Our church’s members are saddling up and riding fast in our Pony Express Financial stewardship campaign.
            On Sunday, during announcement time, “Pony Express Rider” Kim Boelling rode her pony up the aisle of the church, captivating those present with her prowess in handling her pony and demonstrating to all the workings of the Saddlebags. Trail Bosses and members were on hand last Sunday for a Pot-luck Breakfast and that same afternoon, Trail Bosses began the circulation of the Saddlebags. Kim says Trail Bosses report most families are relaying the Bags within 24 hours after they get them, just as requested.
            A progress report will be given during announcement time this coming Sunday.
            Our General Managers say that members of our church seem pleased to fill in cards on which they “estimate” their giving, instead of signing pledge cards.
            If the Saddlebag has not yet reached your home, please be patient. It should arrive in the next few days! When it does come to you, please act quickly in filling in your Estimate Card and passing the Saddlebag on to the next family listed on the Bag strap.
            You who are parents of youth and elementary age children are requested to encourage them to filling their own estimates of giving. Cards for them will be found in your envelope in the Saddlebag. Let’s help these young persons establish now the spiritual habit of definite and regular giving – with the prayer that this practice will continue throughout their lives.
 
                                          ~ Fr. Al Jewson

Our Pony Express Managers, Kim Boelling and Ed Rahe and me, Pony Express Priest, are getting even more ramped up about our Pony Express Campaign which will get under way on November 12.
Soon each of you will receive a letter personally signed by Kim, Ed and me explaining a bit more about our Pony Express Campaign and the theme of our campaign: GOD IS BLESSING OUR LIVES IN NUMEROUS WAYS AND WE NOW HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPRESS THE GRATITUDE WE FEEL! Please read this letter with all who live in your home and pray about your gratitude to God and how you can best express that gratitude.
In addition, Kim made a map of the areas in which all of the parishioners of St. Paul’s live; and at our meeting last night Kim and Ed divided the parish into six Pony Express Routes with six candidates to be named TRAIL BOSSES.  Each Trail Boss will be in charge of a Pony Express Route.
Part of the excitement that Kim and Ed are experiencing is the unique approach of this program to Christian giving. Instead of making pledges, you will be filling in cards on which you “estimate” your giving.
Under the Pony Express plan, each church family/individual becomes a Route Rider, relaying a Saddlebag to one other family/individual in their neighborhood or geographical area. Parishioners who are homebound will not be expected to be Route Riders and other arrangements have been made for their participation in our campaign.
The Trail Boss will be responsible to make sure the Saddlebag keeps moving from home to home at a fast pace on his/her family Route.
On Sunday, November 12 there will be a Pony Express Breakfast for all to attend. At that breakfast the Trail Bosses will be given the Saddlebag for his/her Route.
Kim and Ed have been working hard on our campaign and I am grateful for their dedication.
                                                           Father Al Jewson

Our church has chosen an exciting Pony Express program for this year’s financial stewardship campaign, which officially starts Sunday, November 12, when the Pony Express “Run” gets underway. The Pony Express method, used successfully in thousands of other churches nationwide, is styled after the famous Pony Express mail relay system. It relies heavily on team work.
Ed Rahe and Kim Boelling are heading the campaign as General Managers. Under their guidance there will be Trail Bosses, each of whom will oversee a neighborhood PX Route. Each family/individual will be asked to be a Route Rider, relaying a Saddlebag to a nearby family/individual.
You will receive the Saddlebag containing stewardship reading material and your “Estimate of Giving” card. After reading the material, you will want to fill out your card, seal it in an opaque envelope and insert the envelope in the Saddlebag. Then, you will be asked to hand-carry the Bag to the next family/individual on the Route List attached to the Bag Strap.
You will be able to make your decision about your giving to God through St. Paul’s Church in the privacy of your home, without another member of the church present to solicit your response.
The Pony Express theme was chosen because of the example set by the highly dedicated riders of the original Pony Express. In addition to their personal commitment, the secret of their success lay in their ability to work as a team – each rider dependent on the other to make the relay system work and speed the mail onto its next destination.
Likewise, the success of St. Paul’s Church depends on the dedication, commitment, and teamwork of each of our members. Please pray about your gratefulness to God and your commitment to St. Paul’s future.
                                                            Father Al Jewson