Ingathering

Ingathering

Our ingathering of pledges took place in the worship services on November 18, 2007.  Each family had the opportunity to place the sign of their commitment in a basket that was then placed on the altar.  This gesture symbolized the true nature of our pledge; each is an offering to God from all that God has given us, to be used for God’s work in and through Christ Church.

How do we decide on our gift?

A pledge to Christ Church is so much more than a financial commitment.  It is a spiritual manifestation; a commitment of treasure is a sign that you belong to this faith community and participate in its common life.  Your decision is motivated on a highly personal level.  Whether you designate a proportion of your income or aspire to the Biblical Tithe, reach within your heart to be as giving as your situation allows.  The opportunities are endless when we combine our resources and our energies for God’s work; the need for us to share God’s compassion is great.  Know that your generosity will be invested wisely in the good works of our Lord, Jesus Christ.

Begin by considering the blessings of God that surround you.  Pray for wisdom in making an offering that will glorify God and enrich the lives of others.  Speak to any other members of your household about what it means to give a good gift.

Proportional Giving / Tithing

Base your gift on your household’s annual income.  The Biblical tithe of 10% of your income is the traditional Christian standard for giving and is the teaching of the Episcopal Church.  You may consider increasing your percentage for 2008 as you journey toward the tithe.  If you'd like some assistance in calculating proportional giving, click on this link.

Average Gift

There is a wide range of gifts and giving circumstances.  But WHAT IF we took the proposed Parish Giving Budget for this year and divided it by the number of people who pledged in 2007?  What would we need our “average” gift to be to reach our expectation?  Based on 540 pledging units and $1,427,455 in Parish Gifts, the “average” gift needed is $2,643. 

Radical Giving

Make a gift that stretches your resources, demands, sacrifices, or pushes beyond what is comfortable and into reassessment of your priorities and your commitments.  Give until it feels good.