Mission Possible

#12thandMass

 
“Mission Possible”: our theme for this year’s stewardship season. We believe that our mission is to share the gifts that God has bestowed on us, namely, our awesome experience of Him in Word and Sacrament, which translates for us into transcendent worship and a genuine love for one another, fellow parishioners and the broader community. We are still learning how to share these gifts! But, “with God all things are possible”(Matthew 19:26). We are pupils of the heart of Christ, Who empowers us to love as He does: mission possible. 
 
How generously is the Lord calling us to respond to His goodness to us here at Church of the Ascension and Saint Agnes, where He has planted us for this chapter of our lives? Our Senior Warden powerfully invited us last Sunday to ask ourselves a few key questions. If I may paraphrase: “Why am I here at ASA?” “What draws me here?” “What is my role in promoting the gifts bestowed here?” “What gifts of time, talent and, during this season, especially treasure, am I being called to share for the sake of mission?”
 
While in the light of mission that we must discern our contributions, it is perhaps helpful, nonetheless, to know the costs of operational support of mission. What does it cost to run the parish? Our current budget requires $10,450.00 each week. Based on the number of registered parishioners (172), this cost is about $60.75 per person per week. However, with an average Sunday attendance of about 80, this cost increases to about $130.60 per person per week.
 
Beyond operations, however, our concern is indeed growth as a parish, and we are invited to ask: “What is my financial support towards the growth of this wonderful community—growth in faith, hope and love, and number?” It is my hope that each of us will seek to be generous in sharing treasure because we would like to see our pews full. Empty pews do not, of course, fill simply by throwing money at them. It is our intention to invest strategically in our ministries in ways that will enrich us and allow us to reach more people—which, in turn, leads to growth. 
 
I invite you to ask yourselves these important questions, in your quiet time with our Lord. Invite the Holy Spirit to shed light. And, be still and know that you are loved.
 
Yours on this hope-full journey,
 
Fr. Dominique
Rector