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This Stewardship Season, we contemplate our theme of Plenty Good Room reflecting the promise of abundance and welcome seen at St Andrews. Stewardship season is a time to reflect on the many blessings we receive by participating in the St. Andrew's community, and to prayerfully consider how we can live into that promise of the welcoming community we are building together with Rev. Mia.
“Every generous act of giving, with every perfect gift, is from above” - James 1:17, NRSV
This promise of abundance and welcome lies at the heart of our stewardship theme: Plenty Good Room. As you look around St. Andrew's, you can see many signs of affirmation and a welcome for everyone. As Rev Mia says every Sunday, “This is God’s table, not our own. All are welcome at God’s table.” There is plenty of room. We invite you to prayerfully consider your responses and return your pledge on or before November 8th, which is Ingathering Sunday. Every gift matters. Every commitment sustains our worship, our learning, our fellowship, and our outreach to those in need.
This is not only an appeal for funds - it is an invitation to claim your place in God’s household, to make room for others, and to live into God’s abundance. When we respond together, we become the church God is calling us to be: a community with plenty good room for all.
Thank you for your faithful and generous response to this call.
Ingathering Sunday is November 8, 2026 – please spend the time between now and then in conversation and prayer as you discern what pledge amount makes sense for you and your family.
Jesus said, “In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places,” -John 14:2
Stewardship FAQ
What is Stewardship?
Stewardship is an expression of gratitude and thankfulness for the blessings of life that come from God. God is love shared and love returned. Practically, it means making gifts of financial resources as well as time and abilities to support the mission and ministry of the parish.
Why is pledging important?
The Episcopal Church operates on a pledging system rather than relying solely on the offering plate each Sunday. The pledges are gathered during the Fall “ Stewardship Season.”
Based upon the total pledged amount, the Vestry (elected lay leadership of the Church) and the Finance Committee (appointed by the Vestry to oversee the financial aspects of the Church) prepare a budget, decide staff raises, and generally plan the financial direction of the church for the following year. Your vestry does its best to operate the church on a sound financial basis, and knowing what the church can expect in income enhances the vestry’s ability to plan responsibly.
Is my stewardship defined only by the money I give to the church?
Absolutely not, Time and service given to others are critical components of stewardship. Our church can’t function without all three gifts of money, time, and service.
Are there other ways to pay my pledge other than putting money in the plate on Sunday?
Yes! There are a number of ways to pay your pledge:
Plate, Cash, or Check: Parishioners can always put their pledge in the collection plate on Sunday. If you pay with cash, you should notify the office that you need envelopes so the cash can be properly recorded against your pledge. If you pay by check, this will automatically be subtracted from your pledge.
Automatic payments by check: Many parishioners set up their bill pay services to mail a check directly to the church at St. Andrews Church, P.O. Box 298, Ayer, MA 01432. This can be done in the frequency selected by the parishioner (e.g., weekly, monthly, quarterly, etc.) These payments are recorded against the pledge record of the parishioner.
Donations of stock: Stock can be donated by making transfers into a parish account. E-mail our treasurer, Karyn Paglierani, at kpaglierani@standrewsayer.org if you need more information on this option.Online payments – St. Andrews is registered with Breeze, an online giving service. You can fill out your pledge online and set up automatic payments at whatever frequency you wish. There is a 3% fee to the church for gifts offered through a credit card, and only a 1% fee to the church for gifts offered directly from a bank account, so we prefer the latter. You may also pay the fee on behalf of the parish. You can find a link to set up your online pledge at:
Can I designate part or all of my pledge for a specific purpose?
Because your annual stewardship pledge is used to fund St. Andrew’s general operating expenses, we can’t allow designated pledges that could potentially limit our ability to meet our expenses. Annual pledging is meant for the general use of the Vestry to pay staff, maintain the church, pay utilities, fund the church school, pay for coffee hour supplies and other events (such as the parish picnics, annual meetings, etc.), provide money for Mission, and run the office .Should you wish to give money in addition to your pledge for a specific purpose outside of operating expenses or other directed contributions outlined below, please speak first with the wardens, treasurer, and/or Rector.
Will I receive a record of my contributions?
Yes, quarterly statements are sent to parishioners outlining where they are in relation to their pledge. If you donate stock, you will receive a separate letter outlining the value of the stock on the day it was received.
I don’t think I can afford to pledge
If you are new to pledging, this can sound like a big commitment, but pledging is important at any level, and is not just for big donors. If you think you can afford $10/month, then pledge $120 for the year. If you think you can afford what it costs for a cup of coffee each day of the workweek ($18/week), pledge $936 for the year. If you can afford to pledge what you spend on your cable bill or streaming subscriptions ($200/month), pledge $2,400 for the year. If circumstances change (for better or for worse), you can also change your pledge if you need to mid-year.
If I pledge and cannot pay my pledge, what should I do?
The most important aspect of this question is a pastoral one. If you are having issues in your life, please contact Reverent Mia for help. If you are having financial difficulties and do not need or want pastoral help, please send an email to the church office (info@standrewsayer.org) outlining what the changes will be in your pledge for the current year. You do not need to explain; life circumstances can alter our ability to meet our pledge. This information will be kept in strictest confidence; however, telling us you cannot make your pledge will allow course correction for the budget if necessary.
We are living in challenging times. The pace of life is hectic and there are many demands upon our resources and attention. Costs are increasing across the board, and we are all adjusting our budgets to accommodate the higher price of food, fuel, and medical expenses. We need to make hard decisions on what are our necessities and why we should use precious resources on them. These are some of the ‘whys’ that move me to pledge:
Weekly spiritual grounding
Insightful preaching
A place of comfort for those in pain
A feeling that ‘God is in this place’
Making beautiful music to share
A welcoming, affirming community of friends and friends yet to be made
These are some of the 'whys' I find at St Andrews that make it a necessity in my life. I see my pledge as an investment in sustaining and strengthening our community so it can continue making these offerings to everyone who comes through those red doors. I ask you to prayerfully consider your own ‘whys’ and make your pledge accordingly within your means. If you don’t currently pledge, please consider doing so as it really helps the wardens and vestry plan and budget for the upcoming year.
Peace and blessings
Ned Cheesman
2025 Stewardship Co-chair
We hope this document answers many of your questions. If not, don’t hesitate to contact Hunter (hunter.thoen@gmail.com) or Ned (ncheesman@standrewsayer.org)!
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