Plenty Good Room
2027 Stewardship Campaign
What if there were room for more?
Plenty Good Room is more than the theme of our 2027 stewardship campaign. These words come from a traditional African American spiritual, part of a rich musical and religious heritage shaped by slavery, suffering, faith, and the hope of freedom. The spiritual speaks of a place in God's kingdom and a promise of belonging and dignity that carries profound meaning in Black American history.
As we learn more about this tradition, we're discovering that these words invite deeper reflection than we first imagined. We hope you'll explore their meaning with us as we consider how St. John's might make more room for our neighbors, our community, and the ministries we have yet to imagine.
A Word from St. John's
Music: “Deliberate Thought” by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com), licensed under CC BY 4.0.
The Story Behind the Words
Historical background and reflections on the spiritual.
Expand to read more.
African American spirituals are among the most important expressions of faith in American history. Emerging from the experiences and religious traditions of Black Americans, particularly during slavery, these songs gave voice to sorrow and suffering, but also to resilience, hope, dignity, and the promise of freedom.
Their biblical imagery often carried meanings beyond the words themselves. Stories of Moses, liberation, heaven, and God's kingdom spoke powerfully to people whose freedom and humanity were denied in their daily lives.
Plenty Good Room belongs to this tradition. Its image of room in God's kingdom is a powerful expression of belonging. But the words are not simply a cheerful invitation. They come to us through a history in which the promise of belonging existed alongside the painful reality of exclusion.
As we embrace this theme, we want to remember that history and honor the people and traditions that have carried these songs through generations.
We're still learning. Rather than presenting ourselves as experts on this rich tradition, we invite you to explore it with us, to listen to the voices of those who have preserved and studied these spirituals, and to reflect on what their message might ask of us today.
Making Room at St. John's
Our stewardship campaign also draws inspiration from Psalm 126, a song of restoration and joy after a season of sorrow.
St. John's knows something about that journey. In the years since the pandemic, we've experienced loss, change, rebuilding, and renewal. Along the way, we've found new ways to serve, strengthen existing ministries, and deepen our relationships with our neighbors through community dinners, gardening, worship, music, and outreach.
Now our Vestry invites us to imagine what might grow from these beginnings.
Stewardship is about more than funding what we already do.
It is about caring for the gifts entrusted to us and considering how we might use them faithfully, generously, and creatively.
What if our table could welcome more neighbors?
Our community dinners and garden already bring people together. Could we expand these ministries, strengthen partnerships with neighboring organizations, and find new ways to share the gifts of our church and grounds?
What if we could deepen our outreach into the wider community?
Through ministries like the State Street Free Pantry, our relationships with Sheila Stanton Place and New Bethlehem Center, and the Eucharist at Merrill Gardens, St. John's is already reaching beyond its walls. What additional partnerships might we build with local organizations, other faith communities, and the City of Kirkland? How might we welcome more parishioners into this work and discover new ways to respond to the needs of our neighbors?
What if we could make more room for every generation?
Could we create more opportunities for children, youth, young adults, and families to find friendship, belonging, and a spiritual home at St. John's?
What if our music and worship could reach more people?
How might we nurture our choir, welcome new voices, expand opportunities for young musicians, and bring worship and pastoral care to those who cannot join us in person?
What if we imagined new possibilities for our buildings and grounds?
From gardens and welcoming outdoor spaces to larger ideas about housing and community partnerships, what might faithful stewardship of our property look like in the years ahead?
These questions are invitations to imagine, explore, and discern together.
There is room for more voices in this conversation. We invite yours.
Join the Conversation: November 15
On Sunday, November 15, following our 10:00 Eucharist, the Vestry and ministry leaders invite you to a Soup Lunch and Table Talk about the future of St. John's.
We'll share a warm bowl of soup, then gather in small groups to explore the possibilities, share ideas, ask questions, and imagine together how we might make more room for our neighbors and one another.
You don't need to come with answers. Just bring your curiosity, your hopes, and your ideas!
We're also exploring opportunities for those unable to attend in person to join the conversation via Zoom. Details will be shared as plans are confirmed.
What Do You Imagine?
You don't have to wait until November 15 to join the conversation!
What possibilities excite you? Where do you see opportunities for St. John's to grow, serve, and welcome others? Is there something we haven't thought of yet?
We'd love to hear your ideas. Share your thoughts below, and help us imagine what might come next.
Explore With Us
We recognize that there's much more to learn than we can share on this page. Rather than attempting to tell the whole story ourselves, we've gathered some resources from people who have studied, preserved, and reflected on this tradition.
We invite you to explore them with us.
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Listen: Plenty Good Room — A performance of the spiritual by Lynda Randle.
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The Bible in Song: Reclaiming African American Spirituals — Yolanda Y. Smith, Yale Divinity School. A theological reflection on the significance of spirituals.
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Spirituals — Library of Congress. Historical background on the spiritual tradition.
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Roots of African American Music — Smithsonian Institution. An exploration of the broader musical and cultural heritage.
Voices from Our Community
Excerpts from reflections shared by members and friends of St. John's.
For me, St. John’s has become a safe harbor... I pray that I can help others experience St. John’s as a safe harbor in their lives too.
Katy George
