This Fall: Our Money Story
Do you remember the first time you experienced money as a tangible reality? How old were you? Were you witnessing an exchange of money? Or, were you in a role of asking or receiving? Taking a moment to remember this first memory, what emotions emerge? Surprise? Delight? Shame? Confusion? Remembering your initial encounter, where do these emotions sit in your body? Do they whirl about in your mind, sit heavy in your stomach, flutter in your chest?
Psychologists talk about our need to translate new information into our existing narratives or stories. Each time we hear something new, we bring our entire past to the work of translating and making meaning of the information. This is how two people can be engaged in a conversation and have dramatically different ideas of what was said.
Our faith community is full of individual and collective stories about money. Whether you are a new to GEC or come from the joining of two congregations, we hold within our congregation narratives that shape what we think about money and what we think God thinks about money.
Some of these money stories are beautiful and life giving; these narratives need to be remembered and affirmed as sources of hope and inspiration. And, some of these stories hold hurt, pain, and shame. These difficult individual or collective stories impact our life together and can be hard to hold.
Why are we talking about money this fall?
Grace Episcopal Church is a new church with 200 years of history -- and in a time when many congregations are shrinking, we seem to have newcomers arriving each week! While our annual pledge total has increased in recent years, we know that it hasn't yet caught up with our needs. We want to say an enthusiastic yes to what the Holy Spirit is doing with us, and we want that yes to be sustainable over time.
Anxiety about money is at top of mind for many of us in this political climate. Many of our members are managing post-retirement life with limited income. One of the demographics in our congregation that is growing is young adults and young families, people who have major expenses (student debt, child care, and more). We want to talk about our practice of stewardship in ways that help all of us feel empowered and courageous to practice the way of Jesus.
And, longer-term, we see some considerable expenses coming our way (Did you see the letter with an update about our building assessment?). We want to build our muscles for thinking faithfully, courageously, and sustainably about our future as a congregation.
To help with all those needs, this fall we are working with consultants from Vandersall Collective, a women led, queer founded, faith-based firm, to walk alongside us during our annual giving season. During this time we will be using a curriculum they co-wrote, Our Money Story. We will spend eight weeks engaging in four practices: Remember, Release, Reimagine, and Restore.
These practices will not be a time to tell each other what our stories should be. In the spirit of Grace Episcopal Church, our leadership hopes instead it will be a season of openness, curiosity and healing. As we continue to assess various elements of our building needs, this money narrative work will lay the foundation for our future conversations and decisions.
What will this work look like?
Practically, our work with Vandersall Collective will include learning that helps us discover our own “Money Story" about our individual and shared relationships with money throughout our lives, by reflecting on our experiences and practices. Then, we'll be invited to release those stories, to reimagine what stories God invites us to hold, and to move toward restoration by taking action that aligns with those deepest values and hopes. In sermons, forums, personal journals, and Wednesday evening gatherings, we'll work through the four practices of Remember, Release, Reimagine, and Restore.
Vandersall will also be helping us with our Annual Giving Campaign, when we invite members to make a pledge for the 2026 budget. They'll work closely with a team of leaders to run our pledge campaign, building a wider bench of folks who are equipped to help us be successful in the future.
Psychologists talk about our need to translate new information into our existing narratives or stories. Each time we hear something new, we bring our entire past to the work of translating and making meaning of the information. This is how two people can be engaged in a conversation and have dramatically different ideas of what was said.
Our faith community is full of individual and collective stories about money. Whether you are a new to GEC or come from the joining of two congregations, we hold within our congregation narratives that shape what we think about money and what we think God thinks about money.
Some of these money stories are beautiful and life giving; these narratives need to be remembered and affirmed as sources of hope and inspiration. And, some of these stories hold hurt, pain, and shame. These difficult individual or collective stories impact our life together and can be hard to hold.
Why are we talking about money this fall?
Grace Episcopal Church is a new church with 200 years of history -- and in a time when many congregations are shrinking, we seem to have newcomers arriving each week! While our annual pledge total has increased in recent years, we know that it hasn't yet caught up with our needs. We want to say an enthusiastic yes to what the Holy Spirit is doing with us, and we want that yes to be sustainable over time.
Anxiety about money is at top of mind for many of us in this political climate. Many of our members are managing post-retirement life with limited income. One of the demographics in our congregation that is growing is young adults and young families, people who have major expenses (student debt, child care, and more). We want to talk about our practice of stewardship in ways that help all of us feel empowered and courageous to practice the way of Jesus.
And, longer-term, we see some considerable expenses coming our way (Did you see the letter with an update about our building assessment?). We want to build our muscles for thinking faithfully, courageously, and sustainably about our future as a congregation.
To help with all those needs, this fall we are working with consultants from Vandersall Collective, a women led, queer founded, faith-based firm, to walk alongside us during our annual giving season. During this time we will be using a curriculum they co-wrote, Our Money Story. We will spend eight weeks engaging in four practices: Remember, Release, Reimagine, and Restore.
These practices will not be a time to tell each other what our stories should be. In the spirit of Grace Episcopal Church, our leadership hopes instead it will be a season of openness, curiosity and healing. As we continue to assess various elements of our building needs, this money narrative work will lay the foundation for our future conversations and decisions.
What will this work look like?
Practically, our work with Vandersall Collective will include learning that helps us discover our own “Money Story" about our individual and shared relationships with money throughout our lives, by reflecting on our experiences and practices. Then, we'll be invited to release those stories, to reimagine what stories God invites us to hold, and to move toward restoration by taking action that aligns with those deepest values and hopes. In sermons, forums, personal journals, and Wednesday evening gatherings, we'll work through the four practices of Remember, Release, Reimagine, and Restore.
Vandersall will also be helping us with our Annual Giving Campaign, when we invite members to make a pledge for the 2026 budget. They'll work closely with a team of leaders to run our pledge campaign, building a wider bench of folks who are equipped to help us be successful in the future.
Schedule
October 30, Dive 1: “Into the World.”
Wednesday, September 17 (6PM at church)
Sunday, September 28 (11:30 during Community Forum)
Wednesday, October 8 (6PM at church)
Wednesday, October 22 (6PM via Zoom)
Saturday, October 25 (9AM-2PM retreat at church)
Sunday, September 28 (11:30 during Community Forum)
Wednesday, October 8 (6PM at church)
Wednesday, October 22 (6PM via Zoom)
Saturday, October 25 (9AM-2PM retreat at church)
Join Us!
Sunday Morning Worship
10AM
Taizé Prayer Service
7PM, first Friday of most months
Healing Prayer Service
7PM, second Tuesday of each month
10AM
Taizé Prayer Service
7PM, first Friday of most months
Healing Prayer Service
7PM, second Tuesday of each month
Grace Episcopal Church
4557 Colfax Ave S
Minneapolis, MN 55419
4557 Colfax Ave S
Minneapolis, MN 55419
Phone: 612-524-9180
Email: office@graceepiscopalmpls.org
Our parking lot is located on the NE corner of 46th & Bryant Ave.
Email: office@graceepiscopalmpls.org
Our parking lot is located on the NE corner of 46th & Bryant Ave.