It is time for us to renew our commitment to supporting our beloved community, Eastrose!

Our stewardship theme this year is “Our Open Door.” The image of an open door reflects our role as a liberal center of hope in Gresham—a welcoming place to make your spiritual home and amplify our shared progressive values. Now, more than ever, we are committed to sustaining our open and affirming presence in East Multnomah County.

For those who weathered the pandemic with us, you may recall that we went to online-only services in 2020, which took a heavy toll on our membership, especially children’s attendance. When we returned to the building, there were no children attending at all. We also went without a minister for a full year. These were challenging times, but thanks to the perseverance and sacrifices of our members, friends, and volunteers, we survived. We also relied heavily on large withdrawals from our Endowment to support our income. With those funds, we were able to bring in Rev. Robin, enhance our streaming services, and rebuild our Religious Exploration (RE) program.

This investment has paid off! Now in her second year, Rev. Robin has brought new energy to our congregation. On any given Sunday, you can see fresh faces attending and getting involved. We are hosting more social events and finding ways to have fun together as a congregation. We are also raising our voices for social justice. Additionally, the RE program continues to grow, with more children attending each week. Thanks to Tara Toler for her dedication! It is vital that we continue funding these roles, as well as all those who keep our community thriving.

As a completely self-supporting congregation, Eastrose relies on your pledges to fund our staff, support new projects, maintain our building, and reach out to neighbors in need of belonging. We cannot bring about these positive changes without your financial support. Moreover, the Board of Trustees is committed to phasing out our reliance on Endowment withdrawals moving forward. Help us stop borrowing from our future and begin investing in it!

Please take a moment to reflect on how Eastrose enriches your life and consider making a generous commitment by completing and returning a pledge form by March 31, 2025. Your gift will help keep our door open wide.

If you have any questions, please contact us at office@eastrose.org.

This is our time of promise and possibility. Let us keep the momentum going!

In gratitude,

On behalf of the Eastrose Board of Trustees,
Katie Norris, President

Get your 2025/26 Pledge Form here