Dear Friends,

Greetings from the Florida Panhandle!  Last night I was honored to be present and preach at the Celebration of New Ministry for a friend and his new congregations (Yes, plural, there are two of them!) in Panama City Beach.  It was a joyful reunion for several of us who studied together at the Seminary of the Southwest.  Now, I am looking forward to being back with you on Sunday.

We are well north of Hurricane Milton, and have enjoyed sunny skies throughout the visit.  All the folks in harm’s way, further down to the central part of the peninsula, including many of my own family, continue to be in our hearts and in our prayers. (I am relieved to report that I have heard from my folks this morning, and they came through the storm without flooding or major damage at their home.)

This Sunday will be our final Episcopal 101 Forum in this series.  We will be talking about how Episcopalians order our life together in parishes and dioceses, with special attention to the local context of St. Michael’s.  Leadership, governance, and financial involvement will all be topics for conversation, and I am excited to share together with all who join us.

Along these lines, two important initiatives are now in motion and important to note.

1. Nominations.  First, the Nominations Committee is seeking statements of interest for nomination to election for Vestry or as a Delegate to Diocesan Convention.  In the Episcopal Church, governance of the parish is shared between a representative body of elected leaders, called the Vestry, and the Rector; and governance of the diocese is shared between elected delegates to convention and the Bishop.  It is important to have a diversity of perspectives, experience, and skills on these governing bodies, to be as effective as possible in serving the needs of the parish and diocese, respectively.  These positions will be elected in the Annual Meeting in January and begin their terms soon thereafter.  If you are curious about these ministries, please reach out to me or a member of the Nomination Committee for a conversation.  (We also have several standing committees of the Vestry who support areas of finances, personnel, and facilities.  I’m happy to talk with you about those opportunities to serve as well!)
2. Stewardship!  This week begins our season of celebrating “Grace Overflowing,” an inspiring theme for our 2025 Annual Giving Campaign.  Team LIFE is leading the effort to inform and invite our generous financial support for the coming year at St. Michael’s.  We are invited to consider all the ways God blesses us with more than enough to share, and to respond with generosity to share with the parish community.  A lot goes into this effort!  Team LIFE’s work is front and center during the campaign, and I am so grateful to everyone on that committee for their creative and hope-filled leadership.  Behind the scenes, the Finance Committee has been running models for next year’s budget since early summer, and the Vestry has already considered a first draft budget to see what the needs and hopes for 2025 will require in terms of funding.  The Vestry’s goal for next year’s campaign is $650,000 in pledges, with hopes of 200 households pledging (including 100 increased pledges and 30 new pledges).  This is a “stretch” goal for St. Michael’s, but it is not far out of line in terms of past campaigns.  Achieving this number together, we can fund a full-time Associate Rector position, offer cost of living increases to staff (for the first time in 3 years), address increased costs and deferred maintenance on the building, and make investment in key ministries – all of this to help us continue growing and going with God into the future. 

During this time, I invite us to be prayerful.  Be prayerful about our participation in governance and leadership at St. Michael’s.  Be prayerful about our increased or new pledge to St. Michael’s in 2025.  And be prayerful for the overall campaign, that God will help us to raise the funds and experience Grace Overflowing for all that God is inspiring us to be and do. 

Grateful and with you,

The Rev. R. Scott Painter, Rector
Email: ScottP@stmaa.org