Annual Stewardship Campaign
Dear Community Church members and friends,
It’s been a discouraging year for many of us. “The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice,” Dr. King asserted; but that arc seems to be bending in the other direction lately. The values that Jesus preached, such as compassion for others, and especially for the poor, the marginalized, and the “other,” are under attack by our nation’s leaders. Care for the environment is being neglected and negated. The democratic institutions championed by so many of our Congregational forebears as a path to individual dignity and worth, and the resulting laws, are being repealed, reversed, eroded or ignored. It’s a dangerous moment for our nation and our world, with increasing violence and polarization all around us.
Yet we, as followers of Jesus, can rejoice that “God is good, all the time”; that God values every person, animal, and plant in God’s creation; and that love will ultimately win out. At Community Church, we live out those beliefs every day. We care for the immigrant, feed the hungry, clothe the homeless, and resist injustice. We cultivate community, support one another, deepen our faith, and raise our children to share our values. We do our best to love one another and the world.
The outcome of those efforts—HOPE—is desperately needed right now, by us and by many others. Our theme this year—Creating Hope Together—speaks to the vital role our congregation plays in creating hope in us, in our neighbors, and farther afield. Community Church is a beacon for those seeking hope. As many congregations have dwindled or embraced values at odds with Jesus’s teachings, we are intent on creating a beloved community where everyone is welcomed and valued—where hope is alive and growing.
Continuing that mission in 2026 will require all the time, talent, and treasure that we can give it. We hope that you are as excited as we are about our church’s accomplishments and its potential to do even more next year—and that you will respond prayerfully and generously to this year’s campaign.
Dave Grishaw-Jones, Pastor
Tom Jones and Chuck Hotchkiss, Stewardship Committee
