This year the focus of our Every Member Canvass is the three-legged footstool.  We chose it because of the visual it provides as we talk about the redundancy of “3’s” in our worship life. We speak of the Triune God; the three statements we make in Emmanuel’s mission statement about our spiritual community being “Deep in Faith, Rich in Love, Bold in Mission”; the historical focus of the Episcopal church on the three legs of scripture, tradition, and reason; and, in this year and this place, the three financial legs of the Behold Campaign, our Mission work, and the program or “Operating” budget.

We have seen our Vestry, our Senior and Junior Wardens, and our faithful community come together to provide leadership as we experienced the transition from the ministry of the Rev. Dr. Jacob Owensby to the loving and healing ministry of the Rev. Hope Benko, the wise anchoring service of the Rev. Dr. Warren Crews and the Rev. Rod Wiltse, the heartfelt labor of our Deacons Ebenshade and Naylor, and especially the work of our parish staff.

What a remarkable and visible blessing it is to have these people care for us as we journey along, in this community, in this place, in this time.  From January to August, we traveled without a Rector; however, we had an abundance of faithful servants who acted as good shepherds and stewards for our flock.

Now it is time for those of us who have been blessed to contemplate the manner and kind of our own service, our own shepherding and stewardship. It is time to prayerfully contemplate our circumstances and our pocketbooks and to consciously and conscientiously decide upon a pledge amount that represents our treasure, in addition to our stewardship of time and talent. As good stewards we all recognize the responsibility of the shepherd to husband resources in such a manner as befits their flock and enables their family to endure as life tests them. The family of Emmanuel has been tested this last year and will be tested in the days to come.  It is time for each of us to meditate, pray and choose to be fiscally responsible shepherds of this flock among which we graze and live and love.

Click here for a pledge card.  Please take the time to contemplate and discuss and decide as a family what your response to this year’s Every Member Canvass will be.

Brett Newcomb, Every Member Canvass Chairperson