As you may know, 2007 has been designated the Year of Stewardship within the Scottish Episcopal Church. Every diocese and every congregation has been asked to take part in this programme.
Stewardship can involve many things but fundamentally it is about a commitment of faith: faith which is expressed in worship, in service, and in mission. Our stewardship campaign will begin on Sunday 3rd June and end three weeks later on Sunday 24th June.
Our stewardship of All Saints has been expressed in the last decade in the completion of three major capital projects: the exterior renovations, completed in 1997; the interior restoration work, completed in 2006; and the provision of a new disabled toilet and other facilities in the halls, carried out earlier this year. These are projects of which we should be rightly proud, but they are additions, if you like, to the day-by-day, week-by-week work of the church. They are all the fruits of significant, targeted fund raising efforts by the congregation.
But all of us know that some costs which affect everyone, electricity and gas notable among them, have increased considerably in recent times. The cost of running a church, like the cost of running a home, goes up every year. Those of you who were present at last December's AGM will know that our monthly income falls short of our monthly expenditure by about £1,000. We have some reserves, but we also have a list of matters which demand attention: apart from the annual round of maintenance - no small matter with buildings as extensive as ours - there are the larger questions of replacing window frames in the church as well as upgrading the church heating system.
Although buildings take up much of our time and effort, the main purpose of All Saints is worship, service and mission. It is important to us all that the church is open every day; it is important to us all that the Eucharist is celebrated every day. The Vestry believes that we must continue to develop the life of our congregation and its outreach into the community. To do this effectively, we all need to review our commitment to the church's worship and its mission, not least through our financial support.
In order that we can maintain our church buildings, and in order that we can effectively engage with our worship, mission and service we ask you to consider carefully and prayerfully your level of financial commitment to All Saints. Also, if you are a UK taxpayer, we would encourage you to increase the value of your contribution by signing a Gift Aid declaration. Please find enclosed a Pledge Form and other material. We would ask you to return the Pledge Form in the sealed envelope by Friday 22nd June so that we can announce the results of this campaign on Sunday 24th June.
Professor Edmund Robertson Fr Jonathan Mason Professor Philip Winn
People's Warden Rector Rector's Warden