by Sarah Dull
The congregation of St. John the Evangelist celebrated its first public worship – a service of Evensong – on January 9, the Sunday after Epiphany, in 1881. Yes, this congregation has been communing, worshiping, and serving together for 140 years.
The staff started dreaming of how we would celebrate this anniversary a couple of years ago. As with many things these days – the 2020 Olympics in 2021 – our plans were postponed by the pandemic. So let me rephrase the opening sentence, in January 2021, the congregation of St. John’s commenced the next 140 years of ministry.
At the 9am Sunday Forums in November, Jim Frazier, St. John’s organist and director of music from 2004 until 2013 and author of St. John’s history book, For All the Saints, will share stories and learnings from our history. This seems like a good time to reflect on the financial legacy endowed to us.
As some of you may know, St. John’s has a $6.5m endowment, our Cornerstone Trust. This was created by financial gifts given over many years. The money in the endowment is invested and the income earned helps us maintain our 100-year-old building and support our programs.
Income from the trust makes up nearly a third of our annual budget. A third. Without the forethought and discipleship of prior members St. John’s impact in our community would be a third less. A third less services, a third less formation, a third less outreach, a third less fellowship. That strikes me as an amazing legacy.
While churches in America have been declining since the 1920’s St. John’s has not just been surviving, it has been thriving. As you will hear in the November forums, while we haven’t always done it perfectly, over the last 140 years, St. John’s has been faithfully working, praying, and giving for the spread of the Kingdom of God. Throughout its ministry St. John’s has provided shelter for the homeless, aid to those in need, advocacy for the oppressed, comfort for the afflicted, and more.
What is not always captured in history books is the indirect impact St. John’s has made. By forming disciples to follow in the way of Jesus. By feeding parishioners spiritual needs. By equipping members to go forth into the world to love and serve. Through the financial discipleship of its members, St. John’s has brought the liberating, life-giving way of Jesus to the lives of those its members have touched, and to the world.
As Proverbs 13:22 says, the good leave an inheritance to their children’s children. St. John’s has been blessed with good disciples. Those members who contributed have had an impact that outlasts their lifetime. And, by coming together as a faith community, their impact has been amplified beyond what they could have done alone. Interestingly, when I think about these saints of the church, I don’t think about what or how much they contributed, only that they did.
Reflecting on our inheritance, I can’t help but consider the impact I am having and the legacy I would like to leave. What am I building now that will allow St. John’s mission and ministry to thrive for another 140 years? Much like a baton that you pass on to the next generation, what am I offering future members to grab onto and run with, now and long after my portion of the race is finished?
Like the congregations that have gone before us, we face an uncertain and challenging future. It is estimated that many churches will close over the next few years. Hybrid ministry is here to stay requiring new equipment, skills, and costs. Due to the legacy endowed to us, St. John’s is in a good position to face these challenges and the many we cannot yet imagine. Where we go from here is in our hands. We are currently running our portion of the race and we get to help shape what we hand on to future generations.
I am also conscious that my legacy is about my relationship with God—the stories of my past and present walk with Jesus given to the future. These stories acknowledge the tough times but combine them with the good that God creates in and through me. It’s the Jesus experiences I share and the memories I create that impact people’s lives for eternity.
As we celebrate this anniversary and embark on the next season of ministry at St. John’s, I invite you to consider with me:
What do we want our legacy to be, not in man’s eyes, but in God’s?
If those who follow do not know our journey, how will they have a legacy to grab on to?
How will they know what was treasure and what were toys in our lives?
Will they understand what was surface and what was substance in our experiences?
How will they know the God who wants to walk their paths with them?
… but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
– Matthew 6:20-21
Discussing money can be triggering, prompting feelings of fear or shame. Maybe that is why Jesus talked about money and possessions more than faith and prayer. Sharing our stories and God’s stories can be liberating and transformative. If you would like to discuss your legacy or issues this subject brings up for you, please reach out to myself or members of St. John’s clergy.
As with most spiritual practices, we gain strength when we share with and support each other. To write a post, offer resources, submit an article, or do an interview for Finance First Friday blog please contact Executive Administrator, Sarah Dull. You never know who needs to hear your story.
