I was honored and humbled when I was asked, by the stewardship committee, to briefly speak about why I give to All Saints.
I have never lived in Brookline, but All Saints is my church, my home. I have been a member of All Saints since 1985. I was married here. My children grew up here. When I see our parish children playing in the yard, climbing the trees—it is pretty clear that they know that this church is their home too. That makes me very happy.
The theme of this year’s stewardship season is community, which all saints certainly is. All Saints is much more than this beautiful building. There is a South African saying, “I am because we are,” and I think that applies to All Saints. We are All Saints. Each of us in some way shapes this parish. I think of all the different programs that All Saints offers, and the richness of worship here, and I know that there are skillful, caring people who are generously sharing their time, talent, and treasure and, without whom, those programs wouldn’t exist. I am really awed by it all and so grateful to those that make it happen.
When the pandemic shut down everything in March of 2020, and worship services went on-line (Again, thanks to the generous work of many very talented folks!), I wasn’t sure that we would continue to feel like a community—if we couldn’t gather together. But even then, participating in the service at home in front of a computer, I knew I was part of something bigger. It was enormously uplifting to know that we, in fact, were not worshiping alone, but together, even though we were physically separate. The joy of now being able to gather physically together is something we all share. For me, being able to sing in the choir again, even with a mask, is like when spring comes after a very long winter.
Why do I give to All Saints? Because I love this parish. I am a part of this church and the church, is a part of me. All Saints is my home. I pledge to support my home and our community.