Stewardship Pledge 2022 update
We are well over halfway to our 2022 pledge and gift goal of $655,000! Thank you to all who have submitted your pledges and 2022 gifts via mail, e-mail, or online. If you haven’t yet done so, you can pledge online here or by emailing Minister of Stewardship & Finance, Karen McArthur. Abundant thanks to all!
STEWARDSHIP CAMPAIGN COMMUNICATIONS
Our campaign for 2022 is based on the gospel story of Jesus’ fishing advice to the disciples, inviting them and us to venture out to the deeper waters and prepare for abundant results. An archive of our stewardship communications appears here:
HOW TO PLEDGE
You can make your 2022 Pledge online using the two links below.
Our “Pledge your Time” form asks for your interest in a number of different participation, service, and leadership opportunities. Whether you’re a newcomer or a longtime member, each individual person is invited to complete their own form.
Our “Make a Financial Pledge” form asks for your estimate of financial giving for the year ahead. If you already give online, please log in on the right side of the page, and then indicate the total of your intended annual pledge or gift. You can then either:
- set up recurring payments annually, quarterly, monthly, or weekly, given electronically from your bank account, or
- indicate that you’ll pay later by cash, check, text, or online.
If you would like a paper pledge card, you may pick one up at the table at the back of the sanctuary, or email the church office to request that one be mailed to you.
If you have any difficulty, you may email your pledge to the church.
OUR ANNUAL BUDGET: THE IMPACT OF YOUR PLEDGE OR GIFT
Our primary source of income is contributions from our members and friends. You can find more information on our Church Finances page.
WHAT IS A PLEDGE AND WHY DOES IT MATTER?
A pledge is a commitment of financial support for the year, often paid monthly or weekly. Many people set up recurring online contributions. Some give-by-text each week. Others give annually at the beginning or end of the year, or prepay a gift intended for next year.
You can give to the church without pledging, of course. However, we encourage annual pledging because making and keeping promises is an important spiritual discipline that fosters faithfulness and mutual responsibility. Pledges also help the congregation to plan more wisely.
HOW MUCH SHOULD I GIVE?
When you think about how you manage your financial resources, what does it mean to be a person of faith? Giving to others or sharing with the community is an important part of our relationships with each other and with God.
There are many ways to decide how much to give. One traditional way is “percentage giving,” calculating your contribution by a percentage of your income. This is a biblical practice—dedicating the very “first fruits” of one’s labor, rather than offering what remains after all other expenses are taken care of.
Traditionally, a tithe is understood to be 10%. Some people at FCC give at this level, but not everyone is able to do so. If you are a first-time giver, consider giving 3% or 5%. If you already give annually, challenge yourself to increase the percentage of your giving with each new year. No matter what you give, the point is to discover and commit to a level of giving that honors God’s generosity to you and that increases your joy.