Dear Friends,
“Perhaps you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this.” — Esther 4:14
“You are the light of the world… Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.” — Matthew 5:14, 16
This fall, our stewardship theme is From Belonging to Beyond: For Such a Time as This. God has placed Sunriver Christian Fellowship here and now, not only to belong to one another as Christ’s body, but to move beyond ourselves, shining the light of Christ into our community and world. Belonging grounds us. Beyond is where God sends us. Stewardship equips us to live out that call.
This past year, your generosity made a tangible difference. Because of you, we were able to provide 80 cords of wood to our neighbors in need, donate 70 pints of blood (with one more drive scheduled for October 14th that may bring us to 100 pints, serving 300 patients), welcome a new choir director and accompanist, open our building for church dinners, Community Connections, a pumpkin patch, and even a children’s summer theater group. We supported local and international nonprofits and charities, and, at the heart of it all, we gathered for worship every single week. Truly, the list could go on. Every gift and act of generosity helps SCF live its calling, serving neighbors, touching lives, and shining God’s light.
Next year, we hope to build on that foundation. We want to deepen our sense of belonging here, while also reaching beyond ourselves to imagine and resource our neighbor’s good. Some of the ways we hope to do that are by furthering our music ministry, expanding the use of our building for community gatherings, continuing tangible outreach across Deschutes County, and strengthening our online presence. We also hope to invest in care ministries for our members, technology that makes worship more accessible, and community partnerships that serve our neighbors in need. With God’s help, we will step into the future trusting that generosity today creates possibility for tomorrow.
We get to do this work together and your presence, your gifts, and yes, your financial support make it possible. Every act of service, every pledge, every offering is a way of shining Christ’s light and helping SCF live fully into our calling for such a time as this. Next week you will receive your pledge card and Time and Talents sheet. Please prayerfully fill out both and return them to the church. You can also visit our website: www.
Finally, thank you. Thank you for belonging here, for showing up in worship and in service, and for saying yes again and again to God’s call. It is a privilege to be your pastor and to witness how God’s love flows through this community, from belonging to beyond.
With gratitude,
Pastor Kally