Step up for Trinity! 2027 Stewardship | Trinity Episcopal Church

“Now to him who by the power at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”Ephesians 3:20–21

Dear Friends in Christ,

In his letter to the Ephesians, Paul offers a doxology that never fails to stretch our imagination. He reminds us that God, “by the power at work within us,” is able to accomplish “abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine.” Notice where Paul says that power is at work: within us. God’s abundance is not something we simply watch from a distance. It moves through each of us who offers what we have so that God may be glorified “in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations.”

That is the heart of stewardship. When we give to Trinity, we are not just paying for a building or balancing a budget. We are stewards, each making room for God to do more than we can do on our own. Because of your commitment each year, Trinity has gathered for worship, welcomed newcomers, cared for neighbors in need, nurtured children and youth in faith, and stood alongside one another in joy and sorrow. Each of these ministries is a sign of God’s power at work within this community.

As we look toward 2027, we sense God inviting us at Trinity to step into a season of renewal as a church home ready to welcome all who come through our doors, including our next rector and other staff. Hopes like these depend on faithful stewards who are willing to trust God’s abundance and respond with generosity.

As you consider what you can give next year, we want to call your attention to a few key facts:

Pledges make up 70% of our annual budget
Our current pledge income is highly concentrated. Half our pledge income is coming from 15 generous stewards, many of whom are among our older parishioners. We hope and need to broaden that.
A sustaining pledge, or the average pledge needed to sustain our mission, is $5000.
Many pledges have remained at a constant figure in recent years. But we are facing significant inflation in our costs, especially in areas like utilities and medical insurance for our staff.

With this in mind, and with an eye to supporting our Vision as we approach our 150th anniversary, we have 3 goals:

Increase total pledge income by 7% from 700K to 750K
Increase the number of pledging families by 7%, from 140 to 150
Having at least half of pledges, and hopefully much more than half, increase by over 5%

So if you are not pledging yet, we invite you to consider joining with a 2027 pledge.

And if you are pledging, we ask you to prayerfully consider increasing your pledge by over 5% in 2027.

We will celebrate our pledges together on Ingathering Sunday, November 15, when we make our commitments to God’s church at both the 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. services.

Paul did not end his prayer with a plan or a budget. He ended it with praise: “to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, for ever and ever.” For two thousand years, stewards have borne joyful witness that God is still accomplishing far more than we can ask or imagine, here at Trinity and through us in the world.

With gratitude and hope,
The Stewardship Committee
Trinity Church

Key facts as we turn our eyes to 2027

70%

Pledges make up 70% of our annual budget

15stewards

Our current pledge income is highly concentrated. Half our pledge income is coming from 15 generous stewards, many of whom are among our older parishioners. We hope and need to broaden that.

$5,000

A sustaining pledge, or the average pledge needed to sustain our mission, is $5000.

Rising costs

Many pledges have remained at a constant figure in recent years. But we are facing significant inflation in our costs, especially in areas like utilities and medical insurance for our staff.

2027 Pledge Campaign Goals

$750K

Increase total pledge income by 7% from 700K to 750K

150 families

Increase the number of pledging families by 7%, from 140 to 150

Over 5%

Having at least half of pledges, and hopefully much more than half, increase by over 5%

To All Generations: A Story of Stewards

A crowd gathers on Elm Street for the laying of Trinity's cornerstone in 1884 — Laying Trinity’s cornerstone on Elm Street, Ascension Day 1884

It began in small rooms. Paul’s letter to the Ephesians was likely read aloud in someone’s house to a gathering of believers who had little more than their faith and one another. They shared bread, cared for widows and orphans, and set aside what they could for churches in need. They could not have imagined cathedrals or hymnals or a parish in New England, yet they trusted that God, “by the power at work within us,” would accomplish far more than they could ask or imagine. They were the first stewards, and they passed on what they had been given.

Across two thousand years, the line of stewards grew longer. Monks copied scripture by candlelight. Villagers gave stones and timber, sometimes over generations, to raise houses of worship they would never see finished. Ordinary people kept the doors open through plague, war, and hard winters, and handed the faith on to children who would one day hand it on again. About 150 years ago, that same faithfulness took root at Trinity Parish. A small group of stewards gave what they could to build a church home. The people who followed them kept the lights on and built the community. They taught Sunday school, sang in the choir, polished the altar brass, welcomed strangers, and quietly put their offerings in the plate week after week. Some of their names are in the stained glass of the chapel; many more are remembered only by God, but the church we gather in today is their gift to us.

Now the story comes to us. As we look toward 2027, preparing to welcome our next rector and other essential staff, we take our place in this long procession of stewards. We did not lay Trinity’s cornerstone, but we are trusted to care for it and to build on it. When we make a first pledge or prayerfully increase the one we already give, we join the stewards of Ephesus, the builders of every age, and the faithful people of Trinity who came before us. One day, others will look back and give thanks for what we offered in our time. Through our generosity, God will keep doing far more than we can ask or imagine, so that glory may be given “in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, for ever and ever.”

