a future with hope: our 2024 stewardship campaign
In the midst of difficult times of anxiety and worry, interspersed with glimmers of hope and promise, our 2024 stewardship campaign “A Future with Hope” is based on these prophetic words:
I will fulfill to you my promise and bring you back to this place. For surely I know the plans I have for you, says God, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope.
Jeremiah 29:10-11
At our core, First Church is a community of reunion, homecoming, and return. Now more than ever, in a world full of exile, our congregation stands as a beacon of hope, welcome, and radical hospitality. We invite you to deepen your connection with our church through your gift of time, your involvement, your leadership, and your financial gifts.
May God’s gift of hope and our love for our church sustain us as we prepare to offer our pledges and gifts for 2024. Each and every pledge or gift expands what will be possible for our congregation in the years to come.
STEWARDSHIP CAMPAIGN COMMUNICATIONS
An archive of our stewardship communications appears here:
HOW TO PLEDGE
You can make your 2024 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.