2025 Annual Appeal Pledge Request
October 1, 2024
Artapalooza Youth Retreat Creation Care Mural
Like lots of you, this past Sunday I came to the parish retreat. (If you weren’t able to make it, no worries but we did miss you.) The weather was spectacular. The kids made this beautiful mural, ate chips and candy corn and ran around the cemetery. The rest of us shared lots of liturgy, coffee, sandwiches, music and tacos. It was all pretty great.
Chapel Street Band with SJC Youth Choir Members
But mostly what we shared was each other. We shared stories about ourselves, about who we are, where we come from, where we feel most at home. We talked about times when we felt alone and needed to connect. We talked about times when we felt sad and needed a community to hold us, and then we talked about the times we held and supported others who needed to be held. We were many different voices, traveling many different paths, each of which somehow ended up at St. John’s in Thaxter Hall on a gorgeous Sunday, sharing with each other.
Reverend Callie talked about hearts connected by threads. Mine is connected to the heart of this community, so I guess it’s connected to each of yours as well. I hope that’s OK.
Late on Sunday afternoon - after explaining to the children who Dolly Parton is, finishing up our tacos, cleaning up the kitchen, put away the tables and chairs - we each walked or drove home, trailing our invisible, unbreakable, whole-hearted heartstrings that connect us back to this place, and to each other.
Whole-heartedness implies commitment. Our mutual commitment to this community – and to our greater community beyond – is what enables these communities to exist. None of which is possible without our collective and continued support. Our pledges are, and will always be, what keeps St. John’s alive and thriving.
I can say to you – with my whole heart - that I feel the string that connects me to this community that accepts me, sees me, values me, and makes me feel loved. I hope you feel that way, too.
We collectively pledged $625,000 in 2024. Let’s try and do the same again this year. If you can do a little more, please do.
Let’s keep this going,
Chuck Silva
Sr. Warden