One Step Closer – Creating a Personal Rule of Life

Letter from Dean Kate Moorehead, September 2011

Every year, churches all over the country do annual pledge drives.  The pastors talk and write about how important it is for all of us to give money to the church.  We discuss the notion of a tithe and how Scripture urges us to give a percentage of our income back to God.  It is a very important part of our life as Christians, not just for the survival of the church, but for the betterment of our souls.

This year at St. John’s Cathedral, we are going to do something different. Instead of just doing a pledge drive, we are doing a Rule of Life drive.  This year, we are going to talk about money, but not just about money.  We are going to ask you to think of your life in four distinct areas: Spiritual, Physical, Financial and Relational.  We are calling this drive One Step Closer. (Download and print a PDF of our Rule of Life workbook.)

What would it look like if you were able to take one step closer to God in these four areas?  How could you pray just a little more?  Are you taking care of your body?  How could you increase your generosity?  And are you giving your loved ones the time and attention that they need?  These are some of the vital questions that we will be asking.

Please know that we are not asking you to become as saintly as Mother Teresa tomorrow.  I want this time to be an opportunity for you to be intentional not just about your finances, but about all the important aspects of your life.  This is an invitation and you do not have to take me up on it.  If you just want to pledge your dollars,  that is fine.  You may already have a Rule of Life  but if so, bear in mind that even monks and nuns evaluate and tweak their Rule each year.

Members of this congregation and I have been leading Rule of Life workshops in recent weeks. We are talking about taking time to contemplate your life and to share with others.  We will culminate our One Step Closer drive with a talent show and dinner on Oct. 22 and our annual in-gathering of pledge cards on Oct. 23.

I pray that this year, you will take one step closer to finding God’s call for your life.

In Christ’s love,

Kate

Read Joe O’Shields’ perspective on his Rule of Life.

Read about how Canon for Music Tim Tuller applies a Rule of Life to his creative work.