“Together We are God’s House.”
Pledge card is at the bottom of the page
In the Early 1970s, renowned hymn writers and lifelong companions Avery and Marsh wrote a song that became an instant classic, “We are the Church.” Following the tumultuous 60s and changing understandings of what it meant to be the Church, this simple yet profound hymn told children and adults alike that the sacred spaces are not the church buildings but are found in the relationships that we have with one another. This is seen in the four stanzas that teach us how we should accept those who are different, how we work toward a just world, how we worship together and share God’s Love. It is a simple message, but one that is often lost in our modern world.
This week we are launching our stewardship campaign “Together We are God’s House.” Like the classic 70’s hymn, we are celebrating the relationships that make our congregation a sacred community. While our facilities are an amazing gift, what makes us the church are the relationships that we have, not only among our members and guests, but the thousands of people who use our facility and the neighbors who look to us in their times of need.
In many great ways our facilities are a beacon of welcome. We are home to many organizations, ranging from anonymous 12-step and support groups to the Silicon Valley Gay Men’s Chorus, PACT, San Jose Symphonic Choir, ACE Charter School and more. Of course, this will become even more true when we welcome the Bill Wilson Center next year.
While we may not see it, we are growing as a congregation as well. Covid gave us many challenges, but it taught us a lot, especially that we can be the church in many ways. By combining virtual and in-person activities, we can offer more to our congregation than we have in years. Our online reach on Zoom and Facebook continues to be significant for those unable to make it to worship. We have even been able think outside the box to try new programs and experiment with new ways of doing things.
While we are excited about what we are doing as a church, the most difficult hurdle we must overcome is finding how to financially support the things we value. While our rentals help to cover the costs of our facilities, our staffing and programs need your support through your pledge. We would love in the next year to be able to see the youth ministries continue to grow. We are also excited to see where the relationship with Bill Wilson will take us and see if there may be new ministries found there. Please prayerfully consider what you can give, and return your pledge in person, by mail, or give online.
As the refrain from the Avery and Marsh song teaches us:
I am the church!
You are the church!
We are the church together!
All who follow Jesus,
all around the world!
Yes, we’re the church together!
Together we are God’s House! Whether it is at 1100 Shasta, on Zoom, or when we are active in our community, we are the church when we are together!
In Christ,
Rev. Bryan James Franzen, Pastor and Elder Ross Barrons, Chair of Stewardship
This week we are launching our stewardship campaign “Together We are God’s House.” Like the classic 70’s hymn, we are celebrating the relationships that make our congregation a sacred community. While our facilities are an amazing gift, what makes us the church are the relationships that we have, not only among our members and guests, but the thousands of people who use our facility and the neighbors who look to us in their times of need.
In many great ways our facilities are a beacon of welcome. We are home to many organizations, ranging from anonymous 12-step and support groups to the Silicon Valley Gay Men’s Chorus, PACT, San Jose Symphonic Choir, ACE Charter School and more. Of course, this will become even more true when we welcome the Bill Wilson Center next year.
While we may not see it, we are growing as a congregation as well. Covid gave us many challenges, but it taught us a lot, especially that we can be the church in many ways. By combining virtual and in-person activities, we can offer more to our congregation than we have in years. Our online reach on Zoom and Facebook continues to be significant for those unable to make it to worship. We have even been able think outside the box to try new programs and experiment with new ways of doing things.
While we are excited about what we are doing as a church, the most difficult hurdle we must overcome is finding how to financially support the things we value. While our rentals help to cover the costs of our facilities, our staffing and programs need your support through your pledge. We would love in the next year to be able to see the youth ministries continue to grow. We are also excited to see where the relationship with Bill Wilson will take us and see if there may be new ministries found there. Please prayerfully consider what you can give, and return your pledge in person, by mail, or give online.
As the refrain from the Avery and Marsh song teaches us:
I am the church!
You are the church!
We are the church together!
All who follow Jesus,
all around the world!
Yes, we’re the church together!
Together we are God’s House! Whether it is at 1100 Shasta, on Zoom, or when we are active in our community, we are the church when we are together!
In Christ,
Rev. Bryan James Franzen, Pastor and Elder Ross Barrons, Chair of Stewardship
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