Support Trinity
2026 Pledge Campaign
The Fruits of God's Creation
One of the many blessings I experience here is the abundance of locally grown fruit. Throughout the year, I find these fruits in area restaurants, farmer’s markets, or straight from the orchards themselves. They end up in my pantry, in the food offered during coffee hour, and as gifts given. I remember, just weeks before his death, a member of the congregation serving me a tray of strawberries when I went to bring him communion.
These fruits come in a wide variety and connect us intimately to God’s creation around us. Jesus and other authors of Scripture saw fruit as a metaphor for the ways in which we connect with God through the Holy Spirit, as the rich soil from which many different blessings would come forth to be enjoyed by all of humanity.
“You did not choose me (Jesus), but I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that should last, so that the Father will give you what you ask him in my name.” (John 15:16)
“The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control” (Galatians 5:22b-23a)
As we ponder Trinity Church and think about the future, we can see how blessed we are not just in food from the land, but in the abundance of the fruit of the Spirit that empowers our worship, our ministries, and our community. And as a reflection of that gratitude, I would ask that you also think about how you personally manifest those fruits of the Spirit in your support of the church. All of us have something to contribute: our time, our gifts that have been given to us by God, and our financial resources. Enclosed you will find a card by which you can help us to know what fruits you will bring in the year to come.
To give us a visual representation of this, there will be, in McArthur Hall, a large apple tree on the wall. As each household responds to our request to make a commitment to supporting Trinity’s many ministries, another fruit will appear on the tree. My hope is that by the end of the pledge campaign, the tree will be almost impossible to see for all the apples that will adorn it.
Thank you for taking the time to prayerfully ponder this question. We cannot be the church we are without everything you do, and on behalf of this community, let me express my gratitude to you and the wonderful work the Holy Spirit is doing in your life.
Yours in Christ,
The Rev. Rob Baldwin
Rector, Trinity Episcopal Church
Online Pledge Form
Pledge Calculator
Loading...
Have you considered giving appreciated stock to Trinity Church? It's a great way to fulfill a pledge, particularly if the stock has been held in excess of a year.
Why give appreciated stock? If the stock is sold by the donor/member, a likely capital gains tax will be incurred. On the other hand, if the stock is donated to Trinity Church, the member might not only fulfill their pledge, but get a double tax benefit as well. One tax benefit is the charitable contribution deduction, another tax benefit is the elimination of the capital gains tax because the stock (not cash!) is given to Trinity Church.