Liz Shaw

Liz Shaw

October 25, 2026

Hi, my name is Liz Shaw and I’ve been asked to share why I donate my money and case my time to Grace. As many of you know, I co-lead the Welcome and the Connect team. In that role I write a letter to newcomers, and it contains a good topic sentence for my talk.

Here’s an excerpt:

I love sleeping in — it is one of my quiet luxuries. Yet on Sunday mornings I roll out of my warm bed and head to Grace — and have been for many years.

Over two decades, I have valued the four tenets of our church- Inclusion, Gratitude, Service and Discovery. I experienced all four at Grace, and developed them more fully in myself. My spirituality has grown in ways that make me a calmer and better person.

Let me start with INCLUSION.

Many of us in this sanctuary benefit from socio-economic advantages and don’t experience exclusion often. Sure, we have all had those junior high flashbacks of not having anyone to sit with at the lunchroom. I feel passionate about including people and I’ve asked myself WHY? I realize it’s because I know what it’s like to be different. Culturally and ethnically different — just walking down the street and it’s obvious you don’t and won’t belong. I lived in Taipei for three years as an adult and in Tokyo and Singapore for seven years as a child. While I didn’t experience hostility at all, it was clear from my appearance, my skin, that I wasn’t Asian. My son was born there, but he did not have any Chinese ancestry, so he could not be a Taiwainese citizen. We did not belong, and would never belong to a Chinese-based culture.

Belonging is a deep unconscious need — and churches have historically played a role in serving that place of belonging (and NOT). Grace Church can be that place — that 3rd place — that place of belonging — a place of ties and comfort. And trying to create that place of authenticity and acceptance is what I put my energy into.

SERVICE

Over the years, I have participated in many outreach programs, especially with my kids. And then there is my service TO Grace. Now that I’m retired, I gravitate towards my roles at Grace. They are fulfilling and feel meaningful. I realize I am growing and healing wounds. That is gratifying.

DISCOVERY

Over the years, Grace has offered such wonderful programming — parenting classes, storytelling seminars, Advent nights, writing sessions — you get the drift. Because of those events, I expanded my spirituality and my skills. I discovered my definition of spirituality was accepted at Grace. My awe at the construction of a spider’s web, or how a water droplet can hold its shape, was not dismissed as childish, but cherished. I shared my religious experiences — all involving the visual arts or music. These tender offerings have been met with curiosity and care. I have been reminded of our humanity — that we are all God’s children.

Having lived overseas, I knew in elementary school that humanity was connected by our shared need for stability and hope. Stability in structures that provide food, housing, employment,and good health. Substitute faith for hope — and there are lots of forms of hope; daily offerings in Bali, ornate temples in Taiwan, serene temples in Tokyo, and soaring Gothic cathedrals in Europe.

GRATITUDE

To be honest, I’m not one of those people who praise God daily. The reasons are too long for this talk. But I do have a daily gratitude practice, and it allows my optimistic outlook a chance to say thank you. This practice affirms there is goodness in the world. Recognizing those moments is grounding for me in this very turbulent time.

And I have lots of gratitude for the people of Grace.

Thank you to Eric and Kim for trying to create an authentic space. Eric, I appreciate you sharing difficult times in your life. It models openness and allows me to speak openly. Kim, I so appreciate your kindness and creativity. Both of you have numerous endearing qualities, but those are my highlights for now.

Thank you to all the amazing older women who are superlative role models — physically active, engaged, and curious — you give me hope!

Thank you to all those who created good programming in the past.

Thank you to the parents who get their kids here on Sunday. It’s ok if their hair isn’t brushed — I’m just happy to see them.

Thank you to those who say Hi to my daughter around Winslow. She tells me and then sheepishly says — I don’t know their name. She lived on the East Coast and missed the sense of community. I like the sense of belonging it infers for our family.

Thank you to those who chose Jim Cutler to design this building. It is a sacred space because of the architecture. If you took the cross away, the sanctuary would still feel holy, inviting stillness and wonder. I can’t say that about many other contemporary churches.

Thank you to those who try to bring their best selves to Grace. We are not perfect humans, but maybe we get some points by trying, by showing up. When I was younger, I was fervently against organized religion, so for me to generically support a group of churchgoers — well, that shows growth on my part!

