Why Pledge?

I've been ordained for nearly 20 years but before that I was a long time lay person sitting in the pew and taking on other lay duties in the church at St. John's by the Sea, my home church. 

I was also a rather financially successful lawyer and yet as I sat in those pews year after year, it never occurred to me that I ought to pledge! It's not that I'm a particularly tight cheapskate, although I am, it's just that it never occurred to me to pledge. It never occurred to me to put my money where my mouth was when I talked about how important this church was to my life and to the life of my family. When I shared with others how much I had received from my church community on a regular basis and what an important part of my life it was. 

Still, I kept my wallet closed tight. 

Because we often don't think of money and church going together. But we live in the real world with real bills and with real needs in the wider community that many of us have the means to help with. And many of us do. But putting my money where my mouth is didn't happen until my mentor, Fr. Charlie Hopkins, specifically asked me to start pledging. Which I was happy to do once it was brought to my attention! 

Who says being thickheaded and blind doesn't come easy? 

So since then I have pledged. For the last 20 years, as an ordained clergy I have tried my best to pledge the tithe, or 10% of my income. And even when times were tough, I found that whatever was given away found its way back. 

And I think this works not only for individuals but it works for church communities as well. So many of our church communities are fearful of spending money because we fear running out of money, when the real challenge is that we are far more likely to run out of people, if we don't open ourselves to the flow of life and engage generously with the gifts that we have been given. 

I think we've seen this tragic example as Calvary Episcopal church has closed down. They didn't run out of money, they ran out of people. I don't know anything about the circumstances at Calvary but I mention it only to say that the fear of running out of money is often overblown. And therefore I ask those of you who have not yet pledged to please consider it. Take it from someone who needed a sock in the eye to wake up not only to an obligation, but to a responsibility. I wish you every peace and every blessing.

david+

Annual Meeting January 18

The 65th Annual Meeting of Emmanuel Episcopal Church is THIS Sunday, January 18, following the 10:30 am service. See below for all the details!

Martin Luther King, Jr Holiday January 19

The office will be closed on Monday, January 19, in observance of the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday.

Epiphany Party January 24 *NEW DATE*

The annual Epiphany potluck party is happening on Saturday, January 24, from 4:30 pm at the Remedios home in Kaneohe! Everyone is welcome! Please sign up at church, or call Carolyn at 808-384-3207.

Healing Service and Bible Study February 3

New weekly Healing Service and Bible Study begins on Tuesday, February 3 at 10am. Everyone is welcome! Please park on the church side of the parking lot or on the street. Our preschool tenants use the preschool side of the parking lot during business hours. Thank you!

Evening Bible Study February 3

New monthly Bible Study beings on Tuesday, February 3, at 6pm and will continue to meet the first Tuesday of every month at 6pm. Everyone is welcome!

Take Home Poinsettias

Please feel free to take home poinsettia plants after the service and Annual Meeting on January 18.