October 2026

Dear Friends,

This year’s stewardship theme at Basking Ridge Presbyterian Church is “Strength for Today, Bright Hope for Tomorrow.” The words come from the beloved hymn Great Is Thy Faithfulness and are rooted in the biblical promises of God’s renewing mercy and unfailing hope found in Lamentations 3 and Romans 15.

It is a fitting theme for this moment in the life of our church. We are deeply grateful for the strength God gives us for today — for a vibrant community of faith, meaningful worship and music, ministries with children and youth, opportunities to serve our neighbors near and far, and the countless ways people within this congregation care for one another.

And we look toward tomorrow with hope. Stewardship is one way we give expression to that hope. It is not simply about meeting a budget or paying the church’s bills. It is a spiritual practice — an opportunity to respond with gratitude to the gifts God has given us and to invest in the work God is calling us to do together.

As we prepare for 2027, there are several areas of our ministry in which we especially hope to grow.

We hope to deepen our commitment to mission.

BRPC has long been a generous congregation, supporting ministries that address needs locally, nationally, and around the world. At a time when many organizations are experiencing growing needs and increasing financial pressures, we hope not simply to maintain that commitment, but to expand it. Our far-reaching impact during this past year includes putting food on the tables of hundreds of our local neighbors through God’s Co-op Pantry, and providing international crisis and disaster relief in Gaza, Venezuela, Nepal, and Columbia.

We hope to continue strengthening our ministries with children and youth.

Few investments we make have greater significance for the future. Through worship, education, music, fellowship, mission trips, and service, young people are discovering that they belong, that they are loved, and that faith can shape the way they live in the world. These ministries have been an important priority for us in recent years, and we want them to continue to flourish.

We hope to care well for the extraordinary people who serve our congregation.

Our church’s ministry depends upon a gifted and dedicated staff who bring energy, creativity, compassion, and faithfulness to their work. As costs continue to rise, we want to provide appropriate increases in compensation so that we can honor and support those who serve our congregation so well.

And we hope to care faithfully for the buildings and grounds entrusted to us.

Our historic campus is much more than beautiful property. It is the place where generations gather for worship, weddings and memorial services, music and fellowship, children’s and youth programs, community events, and countless moments of grace. Caring for these spaces is part of caring for the ministry they make possible.

These are not simply expenses. They are expressions of who we believe God is calling us to be.

Our three-week stewardship season begins on Sunday, November 1, and culminates on Consecration Sunday, November 15, at 10 a.m., when together we will dedicate our financial commitments — and ourselves — to God.

As you consider your commitment for 2027, we invite you to pray about the part you might play. What has God placed in your hands? What brings you gratitude? What hopes do you have for the ministry and witness of this church? And how might your generosity help provide strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow?

You can make your financial pledge in one of four ways:

• In worship on Consecration Sunday, November 15, at 10:00 am
• Online below
• With an email to pledge@brpc.org
• By mail to the church office

We are deeply grateful for your faithfulness, your generosity, and for the many ways that you embody God’s goodness in our shared life together. May this season of stewardship renew in each of us a sense of purpose, joy, and calling — to do the good that is ours to do, for the glory of God and the good of the world.

With faith and gratitude,

This is the smallest of the four components. It includes support of programs critical to our spiritual life including our children, family, adult education, music and worship ministries.

Mission remains a central tenant at BRPC. We are called to serve those in need and we rejoice in opportunities to do so locally and around the world.

This is our largest expense. We are blessed with a staff of dedicated, faithful and talented women and men bringing God’s nurturing love to us all on our faith journey.

We are stewards of a fantastic, historic campus. Regular maintenance is required every year, and utilities, insurance, and other expenses continue to rise.