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“How Sure a Foundation is Laid for Our Faith!”
This past summer, the Episcopal Church celebrated the 50th anniversary of the ordination of women to the priesthood. Jane Hoffelt designed a beautiful poster that featured many of the amazing ordained and lay leaders who have sustained our parish from the very beginning. We have lifted up many women for ordination, and we have been led by lay women in every aspect of our faith life. When I think about the foundations of our community, these amazing leaders, who created and continue to create the pervading spirit of St. Stephen’s come first to mind. When people walk into worship on Sunday mornings, the generosity with which they are made to feel welcome lays the foundation for their growing life of faith and their participation in the life of the parish.
This past year has seen many changes to both our building and to our practice as a parish. The floor of the Sanctuary was redone in December and the new labyrinth was laid. This simple change to our Sanctuary has led to a growth in our spiritual offerings, both in the Sanctuary and elsewhere. Rich Horton offers guided labyrinth walks. Melissa Reed now offers a monthly journaling workshop that has a devoted and growing following. Susan Bush offers occasional drum circles, creating community through shared rhythm and body meditation. Jamie Massa continues to lead centering prayer and has led us in studying the Christian mystics. A group of yoga instructors lead a weekly class on the labyrinth for students and community members. In combination with our Sunday worship and Wednesday prayer, these activities pervade the atmosphere and keep the spiritual foundation of our life together strong.
The foundation of our faith is rooted in Jesus, who encouraged us to share our gifts with one another in a spirit of servanthood. Thank you for sharing your gifts and talents during this stewardship season.
Faithfully,
Karl+
Narrative Budget
How We Fund Our Ministries
How We Allocate Our Resources
Sacramental Life
26.77% of our ministry budget
In the past year, we have been very fortunate to have many more talented people enhancing our sacramental life with their skills and voices. We have seven preachers who regularly share their insights, and we have developed a way of hearing from every member of the congregation, who are invited to give feedback and offer their own deep learning and questions during our sermon reflection circles. Our choir has grown, and we are thrilled that choral ensemble Luces Stellarum is doing a residency with us this year. The Easter Vigil, All Saints Service, and Blessing of the Animals are all becoming treasured parish traditions. And more and more people are willing to serve in the weekly worship roles of lector, intercessor, acolyte, chalice bearer, and altar guild member. Our sacramental life is also deeply enhanced by the Wednesday Noonday Prayer group, many of whom stay after the service to tend to the sanctuary plants.
Community Life
34.83% of our budget
We rejoice in all of our current structures of community: monthly potlucks, coffee hour, pancake suppers, annual meetings, book club gatherings, Canticle Club get togethers, and all the private lunches and coffees and dinners through which we get to know each other and uplift each other in faith.
One of the real gifts of the present moment is the way in which we care for each other. This year we reestablished the role of Lay Eucharistic Visitor, and now have four parishioners who regularly take communion to shut-ins and people in the hospital. We maintain the strength of our foundation by making sure that no one is left feeling lonely and abandoned after a health crisis.
This past year we’ve experienced the loss of longtime parishioners, many of whom led the church during their time among us as Vestry members, wardens, treasurers, and community members. The parish came together to grieve and honor them. Their funerals truly were celebrations of life, as many of our friends in the wider community reconnected with us to share memories and reflect on St. Stephen’s past, present, and future. We build on the good foundation that was laid by these elders of the parish.
Campus Life
8.71% of our budget
Our Young Adult and Campus Ministry (YAMS) serves a vibrant community of individuals within our parish between the ages of 18 and 30. Our program budget is fully funded by a campus ministry grant from the diocese, including the campus minister stipend. In 2023, we were able to more than double our grant, enabling us to greatly expand the activities and events we offer. The parish contributes through building use and staffing expenses.
Our ministry is comprised of three core areas: formation, fellowship, and community building. Each month, we host social events like game nights, lunches, and group hikes to welcome newcomers and share fellowship with one another. Finally, we seek out opportunities to participate in volunteering, campus outreach, and social activism.
This past year St. Stephen’s became a founding member of the Wonderfully Made Coalition, a group of campus religious groups that are Queer-aligned and focused on countering anti-LGBTQiA+ hate speech and policies.