Frequently Asked Questions

Pledging & Parishioner Responsibility

Why are we asked to give our time and money to Trinity?

From a spiritual perspective, we are called upon to be generous and joyful givers of our time, talents, and treasure to support God’s church. Jesus teaches us to love and serve others with the resources and talents we have been blessed with. Thus, generosity is at the root of our faith. Giving is also an expression of our gratitude for the many blessings in our lives.

When you give to Trinity, you help fund our ministries in the community, our worship, and the staff that supports our community as we strive to live out God’s love.

Making your pledge allows you to be intentional with your finances and to consciously use your money in ways that reflect your faith, values, and calling.

From a practical viewpoint, stewardship is our combined energy and financial support that make possible all that we are and do as a parish. Pledges and gifts provide approximately 70% of the funds for our annual parish budget.

Do parishioners of Trinity have to pledge?

A pledge to Trinity is your stated intention to fulfill a defined, annual monetary gift that supports the operational budget of the Church. One does not have to be a “pledger” to make a gift, but understanding your intentions to give in advance is critical for the vestry to set the budget for the following year.

Members of the Episcopal Church are expected to support their parish through generous pledges of their time and talent (volunteering) and treasure (financial pledges). You are invited to support your share of our parish expenses and operating costs, in proportion to your resources. You are not required to pledge to attend services and participate in parish life.

How much should I pledge?

Every gift is received with gratitude and joy. You are invited to support your share of our parish expenses and operating costs, in proportion to your resources.

Trinity depends on a relatively small number of pledges (approximately 140) for most of its budget.

This is a personal decision, but there are guiding principles. The Biblical tithe of 10% of income is a worthy goal, and some members joyfully reach this pinnacle. At Trinity, we suggest an initial goal of 2% of discretionary income, and encourage you to step up in increments of 1% towards a fuller tithe.

Our average gift in 2026 was approximately $5,000 per household—this average is what we need to sustain Trinity’s mission.

We are facing significant inflation in our expenses (especially some expenses such as utilities and healthcare insurance for our clergy and staff). Yet many pledges have remained constant in dollar terms year-to-year. We invite you to consider increasing your 2027 pledge by over 5% to help offset inflation and sustain our mission.

We all receive many requests from worthwhile charities and organizations—but giving to the church community is different than other charitable giving. When we offer our gifts to the church, we are less interested in ‘return on investment’ or ‘results’. Giving to the church, through joyful, regular giving (whether online or in the offering plate each week), is a liturgical act of sacrifice. When the ushers bring forward our gifts (bread, wine, and money), they are offering them on our behalf to God to assume into Godself and transform into what we need for Christian Community (strength, solace, comfort, service).

How is a pledge different than a gift or a collection plate offering?

Every gift or plate offering is gratefully received, but we ask members to indicate their level of support via a pledge to help with our planning. A pledge to Trinity is a financial commitment to support our parish and its missions in the coming year. It helps us plan and create a budget, and your pledge is an act of faith that connects you more deeply to our church. Many find spiritual joy in making a generous pledge to support God’s work through the church.

New Member Questions

Do new members give?

Yes, all members of our community are encouraged to pledge, including our newest members. Gifts should reflect household financial capacity, and reflect where you are in your journey with Trinity. Perhaps new members want to start with a smaller pledge/gift and then as your relationship with the church grows, so can your financial support. Every pledge, regardless of size, is important to each stewardship campaign and is used to fund our ministries in the community, our worship, and the staff that supports our community as we strive to live into God’s mission for our Church.

I have only been coming to Trinity for a few services as I seek a new spiritual home—does Stewardship apply?

We certainly hope that Trinity becomes your spiritual home. Part of committing to a new church is committing to its financial well-being and helping to sustain its mission. Please give something to each church you visit in your search, including Trinity. We want all spiritual communities to thrive. When you are ready to make Trinity your spiritual home, we invite you to reach out to our Rector to learn more about the process of joining the church.

Financial Perspective

How much of the budget comes from pledge income? Don’t we have a large endowment?

70% of our annual budget comes from pledges. We do have long-term funds, including a general funds endowment from which we use only a small draw (4.8% of rolling average on the principal) each year to offset a portion of our annual expenses.

Do we get money from the diocese?

No, we don’t—for Trinity, it’s actually the other way around. Your pledges or gifts go directly to our parish, and we then contribute an annual assessment to help fund the diocese, supporting it and the missions of the Episcopal Church throughout the world. Episcopal churches are usually financially independent, raising most of their operating funds from members.

Taking Steps to Give

How can I make a pledge?

There are three easy ways to make your pledge:

Make a pledge online on Trinity’s website under “Give” › “Make an Annual Pledge”. This is the easiest process for you and for us.
Drop your pledge card in the offering plate on November 15. We will have an Ingathering on Sunday November 15 to celebrate and recognize pledges. Even if you make a pledge online, we will have a physical pledge card for you to also use on our in-gathering Sunday.
Mail your pledge form to the church office.

