ANNUAL APPEAL

Church of the Incarnation Stewardship Campaign for 2023-24

“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:21

Dear Friends in Christ,

On Sunday August 13 our parish family celebrated the launch of the 2023-24 Annual Appeal.  We gathered in fellowship between the 8:00 and 10:30 Sunday worship services to share a delicious brunch and to talk about stewardship.  I am thankful for all who prepared and served this meal.  I hope that it will become a tradition for our church.

Since 1896, Incarnation has stood at the corner of 5^th and Main. It is a sacred space for worship, learning, growth, and service.  Incarnation is a church that parishioners have loved for many generations.  We follow in their footsteps to receive the body and blood of Christ; to celebrate life’s joyful moments; and to gather strength and support in times of grief, confusion, and change.

In “The Gifts of God” brochure insert, you will find gracious themes running through the testimonials of parishioners:  gratitude; the church as our home and family; cherished opportunities for worship, study, fellowship, and use of our God-given talents; welcoming all who come; caring for each other pastorally; serving our neighbors, be they in Highlands or Haiti;  dedication of clergy and parishioners; the reverent beauty of our worship spaces; the perpetual  rhythms of Eucharist, Morning Prayer, and special services; the very presence of God.

As Fr. Bentley reminded us on Sunday, God’s love for us is unconditional.  It does not depend on how much we give.  Instead, giving transforms us, sanctifies us, and draws us nearer to the heart of God.  Giving is an expression of gratitude for all the blessings of our lives.

“Accept, O Lord, our thanks and praise for all that you have done for us.  We thank you for the splendor of the whole creation, for the beauty of this world, for the wonder of life, and for the mystery of love. ~ BCP, p. 816

Giving from our hearts, in support of God’s work, and as an expression of our love, is part of our discipleship.  This is true whether we pledge or not.  In the lives that we build with our families, our church families, and other chosen families, love and commitment joined together add purpose and meaning to our existences. If you have not yet pledged to support the ministry of the Incarnation, we invite you to prayerfully consider making this commitment.  If you have pledged before, please prayerfully consider continuing or increasing your pledge as you are able.

I appreciate the opportunity to serve as chair of this Annual Appeal and I am thankful for our dedicated committee members:  Martha Wright, Alisa Shapard, Kathleen Michaels, Elizabeth and David Martin, Tom Holmes, and Tom Claiborne.  Please reach out to Fr. Bentley, Fr. Skully, or any of the committee members if you would like to talk about stewardship.

With gratitude,

Ruth Claiborne, Chair, 2023-24 Annual Appeal

We invite each and every one of you to join us in the stewardship of our mission. There are many ways in which you can give or donate, whether that’s your Time, your Talent, or your Treasure. Simply click on one of the options below or contact Teresa Hollingsworth in the Finance department via email or by calling (828) 526-2968.

Instructions for Using PayPal

If you would like to make a one-time donation using your credit card, you may do so through PayPal. All transactions are processed securely and the church will not receive or store any of your credit card information.

When you click the Make a Donation button above, you will be taken to PayPal and shown a screen that looks like or similar to the image shown here.

Step 1: Place your cursor (on a computer) or tap into (on a mobile device) the section that shows $0.00. Enter your desired donation amount here.

Step 2: To process using a credit card, click the Donate with a Debit or Credit Card button. Please note that you may have to scroll down OR you may have to go to another screen before this button appears. Once you click this button, you will be taken to a separate screen to enter your credit card information.

Step 3: Enter your credit card information in the fields provided.

Step 4: Click the Donate Now button.

Recurring Donations: If you want to make a recurring monthly donation using PayPal, you WILL NEED to have a PayPal account. Alternatively, visit our Pledge 2019 section for information on how to make a recurring donation.