or credit card. You may use this feature through St. Luke’s secure online pledge payment page using your Visa, American Express or MasterCard, or by electronic check drawn on your bank account. You may always call our business manager, Maureen Doyle, at 212-633-7817 with any questions.

Corporate Matching Gifts. If you work for a company that has a matching gift program, please consider helping St. Luke’s in this way. Please send the proper form to the business office. The church will complete and return the paperwork.

Thank you for your prayerful consideration of your participation in the 2010 Stewardship Campaign.  Please assist us in planning responsibly for our community’s future by completing and returning
your Pledge Form as soon as possible.