Dean's Message for October 30, 2025

Author:
October 28, 2025

Dear Friends in Christ,

As we enter this season of stewardship at St. Paul’s Cathedral, we do so with a theme that calls us back to the ground beneath our feet:
Rooted in Abundance.

This is more than a financial slogan. It’s a spiritual truth. We give—not because we have to, or because we’re measuring our blessings against our struggles—but because we are already planted in the rich soil of God’s grace. That abundance is not theoretical. It is real. It is visible in the life we share every week—in the beauty of our worship, in the faithfulness of our people, in the generosity that flows through our ministries, and in the sacred, ordinary work of being the Church in the heart of this city.

This year’s stewardship theme finds even deeper meaning as it lives alongside our Cathedral’s broader program year theme:
Defiant Hope: Rooted, Reaching, Rising.

Hope, in its truest form, is an act of resistance. It refuses to wither in dry seasons. It stretches toward the light even when shadows linger. It takes root, reaches wide, and rises—again and again.

We’ve been reflecting this year on the image of a tree—not just as a symbol, but as a living metaphor for what God is cultivating here among us. Like the trees that line our city streets and shelter our parks, our Cathedral is called to be:
· Rooted—in Scripture, tradition, prayer, and the relationships that hold us through every storm. Our roots dig deep into the soil of God’s love and the long history of this place, anchoring us even when the world shakes.
· Reaching—with open branches that extend beyond ourselves. We are reaching across generations, across differences, into our neighborhood and our diocese, making room for new voices, new ministries, and new dreams.
· Rising—toward the future, with courage and joy. We are not shrinking back. We are growing upward—into the sunlight of what God is calling us to next.

Your pledge this year is more than a line on a form. It is a seed. A living act of faith and hope that allows this tree to flourish. It supports worship that inspires, formation that deepens, outreach that heals, music that lifts the soul, and care that binds us together as a people of God.
Every gift will be received with gratitude, brought to the altar, and blessed. And on the reverse side of the pledge card, you’ll find space to reflect on how you are called to grow in this season—how you are rooted, reaching, and rising with us.

Thank you for all the ways you give—your presence, your prayers, your service, and your resources. Thank you for believing in the future of the Church, and for living that belief with defiant, abundant hope.

Faithfully,

The Very Reverend Katie Churchwell
Dean, St. Paul’s Episcopal Cathedral

PS: Consecration Sunday and our Thanks-a-Lunch celebration will take place on November 9.
If you are unable to attend, please return the pledge card received in the mail before that date so that all gifts may be gathered, offered, and blessed in community. We’ll place your pledge on the altar that day for consecrating.

If you’ll be with us on November 9, simply bring your card with you that morning!

No worries if you need one—we’ll have extra pledge cards available that day for anyone who needs them.

If you’re ready to begin your 2026 pledge process now? Click HERE or contact Lauren Bass, who will be happy to help you get started.

 

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