Gatherings will be held primarily in small groups (1-on-1 and 2-on-1 sessions will be made available upon parishioner request). To maximize participation, we are offering both in-person and virtual options. In-person gatherings are best suited for parishioners who prefer to meet in person. Virtual groups are available for parishioners who may be homebound, worship virtually, out of town, or prefer the convenience of meeting virtually.

You only need to participate in one gathering. If you enjoy the experience, you are welcome to participate in another; bring a friend or family member.

No! These gatherings are intended to foster deep reflection, discernment, and dialogue with regard to our individual lives as people of faith and our common life as a faith community. There will be no “hard sell” or “ask” at these gatherings. You are invited to make a pledge to St. A’s as part of the campaign after your own private prayer and discernment. What you pledge or if you pledge is not a part of the small group conversation.

These gatherings will take place from October 5th through November 23rd, concurrent with St. A’s annual giving campaign. If necessary, we will extend our timeline to accommodate everyone who wishes to participate but may not be available during those dates.

Both in-person and virtual small group gathering options will be available throughout the week. Currently, we have identified four options:

• Every Sunday at 8:00 and 10:45 AM

• Every Wednesday at 11:30 aM

• Every Saturday at 9:00 AM

• Alternate meeting days and times will be available based on parishioner preferences.

Where will small group gatherings be held?

Most in-person gatherings will be held on our church grounds. Depending on parishioner preferences, gatherings could take place at a parishioner’s home or a neutral location that provides few if any interruptions. If you would like to host a group at your home or other venue please contact Bruce Caris or Juli Bergerud to help coordinate the event.

All gatherings will run approximately 90 minutes. General conversation, opening prayer and an overview of the process start the gathering. Your facilitator will then lead the conversations for approximately 75 minutes. Extending the time is optional and based on the consensus of the group.

The recommended number is five participants. Experience has shown that smaller group sizes provide enough time for everyone to participate fully without feeling constrained by time. It is important that we hear from you and give you enough time to share.

Your stewardship committee has been commissioned to facilitate this process. They will be available throughout the week to answer questions, elaborate on the broader vision of the work, and help you sign up for a small group gathering. Most notably, they will be present at the GIVE • RECEIVE • GROW table on Sunday mornings.

There are three ways to sign up for a small group gathering:

1. At the GIVE • RECEIVE • GROW table before or after Sunday services.

2. Online using the following link: https://bit.ly/give-receive-grow.

3. Should you have questions or need assistance please contact Bruce Caris at bjcaris@gmail.com, 847-571-3307 or Juli Bergerud at jl.bergerud@gmail.com, 773-290-9763.

Our annual giving goal for 2026 is $450,000. Achieving this goal will allow us to grow and sustain our outreach, children and family ministry, formation, and pastoral care. Small group conversations are a catalyst for reevaluating our priorities and our relationship with St. A’s.

These gatherings provide a unique opportunity to discern what lies ahead with respect to the impact of our mission and ministry, who God is calling us to be in this moment, along with the practical needs and financial considerations that make parish life and our ministries possible. In recent years conversations have led to preliminary exploration of projects. Projects and initiatives may also arise organically out of this process. These gatherings provide a platform from which we as parishioners can identify what our missional and practical priorities should be, so that St. A’s can unify on the best use of our resources.

We’re taking advantage of Thriving Together, a program of the Trustees of the Foundation of the Diocese of Chicago. Through it, all consultant costs are fronted for this discernment process.

We allow God to work within us when we recognize that it is God who gives us all that we have, and all that we are. As we share of our time, talent, and treasure, we work with God to build the body of Christ here on earth.

When you commit to giving money to St. Augustine’s, you help leadership prepare for the life of the church in the coming year. We hold budgeting to be a sacred task and trust. We strive to act responsibly and faithfully, using your generously pledged gifts to care justly and sustainably for our people and properties, to nurture and grow our community in Christ, and to contribute to the building up of God’s kingdom on earth.

Pledges are essential to St. Augustine’s financial well-being. In recent years, pledges have averaged 70% of total revenue. Growth in ­program and ministry can only be funded by increased pledges.

Members long-time and brand-new, friends, visitors—anyone who values and wants to support, in a tangible way, St. Augustine’s mission and ministries.

There is no one answer. We are all shaped by our life events and the generation into which we were born. Our motivations may differ from others who give. In prayer, consider these questions:

• How has St. Augustine’s shaped my life and the lives of the people I love?

• What would be, for me, a significant contribution?

• What percentage of my household income do I currently give to St. Augustine’s? How does this echo God’s generous gifts to me?

• What did I pledge to the church last year or the past several years? Am I able to increase that gift?

It’s not about comparing yourself to others; small pledges matter just as much as larger ones. They create an opportunity for long-term financial growth and they diversify the church’s funding. They also reflect the many facets of our community. We are a gathering of large and small families, single adults, and couples, all with varying abilities to give. Even if you can’t incrementally grow your pledge every year, it still contributes to our overall goal. Just like an ecosystem with large and small organisms, we all have a part to play in the financial health of our church.

For 2024, we were blessed to receive 91 pledges, with an average pledge amount of $4,253. The median amount is $2,976.

• Complete a Certificate of Giving (available from the church office) and return by mail or in person

• Use our online certificate of giving: www.staschurch.org/onlinepledge

• Log in to your Realm profile at www.onrealm.org; click the “Giving” tab on the left, then the “ + Pledge” button at the top of your Giving page. You can also set up payment options there, which include a direct debit from your bank account (preferred) or debit/credit cards. If you have questions about how to do this, please contact treasurers Gray Curchin or Mark Farrell.

Yes. And making a gift from your Required Minimum IRA Distribution could reduce your tax bill. Delivering highly appreciated long term stock holdings from a taxable investment account can also be beneficial tax-wise. We encourage you to discuss this with your financial advisor.

“Tithe” simply means “tenth,” and it is a pledge to give ten percent of your income. But your pledge can be a different percentage, giving in a way that recognizes your circumstances. When giving proportionally:

• You set aside your first fruits, dedicating a portion of your income to God. This is a sacred act.

• Your financial gift rises and falls with your income–it is right-sized to your household.

Giving back to God is a life-time journey; setting a percentage allows you to increase your giving over time.