Dear Friends,
Election Day is November 5, a week from Tuesday. I suppose a few people are unaware of this, but one would have to wonder under what rock they’ve been hiding.
Hyperbolic declarations of catastrophe around presidential elections are nothing new. The first bitterly contested election in US history was between John Adams – then Vice President – representing the Federalist Party and Thomas Jefferson – then Secretary of State – of what was called the Republican Party. The campaign quickly descended into mudslinging between the candidates’ supporters.
On October 1796, a mysterious editorial appeared in the Gazette of the United States, a popular Federalist newspaper in Philadelphia. The editorial said, in terms understood by most readers, that presidential candidate Jefferson was having an affair with one of his female slaves. Not to be outdone, Jefferson’s folks had been using their own strong campaign tactics in the fight against Adams. Adams was accused of wanting to be a king and starting a dynasty by having his son succeed him as President. He was also accused of being overweight and given the nickname “His Rotundity.”
So, if you are disturbed by the cataclysmic prospect that your candidate won’t be the one elected, or that one or the other candidate’s election means calamity for the United States, you have plenty of good company throughout the history of our republic. None of what I have written excuses you from voting, however (assuming you haven’t already cast your ballot). Our votes – every single one of them a privilege – represent our hopes and dreams for America.
Even though our votes are important – why else would candidates and parties spend so much money trying to garner them? – Americans are inconsistent voters. Only 37% of citizens 18 years and older voted in 2018, 2020, and 2022. Why the percentage is that low mystifies me.
The country’s votes are not the only ballots being cast this time of year. Trinity is also holding an election in early November – an election called the Annual Stewardship Drive – with pledge cards serving as ballots. Our pledges represent our hopes and dreams for this parish church. How we vote in the stewardship drive “election” determines the reach of our ministries in the coming year.
Ingathering Sunday is November 3. Please join me in making a generous pledge for 2025 – yes, I’ve pledged for 2025 in support of Trinity’s bright future under the leadership of your next rector. So many have worked tirelessly to strengthen the parish during the past year. Now it’s time to ensure that you all have the resources you need to continue the ministries to which God has called Trinity. Vote by returning your pledge by November 3 as we “prepare the way.”
Blessings,
Stephen Applegate
