One of the reasons we give our offerings to the church is that it is one of the concrete ways that we join our lives with others. In a similar way, we join our lives with others through prayer, worship, study, and mission. These practices draw us together, and they draw us to God; but one of the most tangible, concrete ways we join our lives with others in the practice of our faith is through giving to the church.
On Sunday, October 6, we will celebrate Pledge Sunday. We will have an opportunity to reflect on our giving and to make a commitment to the church for 2025. This is not a contract, but a way to practice our faith together.
Our mission and ministry in the church continues to expand and adapt to current needs, and so does our giving. We consider prayerfully our practice of giving as it joins with others in building community and serving community.
Estimate of giving cards will be available in the pews a couple weeks before October 6. An estimate of giving card will be emailed on Monday, September 30. The Preliminary Budget will also be available around the church, which anticipates our financial needs for 2025.
Our giving is rooted in our theology of community. We partner with others as we partner with God. We respond to God’s calling by joining our faith and our lives with the church. We link ourselves with others because it is the only way to practice the solidarity and faithfulness, patience and grace, mercy and service of God’s love.
We decrease the distance between ourselves and others through giving of ourselves and our resources to the church and its ministries. When we look at the light bill, the plumber’s invoice, a receipt for a churchwide meal, gas for the church bus, we see the shared life of community and ministry. We see concrete ways we can come together and to partner with God.
-Tripp