Every pledge of time, talent, and finances makes a difference.
Pledges of time, talent, and money empower St. PJ's to plan, grow, and serve effectively. By pledging, you support everything from staff and programs to keeping the lights on for the church and its vital ministry partners.
Please consider pledging as part of your spiritual life: A promise to be part of the church -- and to let the church be part of you -- in the year to come.
Click below to download a printable 2026 pledge form to fill out and bring to church on Sunday morning.
Please consider pledging as part of your spiritual life: A promise to be part of the church -- and to let the church be part of you -- in the year to come.
Click below to download a printable 2026 pledge form to fill out and bring to church on Sunday morning.
Dear siblings in Christ and Creation,
We are at the start of our pledge drive for 2026. We write to invite you into prayerful reflection on your participation in the Kingdom of God. This includes how you give your time, talent and treasure. What you might continue to do, or start doing, to support Jazz, Justice and Jesus in the work of St. PJ's?
The money we raise is not merely about keeping the lights on and the boiler running. We are in a space where having light and warmth supports the ongoing ministries to all of God's people. We are asking you, in the words of Henri Nouwen, "to put [your] resources at the disposal of the Kingdom." We are asking you to invest your time, talents, and treasure to strengthen and expand the work of caring for all creation however God calls us.
Think about what is already happening at St. PJ's. We are incredibly blessed with high quality music led by Will Cleary and Dylan Rowland. Jazz has a long history rooted in early spirituals. As described by jazz drummer and priest Spike Wells, "Jazz has fed my soul throughout my life. I can't begin to describe the joy and fulfillment it has brought me." Jazz is also a place where the unchurched can enter into our community. Composer John Rutter said, "To express it simply, [jazz] is a meeting place where believers and non-believers can share something unique and spiritual - and agree." Try listening to Louis Armstrong's recording of Swing Low, Sweet Chariot.
We are also a place of Justice. What is happening at St. PJ's is part of a long legacy of God's work in this place. More than a few ministries developed here including IRIS; Neighborhood Music School; Integrity, the shoe ministry for newly arrived Italian immigrants in Wooster Square; Abraham's Tent, sheltering the homeless; and the Backpack Program which supplied recently released convicts. Consider the many ministries now occurring each week: Sunrise Cafe, Loaves and Fishes Food and Clothing Closet, DESK, and various 12-step meetings. Literally, we are living Jesus' charge to welcome the stranger feed the hungry, clothe the naked, visit the sick and support the recovering. Looking forward, Rev. Nathan has announced the creation of three new ministry teams: Prophetic Voice (social justice and outreach), Resource and Renewal (outward-facing fundraising), and Tentmakers (building and facilities). What more will God do with us and this space?
All of this is centered in Jesus. We follow the barefoot rabbi who called us to love God with all our heart and all our soul, and to love our neighbors as ourselves. We are only the current stewards of this piece in God's creation. We are the recipients of the gifts which God gave to our predecessors, and it is our hope and challenge to continue this work and pass on this legacy of ministry to future parishioners.
Rev. Nathan regularly reminds us the church is not the building. The church is the people of God. We invite you to prayerfully discern how God is calling you to be a steward of creation in this place. Please see the pledge form included. We will gather our pledges on Sunday, November 23. When our worship is over, our service begins and continues.
Yours in Christ,
Pam Sayre and David Tate, Stewardship Co-Chairs
We are at the start of our pledge drive for 2026. We write to invite you into prayerful reflection on your participation in the Kingdom of God. This includes how you give your time, talent and treasure. What you might continue to do, or start doing, to support Jazz, Justice and Jesus in the work of St. PJ's?
The money we raise is not merely about keeping the lights on and the boiler running. We are in a space where having light and warmth supports the ongoing ministries to all of God's people. We are asking you, in the words of Henri Nouwen, "to put [your] resources at the disposal of the Kingdom." We are asking you to invest your time, talents, and treasure to strengthen and expand the work of caring for all creation however God calls us.
Think about what is already happening at St. PJ's. We are incredibly blessed with high quality music led by Will Cleary and Dylan Rowland. Jazz has a long history rooted in early spirituals. As described by jazz drummer and priest Spike Wells, "Jazz has fed my soul throughout my life. I can't begin to describe the joy and fulfillment it has brought me." Jazz is also a place where the unchurched can enter into our community. Composer John Rutter said, "To express it simply, [jazz] is a meeting place where believers and non-believers can share something unique and spiritual - and agree." Try listening to Louis Armstrong's recording of Swing Low, Sweet Chariot.
