October is Pledge Month

October is stewardship month at St. John’s. We ask you to prayerfully consider your pledge for 2023. Thanks to you and others, we’re making real progress toward our vision of becoming a “Renewed Church.” A challenge still before us is reducing our dependency on funding a large percentage of our operating budget from our investment funds.

Image of St John's Episcopal Church Building at 14th and Main St. Dubuque
Pledge month

Our Letter to You

For the last five years, we’ve chosen as a congregation to pursue renewal. To pursue growth in faith, growth in numbers, and growth in finances. We’ve seen successes, failures, and setbacks in all of these areas. Finances remain a significant challenge for our congregation.  Last May, the Vestry with wide input from the congregation and a special task force took a hard look at our situation. The options of making significant cuts, moving to a part-time or shared rector, and other options were considered.

Also in May, the Vestry approved an objectives document with the view that it is in the best interest of the church, the most faithful option at this time, to continue for an intentional two-year period to move forward with the goal of renewal. The document outlines specific and measurable goals in order to see our church thrive and expand. At this time, investing in renewal seems more likely to result in growth and a future for St. John’s than making drastic cuts, which might result in the church growing smaller and possibly not being able to continue.

 As pointed out by Ally Goerdt, our treasurer, in a recent Messenger, we have a goal of increasing revenue by$10,000 by the end of the year. $7,150 has been raised so far and most of this has happened through congregational giving with about 20 families increasing their giving mid-year. We are extremely thankful for this.

 Once again, October is stewardship month. We thank you for the pledge you may have made for 2022. If you have given in 2022, a statement through September 30 will be available in the back of church on October 16. This statement will help you plan for 2023. We ask you to prayerfully consider your pledge for 2023. Please give for the immediate future of St. John’s. Let’s keep running the race. Thanks to you and others, families have given $98,432 to St. John’s through their pledge and plate offerings. This year we have a pledge goal of $100,000 for 2023 and goal to have 3 families who have not pledged last year to make a pledge this year. This pledge goal will help towards a total revenue goal of $182,000 for 2023.

 We’re asking you to make a generous pledge to St. John’s for the year 2023. If you have been blessed financially this year, please consider increasing your pledge to St. John’s. For your family perhaps that means moving an increase of 5%, maybe less, as you work toward the goal of giving a tithe, 10% of one’s income. Pray, ponder, and choose the approach that seems right to you.

 If the year has been challenging for you financially, please consider renewing your pledge for the same amount as last year. We ask that you make your pledge by Tuesday, October 25, as we will celebrate the pledges received on Sunday, October 30. We have enclosed a pledge card and other tools to help you prayerfully consider your pledge as part of your commitment to God and God’s people at St. John’s.

 Susan Meyers, our Director of Development and Stewardship, is coordinating this month’s activities. Please feel free to reach out to us, Ally, or to Susan with any feedback or questions you may have.

With gratitude for your generosity,

Fr. Kevin Goodrich, O.P.

Rector

Kim Miller

Leader, Finance and Stewardship Team

Pledge month

Pledge Tools

Pledge month

Pledge Card

Make a Pledge

Pledge Method:

Alternative Pledge Options (select one to indicate you would like a member of the staff to reach out):

Click here to indicate you have reviewed your pledge information and are ready to submit:

Pledge month

How to Fulfill Your Pledge

Direct Withdrawal via ACH

Direct withdrawal via ACH reduces fees and eliminates the possibility of lost, stolen, or fraudulent checks.
To sign up for ACH, print this form and mail it to: 
St. John’s Episcopal Church
Attn: Treasurer
1458 Locust St.
Dubuque, IA 52001

Credit or Debit Card

You can give using they VISA, MasterCard, Discover, or AMEX.  You may set it up and manage your pledge by clicking here. You will be taken to a secure transaction form. Unlike the other payment options, this option does include a fee assessed to St. John’s.  You will be given an option to cover the fee when you sign up.

Bank Bill Pay

A check is mailed from your bank to us. When signing up with your bank, please note that our mailing address is 1458 Locust St., Dubuque, IA 52001.

Check

Make your check out to St. John’s Episcopal Church and place it in the offertory plate at church or mail it to us at 1458 Locust St., Dubuque, IA 52001.

Pledging together

THANK YOU

St. John’s would like to thank  you for your contribution. Here is how your pledge will help in the coming year.

  • Decrease dependency on our investments
  • Continue our work in the community
  • Support our mission partners
  • Revitalize our parish
At st. john’s

Doubts are ok,
questions are welcome,
please, come as you are.