Dear St. John’s Family,
What a year!
First and foremost, we give thanks to God for the vitality of St. John’s. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, St. John’s has a GREAT SPIRIT!
I felt it the first day I walked in this church. We are alive and thriving; God’s presence is strong.
Times of transition always have their challenges, but thanks to our staff and the lay leadership of your Chapter, with Steve Bailey as our Senior Warden, I can confidently say that St. John’s has not missed a beat and is in very good shape with an enthusiastic eye to the future.
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Our focus this year is to strengthen our Youth and Children’s ministries and to continue to grow deep connections with our existing and new church family. To that end, we have hired Crissa Smith as our Director of Youth & Children’s ministries. Crissa conveys a very authentic love of Jesus for our children, and I trust her energy will continue to grow this ministry in deep and wonderful ways.
As St. John’s continues to strengthen, it was obvious we needed more parking. With the purchase of the new lot, we have ensured the survival of St. John’s for the foreseeable future. Thus, our Stewardship Campaign is joining together with the Capital Campaign this year. St. John’s Cathedral is God’s gift to Knoxville and beyond. With your continued support, St. John’s remains committed to sharing the love of Christ.
Please prayerfully consider your gift to St. John’s over the next three years and thank you for your help in building the Kingdom of God.
Yours in Christ,
The Very Reverend Chris Hackett
WHAT IS A PLEDGE?
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A pledge is the amount you plan to contribute during a specific fiscal year. It is a financial commitment to the Cathedral that helps pay for our ministries, staff and building upkeep. Pledges enable us to plan responsibly and help establish a sustainable annual operating budget. It is also your way of affirming your membership at the Cathedral and your expression of gratitude to God for all that has been given to you.
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WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A GIFT AND A PLEDGE?
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A gift is a one-time donation payment and may go towards a specific fund. While these are greatly appreciated, what we really need are pledges. A pledge is the amount you plan to give during a specific fiscal year. It is a financial commitment to the Cathedral that helps pay for our ministries, staff, and building upkeep. Pledges enable us to plan responsibly and establish a sustainable annual operating budget which is why we ask you to pledge in the Fall for the following fiscal year.
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HOW DO I PLEDGE?
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Making a pledge is easy. Please click on the pledge button above or HERE to fill out our secure online pledge form. Your personal information will remain strictly confidential.
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WHY IS MY PLEDGE IMPORTANT?
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Our operating budget is based on the amount of pledges we receive each year. We do not receive financial support from the Diocese or National Episcopal Church.
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WHY PLEDGE WHEN I CAN PUT MONEY IN THE COLLECTION PLATE?
We are grateful for the generosity of all guests who donate during the weekly offertory. However, as Members of St. John's Cathedral, we are called to make an annual pledge as stewards of this wonderful church community. Pledging enables us to plan responsibly and establish a sustainable annual budget.
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HOW MUCH SHOULD I GIVE?
Giving is a spiritual practice that should be prayerfully considered. Scripture encourages proportionate giving or giving a percentage of one’s income as an act of thanksgiving for the bounty we have received, with the Scriptural tithe (10%) as a goal.
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MY INCOME VARIES. HOW DO I CALCULATE HOW MUCH TO PLEDGE?
Your pledge can be your promise of the minimum amount you will commit to the Cathedral. If your income increases, you are welcome to increase your pledge. Please do not let a variable income prevent you from making a pledge.
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DO I HAVE TO PAY MY PLEDGE ALL AT ONCE?
No. Many people fulfill their pledge weekly, monthly, or quarterly. Some set up a regular payment schedule by bank transfer or credit card.