By when should I make a pledge?

We accept a pledge at any time. However, timely pledges are important for budgeting for the coming year. To that end, please make your pledge before our Ingathering on Sunday, November 15, 2026.

What is the easiest or best way for me to give to Trinity?

Every gift is received with gratitude, and we accept many forms of financial gifts.

That said, the easiest way to give is via a recurring gift on our secure online giving platform on our website, since that is fully automated—easier for you and requires no processing. This can be via ACH transfer from your bank or via credit card (although credit cards carry higher processing fees for the church).

You can also set up a recurring check to be sent from your bank using your online banking autopay function. This is also easy for you and for us to process.

You can also mail or bring a check or cash to the church office or place it in the offering plate during our services. Checks should be made payable to “Trinity Episcopal Church”. If mailing/bringing to the office, please label the envelope, “Attention: Treasurer”.

What kind of contributions can I make? Can I make a one-time contribution or recurring contributions?

You can select the amount, the fund (from the drop-down), and select the date for your gift all right from our giving tab on our website. If you wish to set up recurring payments, you can do so and select the frequency.

You can also donate to different funds—for example, to your stewardship pledge, the flowers fund, memorial fund, Discretionary Fund, or seasonal offerings for Easter or Christmas.

Is it safe to give electronically via our website?

Yes. Our service provider, Vanco Payment Solutions, is designated as a PCI (Payment Card Industry) Level 1 Compliant Service Provider. That means that customer transaction data is managed under the highest security standards in the industry. ACS technologies (the creator of our Realm system) partners directly with Vanco Payment Solutions to ensure secure online giving.

Are there any fees involved with giving electronically?

There is no fee to you for using our online giving option. The church pays a small processing fee. When making your donation using a credit card, you will have the opportunity to help cover the cost, if you choose.

Is a pledge binding?

Pledges indicate your intended financial donation to the parish for the coming year. They convey a level of commitment that strengthens our bonds with the parish, and they are necessary for the vestry to plan appropriately for the year ahead. While pledges guide our budget for the year, they are not legally binding, and if your circumstances change, you can adjust your pledge up or down.

Since your pledge to Trinity is not legally binding, you can pay your pledge from a donor-advised fund or a charitable gift fund.

How do I donate appreciated stock?

Please contact our Bookkeeper or the Treasurer for further information on the process to donate stock through Trinity’s brokerage account.

How can I make an estate gift?

Trinity has an established program for estate gifts (the ‘Bishop Paddock Society’, named after the Bishop who consecrated our church in 1885). Please contact the Treasurer directly for further information on the process to include Trinity in your estate plans.

Should I use a pledge envelope?

You do not need to use a pledge envelope. In fact, not putting your check into a pledge envelope helps make processing more efficient for us. We take your name directly from a check or from the online giving form in order to credit your gift towards your pledge, and we do not use the number on a pledge envelope. If you use cash and would like to use an envelope, we will record your written name (or pledge number if you have a pledge envelope) from that.

Will I receive regular contribution statements from the church?

Yes, all contributions will be credited to your account and will appear on your quarterly statement along with any other donations.

How can I check my pledge balance?

Pledge statements will be sent quarterly. You can send an email to the Treasurer or Bookkeeper who can easily provide you with your pledge balance. You can also look up your pledge balance yourself by logging in to Realm, at https://onrealm.org/trinityconcord. If you do not yet have a Realm login, see below Q&A on “how do I login to Realm”.

Can I change my recurring gift or pledge amount after I have set it up?

If you need help making a change to your pledge, please contact our bookkeeper or treasurer.

Alternatively, you can do this yourself by logging in to Realm (our church management system). You can change your pledge amount and if you created a recurring payment when you set up your gift, you can change the amount, date, or cancel the payment at any time. Simply log in to our church system, Realm, at https://onrealm.org/trinityconcord and make your change. If you do not yet have a Realm login, see below Q&A on “how do I login to Realm”.

How do I login to Realm, our church management system, to check my pledge balance or change my pledge amount or recurring payment?

If you ALREADY have a Realm login: Go directly to onrealm.org/trinityconcord.

Log in with your email and password. Forgot your password? Click the “Forgot your password?” link on that page to reset it.

If you do NOT have a Realm account yet:

Go to onrealm.org/trinityconcord and click “Register now” at the bottom of the log-in box. Important: Be sure to use the exact email address where you receive email communications (like The Window) from Trinity so Realm can automatically match your account and will not create a duplicate account.
Check your inbox for a confirmation email to create your password and set up your profile. (If you don’t see it within a few minutes, check your Spam/Junk folder.)
Once you are logged into Realm, select Giving from the main menu on the left side of your screen. Then click on the Pledge tab to view your active pledge progress or set up a new pledge for the upcoming campaign.

Please note: Updating your pledge amount tells the church your giving intentions, but it does not automatically change recurring online payments. If you set up automatic payments, you can adjust those under the Scheduled Gifts tab.

Step up for Trinity!