This past Thursday afternoon I had the opportunity to do one of the things I most enjoy about my life in ministry. Ellen and I had the privilege to sit down for lunch with beloved members of the St. Bartholomew’s Mosaic Society. These faithful members have made a planned gift in the form of a bequest to St. Bart's in their wills. Each of these members has made a commitment that, in time, will both honor the Church and Christ's mission in the world for years to come.
Gifts made to the Church through estate plans have sustained this Church and its mission. I applaud these individuals who have made planful, thoughtful decisions about the legacy they want to leave and the future they envision for St. Bart’s. As your Rector, I understand my duty on this one quite plainly. The Episcopal Book of Common Prayer is quite specific in this regard.
“The Minister of the Congregation is directed to instruct the people, from time to time, about the duty of Christian parents to make prudent provision for the well-being of their families, and of all persons to make wills, while they are in health, arranging for the disposal of their temporal goods, not neglecting, if they are able, to leave bequests for religious and charitable uses.” (The Book of Common Prayer, page 445).
Winston Churchill once wrote, “We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.” Making a will while you are in good health and arranging for the disposal of your temporal goods is a Christian duty. Making a will doesn’t mean you are going to die but, friends, it is inevitable that will all join the Communion of Saints one day! As Christians, we believe that all the faithful that ever lived, are living, and will ever live, are bound together in one Communion—the Body of Christ. My prayer is that you take comfort in this... and make or update your will.
On the matter of bequests, I’ll speak plainly as well. Sustaining the Church and furthering its mission into the future presents an opportunity for you to be thoughtful about your legacy, something you will pass on. Legacy is both a gift that is handed down and something that doesn’t come in physical form. A legacy also includes those intangible gifts such as values, memories, friendship, love, and respect. As Christians, we believe legacy gifts further and sustain God’s mission—the mission of restoration and reconciliation of all people to unity with God and each other in Christ.
On the particulars of making a bequest, there are many resources and people ready to assist, including your church family. Upon making a bequest, you become a member of the St. Bartholomew’s Mosaic Society. This group gathers annually, enabling St. Bart’s to thank and celebrate these most faithful and committed followers of Jesus. This year’s luncheon, held on June 6th in the Great Hall, included the recognition of nine new members and our annual Mosaic Award recipients. The 2024 Mosaic Awardees, Kate Briggs, Michael Collins, and Fletcher Hodges, were celebrated with accolades for their long service to St. Bart’s and their generosity of time, talents, and treasures.
Visit stbarts.org/mosaic for more highlights from the annual luncheon and make a concrete plan to join us there next year. To learn about making a bequest, visit stbarts.org/give/the-mosaic-society, and contact Jama Toung at or 212-378-0278.
Faithfully,
The Right Reverend Dean E. Wolfe
Rector