We are also a place of Justice. What is happening at St. PJ's is part of a long legacy of God's work in this place. More than a few ministries developed here including IRIS; Neighborhood Music School; Integrity, the shoe ministry for newly arrived Italian immigrants in Wooster Square; Abraham's Tent, sheltering the homeless; and the Backpack Program which supplied recently released convicts. Consider the many ministries now occurring each week: Sunrise Cafe, Loaves and Fishes Food and Clothing Closet, DESK, and various 12-step meetings. Literally, we are living Jesus' charge to welcome the stranger feed the hungry, clothe the naked, visit the sick and support the recovering. Looking forward, Rev. Nathan has announced the creation of three new ministry teams: Prophetic Voice (social justice and outreach), Resource and Renewal (outward-facing fundraising), and Tentmakers (building and facilities). What more will God do with us and this space?
All of this is centered in Jesus. We follow the barefoot rabbi who called us to love God with all our heart and all our soul, and to love our neighbors as ourselves. We are only the current stewards of this piece in God's creation. We are the recipients of the gifts which God gave to our predecessors, and it is our hope and challenge to continue this work and pass on this legacy of ministry to future parishioners.
Rev. Nathan regularly reminds us the church is not the building. The church is the people of God. We invite you to prayerfully discern how God is calling you to be a steward of creation in this place. Please see the pledge form included. We will gather our pledges on Sunday, November 23. When our worship is over, our service begins and continues.
Yours in Christ,
Pam Sayre and David Tate, Stewardship Co-Chairs
Thank you.
Ready to Pledge?
To set up automatic monthly payments, click "Monthly" and follow the instructions. You can cancel anytime!
Frequently Asked Questions
Whenever we talk about money, we want to be as transparent as possible. We hope the following answers to frequently asked questions will shed some light on the pledging process and provide helpful guidance for next steps.
What is pledging?
A pledge is a commitment to give one’s time, talent, and treasure (money) to the church, as a way of giving back to the church and to God. Parish members reflect on what they feel they can contribute over the upcoming year, and tell the church their plan. From this, the church creates its budget and plans for the year, knowing what the approximate income will be. A pledge is a statement of intent, and can be changed at any time.
What is the difference between pledging and giving?
Giving is the act of contributing to the church, by using the “donate” button on the website, dropping money into the plate, or donating to a specific ministry or action the church is undertaking. Pledging is an estimation of what you plan on giving over the upcoming year to support the operations of the church.
Why do people pledge?
People pledge for all sorts of reasons, but the main one is that they support the work and ministry of the church and want to give back! If you feel like you can’t contribute much financially, gifts of time and talent are equally valuable. If you are already giving regularly to the plate on Sundays, a pledge is a way of formally estimating how much you are already contributing.
How do I make a pledge?
You should be receiving a pledge card. If one has not been sent to you, you can pick one up at church, or download one here! All you need to do is fill it out and return it to the church office.
How much should I pledge?
Traditionally, the Biblical practice of “tithing” is to give one tenth of your income back to the church. In practice, every family and individual has a unique financial and spiritual situation, so you need to reflect deeply on what PJs means to you as well as to the larger community, and how much you are willing to give!
What happens if I make a formal pledge and then can’t fulfill my pledge commitment?
Unforeseen things happen, and the church understands that a pledge is only a statement of intent. If changes in your life mean that you can no longer give as you pledged, we understand! Your church family has your back during difficulties, and please do not be ashamed if you can’t make your pledge as you thought you could. Please never hesitate to reach out to the rector for help and support through dark times, whether it’s about a pledge adjustment or anything else. Conversely, you’re always welcome to give more than you pledged if things are looking brighter!
How do I make pledge payments?
People make pledge payments all sorts of ways, and in different intervals. You can indicate how you intend to make your pledge on your pledge card. Common ways are by dropping off a check in the plate or the church office (made out to “The Church of St. Paul and St. James” with “Pledge” in the memo line), or through our online “Donate” button (clicking the box where it says “this is a pledge contribution”). It is helpful to the church if you pay in certain intervals so that we are able to pay our expenses throughout the year.
How does the church keep track of pledges?
The church keeps track of pledges through the Church Windows program. Every amount of money given to PJs, pledge or not is entered weekly into this database by our hardworking treasurer. We can then total how much has been given as pledges, or gifts, or money in the plate, and if the money has been given for a certain cause – e.g. flowers, music, backpacks.
Do you still have some questions? Contact us today and let us know how we can help.