Justice & Outreach
13.21% of our budget
Through our affiliation with BREAD and LOVEBoldly, and the outreach we undertake at NSI and Street Church, we try to live out the life to which we are called. Parishioners prepare lunches for the homeless, cook and serve lunch at St. John’s Town St., and provide Christmas gifts for children. Through BREAD we advocate for affordable housing, restorative practices in schools, jobs for returning citizens, and environmental justice. Through LOVEBoldly, we are active in opposition to anti-trans bills and anti-DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) education bills.
Creation Care continues to be a focus. In September we celebrated the Season of Creation, using new liturgical resources and focusing on creation care in our preaching. The Creation Care blog on our website regularly draws comments and accolades from school groups and church organizations, not only in Ohio but nationwide.
We are also very involved in outreach to the unhoused community, and work closely with Southeast, whose social workers have their offices in Hobson Hall. They help hundreds of people every month, and we assist by providing clothing and sanitary products, and by inviting their clients to participate in the joys of our community.
Adult Formation
6.56% of our budget
Many of our Adult Formation programs, such as Book Club and Canticle Club, take place in people’s homes and neighborhoods. In this way, they weave a sense of community into our daily lives and help us to mentor and assist each other in our faith walks. Other groups, such as the poetry writers, meet at a restaurant. Others meet online. This year we offered two classes during Advent and Lent that took place between services, one on Jaroslav Pelican’s book Mary through the Centuries and the other on Rowan Williams’s book Resurrection. Our weekly sermon reflection circles are quickly becoming our most successful form of Adult Formation. In this coming year, we will be participating in Lenten School, joining with other parishes for adult formation during Lent.
Children & Families
9.93% of our budget
At St. Stephen’s, we prioritize creating a warm and spiritually enriching atmosphere for children and families from the moment they step inside. Every Sunday, we provide a welcoming nursery experience for children aged 0-4, enabling families with little ones to engage fully in our worship service. Our Children’s Formation Director, Nile Najmi, organizes age-appropriate liturgical activities for children aged 4-12 during Children’s Church. Collaborating with St. John’s of Worthington, we offer a Youth Group for middle and high schoolers. Each month, we are able to take those youth on special outings to visit different houses of worship, museums, and other exciting experiences around Columbus. Your support enables us to sustain and expand these ministries, ensuring our children can effectively thrive in their own spiritual journeys.
Looking to the Future
Stewarding an endowment is about using the resources of the present to provide for the future. St. Stephen’s has been very fortunate during the last twelve years, in that monies from a settlement have allowed us to fund our annual budgets. Money from the settlement provides between 46-49% of our income every year. Without it, we couldn’t afford a full-time priest, and would have to cut other staff positions and defund vital ministries. The settlement money will run out in 2037. Our goal is to build our endowment so that the $212,000 in settlement money we receive each year will be replaced by endowment interest at that time.
Each year we put the money that is left over from the $212,000 settlement check into the Endowment Fund. This is the main way in which we build the endowment. In years when people pledge more, we are able to use less settlement money to fund our budget and therefore can invest more of it in the Endowment Fund. In years when people pledge less, we have to use more of the settlement money, and the hope that we might be able to replace the settlement money in 2037 grows smaller. As of the end of September 2024, our endowment portfolio is valued at $1,312,760. At a very good capital appreciation rate the returns would supply only a little more than half of what we currently receive from the settlement. We have a lot of work to do if we are to achieve our goal of building the endowment to the point where we can replace the money from the settlement.
That is why we need your pledge. Your pledge will fund the current life of the parish, and allow us to use settlement money to save for the future. We want to make sure that our ministry to the campus, the Columbus community, and to the next generation of congregants, is secure. Please give generously.
Stewardship Campaign Goal & How to Make Your Gift
Our Goal in 2025 is to raise $145,000 in pledges.
How to Make Your Gift
Make a pledge by November 17th.
Email your pledge amount by clicking here.
Please write “Pledge 2025” in the subject line of the email.
FULFILL YOUR PLEDGE IN 2025
Make contributions in person, by mail or give online on a schedule that works for you.
- Drop a check or cash in an offering envelope in the Sunday offering plates
- Mail your check to St. Stephen’s
- Give online by clicking here.
PLANNED GIVING
Email Karl to meet about including St. Stephen’s in your estate planning.