It is once again that time of year, Stewardship Time! This year we are focused on increasing our number of pledgers, and leaning into a wholistic model of stewardship, Time, Talent and Treasure. It takes a lot to operate the ministry of our church. We are grateful for however you can support our work of providing a place of help, hope and healing for the community and each other. 

 Over the next few weeks you will be hearing from fellow parishioners about why they support Emmanuel. We will end our stewardship campaign on November 16th by blessing our pledges of time, talent, and treasure. 

There are pledge cards at the back of the church, but if you would prefer to pledge online, you can pledge here

From the Rector 

Dear Emmanuel Parish Family,

            In my short few months as your Rector, it has become clear to me that we are a community that can celebrate many blessings. We are blessed by how your approach to life together, your willingness to support one another, and your embrace of humor and community relationships. We are blessed by the previous generations of Christians who built up Emmanuel to what it is today. And thanks to the work of Katy, Mother Annette, and your lay leadership management of the transition, we are in a good position early on in this next chapter of Emmanuel history.

            I am hoping that going forward we can expand on the good work and the traditions that are in this place by taking the next faithful steps from here. And so, I would like us in these next steps to continue the tradition of supporting our Children and Youth as they learn and grow, and to invite them to participate as leaders in our community. Our Fellowship and Events Committee is planning on offering more opportunities to gather and celebrate our common life together. And in our outreach ministries, we are planning to continue the work we are doing, while creating more opportunities for you to join in serving the community by building relationships with local non-profits. We are planning to add more opportunities to learn through our Adult Education classes and more chances to pray together for those things that are important to us.

            No matter what you can give in terms of your time, talent, and treasure, I would like to invite you to participate and shape our journey together. We need your wisdom and your skill. We would appreciate your time in helping support the ministries we already have and supporting us in as we expand the ways we are serving God and one another. Your pledge and your support matter to us, no matter what you can give, even if all you can give are your prayers.

            Yours in Christ,

                            Nathan+ 

From the Stewardship Committee Co-Chairs 

Hello, Emmanuel Church Parish Family!

We’re Steve Bareford and David Parker, the co-chairs of this year’s Stewardship Committee – we’re writing to invite you to consider how you’d like to participate in the mission and ministry of Emmanuel Episcopal Church over the coming year. As a beacon of God’s love in Harford County, Emmanuel has proudly stood in Bel Air, MD since 1868, proclaiming the good news of God in Christ with our open hearts, open minds, and open doors. Whether it’s through our education, fellowship, outreach, or worship activities, there are many ways for us to take the time, talent, and treasures with which we’ve been blessed by God and put them to work.  Broadly, here’s what that looked like in 2025:

Stewardship isn’t just about offering financial support – it’s about thinking prayerfully and intentionally about how we care for each other and our world through our identity as a church, using the multitude of talents, skills, and resources we’ve been given.  Now is the time that we look to the future and to ourselves, listening for what God is calling us to achieve and how best to go about it.  Over the next several weeks, you’ll be hearing some of your fellow parishioners describe their ministries and their giving stories, as well as how you can take part in keeping us a place of help, hope, and healing throughout 2026 and beyond.

As you consider how you’d like to help, we’ve enclosed a card to assist in your and the church’s planning for the coming year.  On November 16^th we’ll be gathering our cards together as a community at each service and bringing them forward, thanking God for the examples of Christ’s love that we’ve each witnessed throughout this past year, and asking God’s blessing in becoming the Beloved Community for the year to come.  Thank you for everything that you do as Christ’s hands in Harford County, and beyond.