Dear readers,
Grace and peace to you this Advent! God has “raised up for us a mighty savior, born of the house of his servant David” (Luke 1:69). Whatever else lies ahead in the coming year, we may trust in the Lord’s good future. Thanks be to God.
I write to ask for your help on this Giving Tuesday to make our annual appeal a success.
No doubt, this surprises you. We have never made an appeal for funds here at Covenant, but the generosity of regular donors to the Living Church Foundation has long underwritten the fruitful ministry of our blog. Now, we think it’s time for Covenant to stand together with our other publications, as we secure the work of The Living Church for generations to come. So, for the first time, we are asking Covenant readers to pitch in and take their place as partners in our service in the Gospel.
This past year has been an exciting time of growth for our ministry at the Living Church Foundation. We have hired several new top-quality editors and reporters, including making the editor of Covenant, Zachary Guiliano, a full-time member of staff. I trust that the quality of our work has been evident, across our ministries. Our reporters won several awards this year, providing the fair-minded, independent, courageous journalism that is our hallmark. And Covenant is on pace to reach 500,000 annual readers, in North America and around the globe.
We traveled to Rome for the encounter of Pope Francis and Archbishop Welby, providing on-the-spot coverage and analysis. Our editors organized discussions of the American election and prayer book revision, lending substance, thoughtfulness, and charity to topics that deserve far better forums than Facebook feeds and political conventions.
As the events of a tumultuous 2016 unfolded, we were our church’s public square and town hall. In a sharply divided world, we are a forum for people to talk with one another, seeking common ground in Christ. Can you imagine our church without it?
And we have much more projected for the future: new products, including resources for planning the liturgy, preaching, and Sunday School, along with videos, podcasting, and much else.
Won’t you please give generously to make our work possible? Every year we depend on it. This year is no different. Simply visit our Donations page and make a secure contribution. It’s easy to set up automatic monthly giving, and it helps us plan our budget.
We especially welcome gifts in honor of someone whose ministry you want to recognize, and in memory of your loved ones who are with the Lord. Their names will be published in the February 12 issue of The Living Church, and we will pray for the deceased at our annual requiem Eucharist.
The close of a year is a good time to consider our legacies. We would be honored if you would prayerfully consider making The Living Church part of yours. Our board has established a permanent Endowment Fund to secure your gifts, with extensive policies available by request. Our modest yet growing endowment is managed by State Street Bank within the $200-million pool of the Episcopal Church Foundation, an efficient and independent nonprofit agency. We honor these gifts with membership in the Bishop Grafton Society of the Living Church Foundation. We are here today because of such gifts.
God bless you and thank you for your support: It is our joy to serve the Church alongside you. May Advent’s time of preparation bless you, and when Christmas Day comes, may you find in Jesus Christ both peace and good courage for the new year.
Faithfully,
Christopher Wells, PhD
Executive Director and Editor
Further note: on this Giving Tuesday, we have an immediate goal of $50,000. If every visitor to Covenant today gave $5, we would be well on our way towards that goal. Click here to donate on a one-time basis or set up a monthly donation. Would you like to read or hear more? Visit our giving page, or send a message to our executive director (cwells[at]livingchurch.org) for more details.
