Welcome to this year’s stewardship campaign, “Grace in Action.” Over the next 4 weeks, we’ll reflect together on how God generously puts grace into action, from homemaking to celebrating to bridge-building acts of mercy – and how we, children of God created in the image of God, can do the same.

Let’s start at the beginning. According to the Bible’s opening story, God is a creator, organizer, decorator, feeder, teacher, gardener, and builder of this world we call home.

Here at Hot Metal, for 18 years we’ve been working hard to create safe and loving spaces. Through the Table Ministry and our Homeless Outreach, we’ve helped to feed our neighbors near and far. Through contributions to our building fund and through those who care for our community garden, we’ve been builders and gardeners. Our children’s ministries and our weekly nurturing groups have made us teachers. 

God graciously made the cosmos, and we’re called to act in God’s image by making Hot Metal into a microcosm within that larger one, a place where everyone can feel at home. If you’ve found a home here, or have been moved by one of the ministries just mentioned, we hope you’ll help make sure our little microcosm stays as graceful and active as possible. On the back, you’ll find Joel’s story of finding home here, and we hope it helps you reflect on your own Hot Metal journey. 

This year, as we are firmly in a new reality still reeling from the effects of COVID, we are asking for more intentional financial help to keep Hot Metal a place where all can call home. We’ve enclosed our draft budget for you to see. You’ll notice that giving has gone down consistently over the years, but our ambitions and hope have not. We are asking for 50 people to give an additional $5/week or $260/year. That will significantly cut down the deficit, and help us continue to co-create with God a faith home for all people here in Pittsburgh. We hope you will prayerfully consider being a part of this 50/5 Campaign!

Enclosed you’ll also find a pledge card. Put it somewhere you’ll see it every day – and whenever you see it, try praying the prayer printed on the back. Then bring it along, still blank, to Giving Sunday on November 13, when we’ll joyfully put our God-given grace into action. We’ll meet the following Sunday, November 20 for our All Church Meeting where we will celebrate and continue to hope for what God will do with this place where you are loved, fed, and affirmed as your whole self, because Jesus welcomes all. 

Grace and peace,

Pastor Erin, Council, and Finance Team