When I lived in Manhattan and Brooklyn for about 15 years, I spent at least 1 hour on the subway every day. As a female, I would scan the subway car and unconsciously sort the people — safe, maybe, avoid. Should there be a disaster, I would gravitate to the safe people. One Sunday at Grace, my mind wandered during the service. I looked at everyone, and thought should there be an earthquake, not only would everyone fall in the safe category, but I would honestly feel a kinship and gratitude to be enduring the tragedy with these wonderful folks.

Grace has seen my best and worst moments of my recent life — and that is why I give.

Tootie Kuhn

Tootie Kuhn

October 18, 2026

This year’s Stewardship Campaign theme is Growing Grace, intentionally inviting, welcoming, and connecting with each other, as well as with those who have not yet found their way to our front doors. It is a powerful way of saying “YES” to God’s Kingdom in this place.

Our specific task in this campaign is to raise sufficient financial resources for Grace to support our outstanding clergy and lay staff, carry out our impactful ministry programs, and maintain our beautiful building and grounds in the year to come. We also hope to raise additional volunteer resources for Grace, but today I want to focus on the financial aspect of our task by sharing my own thinking about stewardship in general and how I decide on my own pledge.

Shortly after our campaign launched, I had a grocery store conversation with a friend who I deeply respect about writing this testimonial. That person said they were confident my words would be well prepared and respectfully heard but ultimately would not have any real impact on your individual decisions on how much to pledge to Grace. I appreciated that perspective, but I hope it is entirely wrong. So here we go:

Throughout my upbringing in the Episcopal church, the offering was brought to the altar as the congregation responded with these words: All Things Come of Thee, O Lord; and of Thine Own Have We Given Thee. In that simple, weekly refrain, we were making this public Stewardship statement: Everything in our lives – our time, our talents, and our financial treasures—all exist because God first made them possible through His boundless love for us. When we make offerings, all we really are doing is giving back a small portion of what He has already given us.

When I began making annual pledges to the church as a much younger person, I didn’t appreciate what that Stewardship statement truly meant to me in a practical way. When I made my early pledges to the church, I typically landed on a number that seemed to me to be “appropriate,” in the context of whatever was available in my bank account after I had spent on other of life’s priorities. Initially, no one gave me any specific guidance, so I was left to come up with my own logic.

But my understanding of what it means to be a good steward of God’s resources shifted profoundly during one annual campaign when I was challenged to pledge a percentage of my income to support God’s Kingdom through the work of the church, also commonly called “proportional giving.” Over the ensuing months and years, as I lived into this approach, I realized that the way I spent my money represented what I truly valued in life.

And so, I began my journey of intentional proportional giving and set a goal of tithing. It has taken me years to fully commit to that principle. It has not been an easy, straight-line journey, but I continued to set my sights on this target, and the process has changed me. Now when I receive my annual pledge card, I calculate a percentage of my annual income and fill in the blank.

So today, I want to invite you to take this faithful step in support of God’s Kingdom by pledging an amount to Grace Church that is a percentage of your annual income. If this idea resonates for you in any way, I invite you to reach out to me. I would welcome the opportunity to connect with you, to talk about it, argue about it, or even pray about it. It has made a profound difference in my life, and I hope it will do the same for you.

Amen.

Tom Tyner

Tom Tyner

Why do we give to Grace? The real question to me is why wouldn’t we give to Grace? Grace is a huge part of our family’s life. Our kids went through all of Grace’s Youth Programs, including backpacking trips, ski trips, and pizza nights. Their personalities and life choices were molded by their association with Grace. Wendy and I have participated in retreats at Fort Warden, silent meditative services, all-night Easter Vigils and sunrise services, trail building and maintenance on the Grace property. We’ve enjoyed countless coffee hours and eaten our collective weight in maple bars and deviled eggs. Since its formation some 30 years ago, Grace has played a central role in our lives. I’m a lifelong Episcopalian. Wendy was confirmed as an Episcopalian at Grace some years ago. Both our kids were baptized as Episcopalians, and both our grandchildren were baptized at Grace. Our son was married by an Episcopal priest from Grace. The spirit of Grace runs deep in our family.

Grace’s bedrock values of service, inclusion, discovery, and gratitude provide a path for each of us to be modern-day saints trying to pull off graceful miracles and ‘live our lives like arrows of love and hope and mercy against the tide of rage, despair, and cruelty.’

The debt of gratitude we owe to Grace can never be fully repaid, but we can and will always do what we can by happily supporting the annual Grace Stewardship Campaign, and we hope all of you will join us in whatever way you are able.

