Sunday was commitment Sunday. We began the in-gathering of parish Commitment Cards. We are using Commitments Cards as a way for our parishioners to express their commitment to God in this parish.

Don’t know yet if we will be able to fund the 2008 budget, but the early returns look very hopeful in terms of being able to build a faithful covenant community.

I have asked our Communications Director, David Kendrick to post Stewardship results on the parish website in order to keep parishioners well informed on our progress. To track commitments for yourself, follow this link to our stewardship webpage.

Parishioners who have not yet submitted a Commitment Card may now do so online.

Here is my analysis of some very early results:

122 families have returned commitments.

Out of 122 families, 104 families have committed to weekly worship. We are constituted a covenant community by who (or what) we worship. The fundamental commitment of faith is to acknowledge the living God who is the source of our life.

If we stopped collecting Commitment Cards today, with 104 families committed to Sabbath Keeping, our parish would endure to bless the world. The Lord can do a lot with 104 families who gather to pray weekly. And the Commitment Cards are still coming in.

Out of 122 families, 55 have committed to participate in a Shepherd Group. All but seven have made a commitment to pray for fellow parishioners weekly. The Holy Spirit moves in the heart of an individual, a real live flesh and blood human being. The Holy Spirit does not move through theological statements or philosophical ideals. We experience the Holy Spirit move through one another. When one person touches another person in a relationship of genuine spiritual intimacy, God becomes real in a way that transforms a life, one life at a time.

If we stopped collecting Commitment Cards today, we already have (at least) 55 who gather weekly in Jesus’ name to share faith in relationships of spiritual intimacy. Jesus had only 12 disciples. What God did with 12 disciples in ancient Jerusalem transformed the world forever. What can God do with 55 faithful disciples in Ashburn, VA? And the Commitment Cards are still coming in.

All 122 families have made a financial pledge to the 2008 budget. In total their pledge amounts to $558,617.

This is clearly a very good beginning.

In coming weeks we will begin to explore our capacity for ministry in 2008 based on Commitments we receive. I invite every parishioner to remain informed on our stewardship results.

The Vestry will finalize the 2008 budget based on the pledges we receive. These are exciting times for our parish. I look forward to hearing your input on how we move forward together as a parish once all the results are in.