Dear Ones of St. Columba's,

I was recently in a conversation with a congregation in our diocese who experience a lot of anxiety around money. In my role as Canon for Congregational Development for our diocese (region), I often get to participate in the lives of other congregations in Western Washington in a consultative capacity. Sometimes I walk with them in a time of transition, other times I come in to help facilitate difficult conversations or do some training on key leadership issues. It is good work, and every time I do it I learn something that feels relevant to my work as your priest here at St. C's.

Anxiety around money is a pretty common phenomenon in churches, as it turns out. Even the ones who, from my perspective as your Vicar, seem to have plenty of it. Sometimes it even seems like having money makes people anxious - what if they lose it? What if goes away?

As I talked with the congregation I referenced earlier, we came to a realization together. Anxiety around money was actually an opportunity for this community. It was an invitation to trust in God's care for them, to use the resources they had for things they felt called to do, with trust that God would also show up, even if they spent their money.

In my experience St. Columba's is not overly anxious about money. Maybe that's because we don't usually have too much of it! However, we have a couple of big fundraising projects as we head into summer, and this is an opportunity to trust God, as well as an invitation to generosity. I will admit, as I look at the money we need to send our kids to camp this summer, and at the additional 25K it will cost to complete our memorial garden, I do feel anxious. I wish I could write a check and make that anxiety go away. But that isn't how faith and trust in God works. 

I will ask you - if you are able to be generous and give to either of these projects, please do. And if you are not able to give, share the news, help by praying and hoping alongside all of us as we work toward these two worthy goals. I believe God has called us to the work of forming children in faith and friendship. I believe God has called us to the work of stewarding our land and the gift of the stained glass windows toward a beautiful sacred space that honors our dead and forms us, the living, for faith in God. We will complete these good works. And what an opportunity they are! Opportunity to trust, to have faith, to ask for help, and to be generous. 

I am thankful for these opportunities, and for each one of you.

with care and gratitude,

Alissa