Stewardship invitations were mailed at the end of September. What is asked of you? Simply, just a few things:

• Pray. Begin in prayer. Please do not make any decision about your stewardship giving to the work of Christ in and through St. Martin’s until you pray. Pray and ask God to guide you in this important decision.

• Pledge. Make your pledge to the Parish by filling out the pledge card and returning it to the Church office as soon as possible. The more pledges we have “in hand” in the days ahead, the better we can prepare YOUR 2012 budget.

• Proportional Percentage Pledging. The goal of giving is the tithe, or 10% of one’s financial resources. If you have not yet achieved the tithe, choose a pledge that represents a percentage of your income (perhaps it is 1%, 3%, 7% or perhaps .05%). Then, year by year, increase your percentage proportionally until you reach or even surpass the tithe!

• Pray. Once you have turned in your pledge, pray yet again. Pray that you can fulfill that pledge as 2012 unfolds and pray that the leadership of St. Martin’s are, as you have been, faithful stewards of the gifts entrusted to their leadership.

Thank you for your prayerful consideration and decision. May God bless you and, through you, may He bless our beloved St. Martin’s family.

The Rev. Dr. Russell J. Levenson, Jr.
Rector, St. Martin’s Episcopal Church
Houston, Texas

If you have not received your Stewardship invitation in the mail by the middle of October, please contact Brittney Jacobson at 713/985-3821 or bjacobson@stmartinsepiscopal.org.