Bishop’s Appeal: Responding to Disaster with Grace and Abundance

Dear Friends,

I am grateful for our 95 churches and for Episcopalians across the state. For the tremendous love, energy, and effort that has gone into engaging, supporting, and encouraging one another in this time of COVID-19. For finding creative ways to worship and new ways to be formed in our faith. For the continued and expanded outreach to our communities.

We have moved past the initial fear and anxiety surrounding coronavirus, and, although this is not a “new normal,” since there’s very little that’s normal about it, we have learned to live into a new way of being, and are doing this out of love for one another, setting aside our plans, our activities, our work, in order to keep people safe and healthy. In so many ways, we are authentically living out Jesus’ command to love one another.

Each day I hear more and more stories about people showing grace despite grief and giving abundantly in spite of loss.

  • Churches have begun offering their buildings to local hospitals for housing recovering patients.
  • St. George, Leadville, has become the center of community aid with its Community Meals program, with one guest saying, “I’ve never lived anywhere in this world I have felt so loved and cared for.”
  • Church of the Ascension in Salida and other congregations are routing outreach funds to address the most critical needs in the community.
  • Churches across the state are finding new ways to serve their communities: ministering to the marginalized and the elderly, and supporting critical organizations in the community like food banks and homeless shelters.

As Christians, we are called to be models of generosity and love. We are called to align our lives with the abundance and grace God has given us to build God’s kingdom here and now.

Why Have a Bishop’s Appeal?

By coming together as one body in Christ we can focus on initiatives that affect us all, and our capacity for bringing about change for the common good is enhanced through our collaborative partnership. United in common goals, we can build relationships, leverage resources, and have a collective impact far greater than each of us could achieve alone.

How Does It Work?

Amid this time of COVID-19 I invite you to participate in the first-ever Bishop’s Appeal for the Episcopal Church in Colorado. Like most of our plans, the focus of this appeal has shifted, because the needs have changed, and the needs that have arisen are immediate. The focus of my appeal to you is threefold, with goals of providing relief at the local, at the state, and at the national level.

Support Your Congregation

First and foremost I appeal to you to give to your congregation. Make a gift above and beyond your pledge amount if you are able. Enable your congregation to support its ministries and the surrounding community it serves.

Support the Most Critical Needs in Colorado

Second, I appeal to you to give to the Episcopal Church in Colorado in order to facilitate relief to individuals and communities across the state identified as having the greatest need.

Support Nationwide Relief Efforts

Third, I appeal to you to consider the tremendous work of Episcopal Relief and Development (ERD). By supporting the Bishop’s Appeal, you will automatically support ERD, with ten percent of your gift being passed on to Episcopal Relief and Development so they can respond nationally to the COVID-19 disaster.

How to Give

The Bishop’s Appeal is happening now, during the season of Easter, reminding us that Easter is a time for celebrating new life and spreading the good news of Christ.

There are three ways to give.

  • Online via our secure server. You will be able to designate funds for your congregation, for the Episcopal Church in Colorado, or both. Make a gift now >
  • By text. Simply text the word “giveco appeal” to the number 73256. Again, you will be able to designate funds for your congregation, for the Episcopal Church in Colorado, or both.
  • By check. Please mail checks to the Episcopal Church in Colorado, 1300 Washington St., Denver, CO 80203.
Make a Gift Now >

With Gratitude

Our 95 congregations are united in supporting each other, our surrounding communities, our state, and our nation, now more than ever, as we live into this new reality and use our abundant creativity, gifts, and resources to become Church like we’ve never been before. Together we can do more than any of us can do alone.

Thank you for joining with Episcopalians from across the state to spread the love of Christ.

Faithfully,

Bishop Kym

O, Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love; For it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; it is in dying that we are born again to eternal life. ~ St. Francis of Assisi

Questions?

Please contact Paul Alexander, Missioner for Development and Financial Stewardship by email or phone: 720.677.9011, or Tracy Methe, Development Coordinator, 720.677.9016.