Stewardship at Washington Memorial Chapel
Jesus came and said to the apostles, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” – The Great Commission, Matthew 28:18-19, NRSV
The Great Commission is Jesus’ primary command to His church, and Washington Memorial Chapel is primed to carry out this central piece of the mission of God. We are unique – not in the least because we are in a national park and receive thousands of visitors each year. With so many people coming to us, we have an extraordinary duty to proclaim the Gospel, yet that mission is formidable due to our limited resources.
We live in a culture that has increasingly become secularized or apathetic towards the church. Many people seek happiness through status or acquiring things, but that chase is never sated—enduring joy is not there. Enduring joy only comes from the resource that doesn’t exhaust: love of God and love of others. We have a unique opportunity and responsibility to reach people who are searching for true satisfaction, joy, and contentment.
Washington Memorial Chapel may be our nation’s greatest exhibition of how America was largely founded upon Christian principles. Many visit to learn about George Washington and come away in awe of how faithful in God were those who fought for the creation of our nation. And we have seen it create a spark for some to return to God and His church.
Like any great church, we are a community of caring and learning in our parish and surrounding neighborhoods. And we reach people through our varied ministries including worship and music, weddings, churchyard/cemetery/funerals, docents (tour guides), outreach, children’s ministry, Cabin Shop Café, patriotic and veteran ministries, parish life and welcome (fellowship and hospitality), and the list goes on. And we can be even more faithful to The Great Commission with greater resources. By meeting our pledge campaign goals, we will see the following: better coverage with docents, effective invitations to explore the story told by the magnificent motif in our Chapel, more events to attract those who may need to feel God’s love, impactful welcoming of visitors, multi-media productions to share the Gospel, and more investment in the beauty of our chapel, music, and liturgy, and more emphasis on patriotic and veteran’s ministry and services.
Please consider making a pledge to support the mission of Washington Memorial Chapel with your generous gift. A pledge of support may be offered online by clicking the button below or by calling 610-783-0120 between 8AM and 4PM Monday through Thursday.