Phil Toohey

Phil Toohey

Sunday, Sept 27, 2026

Wendy Tyner asked me to speak on why I attend and support Grace Church Bainbridge Island.

Necie and I were married at Grace Church in 1996 in St. Helena, CA. So, “Grace Church” already had a place in our hearts before we moved to Bainbridge Island in 2015. Necie had a friend, Heidi, who had lived on the island and said to us, “You have to check out Grace Church.” Apparently, Heidi had let Grace know we were coming.

When we decided to visit, Necie and I showed up about 20 minutes early to understand the lay of the land. As we were walking up to the rather intimidating front doors, we saw them open.

Bill Harper appeared in his vestments and “You must be Necie and Phil”. We have been waiting for you. Necie’s side of the story went on as she walked into the narthex; she met Peggy Ashcroft and Rachel Brant, who, in turn, gave her a big hug. She really needed that hug; our move was rough.

I have been in sales and hospitality most of my career, and that first day at Grace Church stands unmatched. You simply can’t teach this kind of kindness and sincerity.

What kept Necie here was her involvement in the rummage sale we used to do as a fundraiser. Then Necie helped put together the “Field and Vine dinner and got involved with Grace Garden and the altar guild, putting together the flowers for Sunday service.

Personally, what keeps me here is the way Grace feeds me with Spiritual food.

I am going to steal a line from the movie Rudy, There are two things that I know about my religion. There is a God, and I’m not him.

You have heard me say before that I come to this altar for solace and strength, pardon and renewal.

To say the Nicene Creed, in whatever form, I recommit myself and remind myself what it is I signed up for as a living member of the Episcopal faith.

Like a car needs gas, I need each week to find a safe place to simply surrender in the community of others.

In the Eucharist, I graft myself into the gospel of reconciliation; my soul is transformed.

Put Simply…. I love this Grace Church.

I love Grace Church and its unwritten mission to serve as a bridge, bringing all God’s children home.

What got me to Grace was that incredible invitation to join, what keeps me here is being in faith and fellowship with you all.

May the blessings of peace be with you all.

Thank you

Ann New

Ann New

September 20, 2026

Good morning, friends. I’m Ann New, and I am one of your wardens here at Grace Church and, for the last 10 years, a regular 8 am service attendee. We are a somewhat intimate group aren’t we? We early risers who gather for 8:00 AM church. This morning, I’m here to help launch the 2027 annual stewardship effort and share with you why I love Grace and pledge my financial support.

I started regularly attending Grace in January of 2017. I was looking for an early, quiet and contemplative church service that would help me learn and grow and 8:00 AM provided that for me. Then, in 2020, I became a member of the vestry, leading Stewardship. You might recall that was when COVID appeared, and we pivoted to Zoom church. With great heart and generosity, our congregation pulled together through that very difficult time. Eventually, we returned to in-person church. I remember some Sundays when there were just 3 or 4 of us at 8 am, all masked up, grateful that Grace was there welcoming us. And now look! We are so many more! How could I say anything but yes when Wendy asked if I would share with you why I give generously to Grace Church!

When people ask why I give, I say something like, “Well, I can tell you, but you might not find it particularly inspirational.” You see, for me, it’s a practical matter. I love this church. And Grace wouldn’t be here without the people who staff the church, and the people who fill it up and volunteer and participate in so many ways. I think we all know that to make Grace happen requires money. Quite a bit of money. Not only do I want this beautifully wonderful Church to continue to thrive for our lifetime, but I want Grace to continue for our children, grandchildren and their children. And Grace is not only a building, although it is an amazing building! It is a place where we — you and I — come together to connect. We pause, sing, pray, and reflect on all that is. We learn from each other, hold each other, celebrate together, and share tears. We lovingly experience life and death together. We build a community of service to the church and to those beyond our church walls. We seek answers when we know there are just more questions, and we help each other through it all. To do all of that and more requires people — clergy and staff — who work hard to bring more life to our church. They are kind, loving, educated, experienced and committed to helping all of us “keep the faith.”

Now, back to that practical matter, the cost of doing all of this has gone up considerably over the past 10 years. We all know that. So this year, as I prayed and thought long and hard about doing my part as we strive to reach an $850,000 goal, I have decided to increase my pledge by 30%. And I wonder what each of you would say if asked to stand where I am this morning. Why do you give to Grace, and how will you discern how much?