The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, His mercies never come to an end; They are new every morning; Great is Thy faithfulness. – Lamentations 3:22-23 RSV

Dear Faithful Members of St. Martin’s,

“Faithful.” I love the word. For me, it evokes both gratitude and inspiration. I am grateful because I have been the beneficiary of faithfulness in so many ways during my life: faithful parenting, faithful friends, faithful spouse, and the unwavering and undaunted faithfulness of God.

I am inspired because the witness of the faithfulness I have received invites me to be faithful. I love that hymn we sing on All Saints Day, For all the Saints. In the third stanza, we sing, “O may thy soldiers, faithful, true and bold, fight as the saints who nobly fought of old…” Again–a reminder–much of what I have received, has been the gift of the faithful before me, and herein is the plea: may I, as they, live a faithful life.

Friends, as you read these pages, I am asking you to pray–pray that God gives you a heart that is grateful for the faithfulness of others and of God in your life, and pray that our God inspires you to be generous with your 2022 pledge to the work of Jesus Christ in and through St. Martin’s. Those of you who know me know I am unapologetic about asking you to support St. Martin’s with the financial blessings God has faithfully bestowed upon you.

So if you regularly pledge to St. Martin’s, please keep doing so. If you do not yet pledge to St. Martin’s, may I ask that you please, please consider starting to do so this year? Start small, if you wish – and work your way up as your years increase. We count on everyone at St. Martin’s to be faithful, not just some.

So please pray and consider God’s faithfulness to you. Consider the faithfulness of the saints of old–and be inspired, and receive the words Jesus wants to offer all of us who follow Him: “Well done, good and faithful servant!” Matthew 25:21

The Rev. Dr. Russell J. Levenson, Jr.
Rector